The ‘2023 National Symposium for Young Scholars in Basic Research of Mining Discipline Development’ was held in Shenyang from October 28 to 29, jointly organized by 22 domestic universities and research institutions, including Northeast University, Liaoning University, Shenyang University of Technology, and Hubei Three Gorges Laboratory.

Chi Ru'an, Professor of Wuhan Engineering University and Academician of the Russian Academy of Engineering, Professor Pan Yishan, Secretary of the Party Committee of Liaoning University, Professor Feng Yongxin, President of Shenyang University of Technology, and Professor Wang Xingwei, Vice President of Northeastern University, attended the meeting. More than 200 experts from over 40 universities and research institutes across the country attended the conference. The opening ceremony was presided over by Professor Chi Ru'an.

 After an introduction to Liaoning University, Pan Yishan presented the achievements and experience of talent training, scientific research, and new mechanism construction that Liaoning University is facing in society. He encouraged teachers and scholars to actively engage society’s real problems with their scientific research. Finally, Pan Yishan pointed out that theoretical innovation must be pursued to promote the development of mining science. To promote theoretical innovation and the healthy and sustainable development of the mining industry, focus must be kept on real problems and with four necessary elements in mind. These elements are: sector and industry development trends, condensed practice problems, identifying breakthrough major theoretical problems restricting the sustainable development of mining in China, and promoting a mining academic research system with Chinese characteristics.

Professor Chi Ru'an gave a special report on the analysis of funding from provincial and other sources in the past five years. He also systematically introduced the types, application conditions, and precautions of National Natural Science Foundation projects. Additionally, he explained policies in detail, analyzed the situation, and proposed countermeasures. He encouraged young scholars to develop basic research, ensure research directions are clear and definite in a persistent way, and to actively apply for funded projects.

The meeting invited Professor Wang Laigui from Liaoning University of Engineering and Technology, Professor Zhou Fang from Wuhan University of Engineering, Professor Han Yuexin from Northeastern University, Professor Duan Chenlong from China University of Mining and Technology, Professor Zhang Haijun, and other experts to give 14 themed presentations on the progress of basic and applied research in mining, beneficiation, and related safety fields, as well as the experience of applying for projects under the National Natural Science Foundation of China. Twenty young scholars from different universities and research institutes across the country have conducted in-depth exchanges on the hot topics of fund application in the mining industry in recent years. The attended experts gave excellent comments on the fund declaration work of young scientific workers and encouraged them to tightly integrate scientific research with national needs. They also advised them to actively explore innovation and to enhance their ability to solve scientific problems from engineering and technical perspectives, thus focusing basic research with greater integrity and a wide perspective.