2026 Qiushi-Westlake Frontier Science Symposium

On June 13-14, 2026, the Foundation hosted the Qiu Shi Westlake Symposium at Westlake University in Hangzhou, China. Even light summer rain could not dampen spirits, and the event was well attended with over 200 scientists, faculty, and students. This year’s Symposium began with a closed-door session where the Qiu Shi Foundation (“QSF”), Westlake faculty and our Advisors discussed strategic approaches in supporting science and technology, including ideas for the Foundation’s initiatives and implications with AI adoption.

Following the closed-door session, parallel sessions in Life Sciences and Chemistry were held. The Frontier Forum on Life Sciences featured Qiu Shi Outstanding Young Scholar Award Laurates as speakers, including Zhu Shu, Su Shicheng, Peng Min, Li Ying, and Hu Jiazhi.

In addition, we were honored to have the Foundation’s advisors, Professor Zhu Bangfen of Tsinghua University and Professor Tian Gang of Peking University, shared their journey with the Foundation over the years over a fireside chat.

The Chemistry session was themed “Organic Synthesis: Enabling Fundamental Research for Discovery and Translation,” and featured Deng Li, Tang Yong, Qing-hua Fan, Jiao Lei, Pei Jian, Hu Jinbo, Luo Sanzhong, and Shi Hang.

The Symposium concluded with a relaxing networking activity–a scenic hike around the West Lake at the Taiziwan Park. The Foundation’s team collaborated closely with the Westlake University team under the leadership of Professor Shi Yigong (President of Westlake University and advisor of the Foundation) and Professor Guo Tiannan (Westlake School of Medicine and School of Life Sciences) in putting the event together. As a reference, the previous Qiu Shi Westlake Symposium was held in 2020. The Foundation has also previously hosted events of other formats at Westlake such as “Outstanding Young Scholar Award Laureates Forum” and “Qiu Shi Westlake Lecture Series” since 2016, when the Westlake Institute for Advanced Study, the predecessor of Westlake University, was in its preparatory stage. The QSF Westlake Symposium was incredibly successful, and the Foundation is looking forward to the 2027 Spring Symposium to continue broaden engagement within the Qiu Shi Family.