More than 500 Members of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) gathered in Beijing on July 10 for a plenary session of the 10th Academic Conference of the Academic Divisions of CAS, as a part of the 22nd General Assembly of the Members of CAS.

"Focusing on the frontiers of global science and technology, we hope to build this session a platform to facilitate dialogue among CAS Members and its Foreign Members," said CAS Member BAO Xinhe, director of the Academic Works and Publication Committee of the Academic Divisions of CAS, who presided over the session.

The conference featured distinguished academic reports from prominent CAS Members and Foreign Members, including Omar Yaghi, WANG Enge, ZHANG Tao, KANG Le, ZHOU Zhonghe, JIANG Fengyi, and XUE Qikun.

Professor Omar Yaghi, a Foreign Member of CAS introduced the vast design potential of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and covalent organic frameworks (COFs) in his presentation "From Scarcity to Abundance". He noted that, combined with advances in artificial intelligence, automation, and robotics, MOFs and COFs could accelerate the development of new framework materials, ushering in an "era of abundance" in materials research.

Professor WANG Enge went beyond the conventional Born-Oppenheimer approximation in his report "The Wave Nature of Atoms", and proposed a framework for full quantum effects. Using water and ice systems as examples, WANG showed that full quantum effects of hydrogen nuclei can explain previously puzzling properties.

In the academic report of "Single-Atom Catalysis", Professor ZHANG Tao highlighted the potential of single-atom catalysts to enable atomic-level design of catalytic materials and provide new solutions for energy, resources, environmental protection, and healthcare.

Professor KANG Le revealed the role of chemical signals in regulating biological activities in his report, "Chemical Communications in Organisms". He showed the mechanism of chemical communication in semiochemical production, processing, and biosynthesis based on the discovery of 4-vinylanisole, aggregation pheromone of locusts, providing a vital theoretical basis for controlling locust plagues.

Professor ZHOU Zhonghe began by addressing three philosophical questions about human existence, explaining how geological and paleontological evidence sheds light on the evolution of the Earth and life. He traced life's journey through fossil records spanning billions of years, from early single-celled organisms to complex multicellular life and animals, and finally to humans.

In the field of semiconductors, Professor JIANG Fengyi delivered a report on "GaN/Si Semiconductor Luminescence", introducing advances in GaN-on-silicon semiconductor technology and breakthroughs in high-efficiency multi-color LED materials and chips, and highlighted its potential applications.

In his presentation "From Ohm's Law to High-Temperature Superconductivity", Professor XUE Qikun reviewed the development of electrical conductivity research from Ohm's Law to superconductivity and high-temperature superconductivity, and onward to practical applications in superconducting electronics and quantum computing. He highlighted the role of conductivity research in driving scientific progress and social development.

As a significant component of the 10th Academic Conference of the Academic Divisions of CAS, the six academic divisions of CAS also held their own report sessions on July 11. Eighty-three scientists, including newly elected CAS Members in 2025 and recipients of the Tan Kah Kee Young Scientist Award in 2026, presented their latest research achievements and shared perspectives on future development in their respective fields.