After 14 days of lectures, technical visits, and cultural activities, the 2025 International Training Workshop on Energy Transition and Technology Applications with the Context of "Dual Carbon" Target, organized by the Bureau of International Cooperation of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and hosted by the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics (DICP) of CAS, concluded on Nov. 16.The workshop focused on multi-energy integration technologies and industrial developments in hydrogen, energy storage, renewable energy, and chemical engineering, and served as a platform for sharing new ideas with partners from Belt and Road Initiative countries. Through knowledge exchange and discussions, the workshop aimed to support participating countries in jointly addressing climate change and advancing their energy-transition efforts.A total of 25 participants from 10 countries and regions—including Egypt, Ethiopia, Pakistan, Guinea, Rwanda, Bangladesh, Nepal, Tajikistan, Uruguay, and the Central African Republic—took part in the workshop. The group consisted of university faculty members, postdoctoral researchers, graduate students, and industry researchers.The two-week workshop provided a systematic introduction to topics such as clean and efficient development, utilization and coupling substitution of fossil energy, multi-energy complementation and large-scale application of energy, low-carbon and zero-carbon industrial process reengineering, low-carbon and intelligent multi-energy integration. Participants also visited several research and industrial facilities, including DICP's Hydride Energy Chemistry Research Center, Dalian Fude Jinyu New Energy Co., Ltd., and the Dalian Urban Planning Exhibition Center, gaining firsthand insights into China's scientific innovation capabilities and Dalian's achievements as a national pilot zone for high-quality development.The participants expressed strong appreciation for the workshop. A participant from Uruguay said that he would bring the knowledge gained back to his country to help more people understand China's actions and commitments in tackling climate change. A participant from Tajik said that the training provided valuable support for his future research on energy systems and sustainable development. A participant from Nepal said that, given Nepal's heavy reliance on hydropower and its seasonal shortages, the modules on complementary solar–wind technologies offered important insights for building a more resilient national energy system. He also extended an invitation for DICP researchers to visit Pokhara University for further academic exchange.By deepening the understanding of multi-energy integration and the context of "Dual Carbon" target, the workshop helped build scientific capacity among young energy researchers from Belt and Road countries. It is expected to further promote international collaboration in clean energy.

On September 25, Clarivate announced the winners of the 2025 Citation Laureates Award, recognizing a total of 22 distinguished from eight countries. Among them, ZHANG Tao, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and professor at the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics (DICP) of CAS, was named the Citation Laureates in Chemistry, making history as the first scientist from Chinese Mainlandto receive this recognition.ZHANG was honored for his seminal contributions to single-atom catalysis. He was the first to coin the concept of Single-Atom Catalysis, advancing heterogeneous catalysis research to the atomic scale, laying the scientific foundation for precision catalysis, and opening an entirely new frontier in the field.His groundbreaking research in single-atom catalysis has not only driven fundamental advances in catalysis science but also profoundly influenced several frontier interdisciplinary fields, including energy chemistry and materials science. His research has further stimulated rapid global progress in this area of research.

On August 21, the 48th Zhang Dayu Lecture was delivered by Academician TIAN Zhong-Qun, Distinguished Professor at Xiamen University, Member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), and Honorary Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry, at the Energy Fundamentals Building of the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics (DICP) of CAS. The lecture, titled "The fundamental scientific reasons and innovation drivers underpinning the enduring prosperity of energy electrochemistry", attracted more than 180 participants on-site and online and was chaired by Academician BAO Xinhe.In his lecture, Prof. TIAN provided a comprehensive overview of the more than 220 years of history and milestone achievements of energy electrochemistry, discussing the fundamental scientific reasons and innovation drivers behind its sustained growth. He summarized the characteristics and development bottlenecks of electrochemical energy devices and emphasized the potential of artificial intelligence and operando characterization methods to boost innovation in fundamental electrochemistry research and accelerate the transformation of the electrochemical energy industry.Prof. TIAN concluded by encouraging young scientists to broaden their research perspectives, elevate their vision, and cultivate innovative thinking.

The 47th Zhang Dayu Lecture, entitled "Polymer Reactive Extrusion: From Fundamental Engineering Science to Industrial Deployment," was delivered on 19 July 2025 by Professor Guo-Hua Hu—Distinguished Professor at the University of Lorraine (Nancy, France), Member of the Academic Institute of France, and Fellow of the European Academy of Sciences—at the Conference Center of the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics (DICP) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. The hybrid event attracted more than 180 participants on-site and online, under the chairmanship of Professor YE Mao.Professor LIU Zhongmin, Director of DICP and Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, and Professor LI Xianfeng, Deputy Director of DICP, presided over the opening ceremony. Academician LIU conferred upon Professor Hu both the Zhang Dayu Lecture Certificate and the DICP Honorary Professorship Certificate in recognition of his outstanding contributions to polymer chemical engineering science.In his lecture, Professor Hu provided a comprehensive overview of polymer reactive extrusion, delving into the fundamental functions of co-rotating twin-screw extruders, the mixing mechanisms involved in the fabrication of polymer blends and nanocomposites, the dynamics of composition fluctuation dynamics in multicomponent polymer systems, and the conceptual framework of flow-driven chemistry, along with the scientific and technological challenges. The presentation elicited extensive discussion with attendees on advanced topics in polymer chemical engineering and reactive extrusion processes.

On October 23, Prof. Jean-Pierre Gilson from the University of Normandy, France, presented the 45th Zhang Dayu Lecture titled "Catalyst Deactivation: A Question of Life and Death" in the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. During the event, Deputy Director HUANG Yanqiang awarded Prof. Gilson the Zhang Dayu Lecture Certificate and an Honorary Professor Certificate. Prof. WEI Yingxu hosted the lecture.In his talk, Prof. Gilson explored catalyst deactivation challenges, starting with classic cases in industrial oil refining. He discussed carbon deposition, sintering issues in various reactions, catalyst deactivation characterization, and regeneration techniques using spectroscopy. His lecture provided an overview of the current research status and challenges in catalyst deactivation and regeneration. He also engaged in insightful discussions with researchers and graduate students on topics such as the impact of molecular sieve acid sites on catalyst performance and the role of metal species in dehydrogenation and hydrogenation reactions.During his visit, Prof. Gilson taught a course titled "Heterogeneous Catalysis: From Laboratory to Commercial Deployment" for graduate students, sharing career insights from his experience in academia and international petrochemical companies. He also visited several research groups, including the Low Carbon Catalysis and Engineering Research Department and the Zeolite Catalytic Materials Research Group, where he held academic exchanges with young researchers and graduate students.