From October 24th to 26th, 2025, the 16th National Youth Academic Conference on Transportation was successfully held in Changsha, Hunan Province. This significant event was organized by the Youth Science and Technology Workers Committee of the China Communications and Transportation Association (referred to as the “Youth Committee”) and hosted by Central South University, which provided strong support for the smooth running of the conference. Distinguished guests and leaders in attendance included Academician Tian Hongqi of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, Zhang Chunzhi, Vice President of the China Communications and Transportation Association, Liu Pan, Executive Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of Southeast University, Zhang Di, Vice President of Wuhan University of Technology, and Wu Chaozhong, Secretary of the Party Committee of Hubei University of Arts and Science. Huang Jianling, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of Central South University, delivered a speech at the opening ceremony, extending warm congratulations on the convening of the conference and offering a sincere welcome to all participants.
This academic conference, themed “Innovation in the Integrated Transportation Ecosystem: Safety, Intelligence, Connectivity, and Green Development,” delved deeply into cutting-edge topics. These included highway transportation systems and forward-looking design, rail transportation and advanced transport, waterway transportation systems and navigation safety, air transportation systems and flight safety, artificial intelligence and intelligent transportation systems, and the integration of transportation and energy for low-carbon transition. Experts, scholars, and young science and technology workers engaged in extensive and in-depth exchanges and discussions on these issues, creating a broad platform for communication and collaboration among young talents in transportation science and technology.
The conference attracted over 500 experts, scholars, and young science and technology workers from more than 160 institutions across the country, marking a grand scale and far-reaching impact. During the conference, the working meeting of the Transportation Engineering Discipline Appraisal Group of the State Council Academic Degrees Committee was held concurrently, providing important guidance for the discipline’s development. Additionally, eight parallel sub-forums were conducted, covering highway transportation vehicles and design planning, rail transportation and transport vehicles, waterway transportation and traffic safety, air transportation and traffic safety, transportation and energy integration, transportation artificial intelligence, and two youth forums. A total of 84 sub-forum reports were organized, including 12 invited reports, offering rich and diverse content in various formats.
The conference specially invited renowned experts to deliver keynote reports at the opening ceremony, including Professor Liu Zhengjiang from Dalian Maritime University, Professor Hu Minghua from Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Professor Wu Chaozhong from Hubei University of Arts and Science, Professor Gao Guangjun from Central South University, and Professor Huang Helai from Central South University. Invited reports at the closing ceremony were given by Professor Yang Min from Southeast University, Professor Sun Xiaoqian from Beihang University, Professor Wang Wenyuan from Dalian University of Technology, and Professor Liu Hui from Central South University, providing attendees with a splendid academic feast. Furthermore, Professor Wang Tiantian from Hunan University was invited to host a session for exchange on high-quality paper writing between editors-in-chief of well-known journals and young faculty members and students, offering valuable academic guidance to young scholars.
As a highly important academic event in the domestic transportation field, the “National Youth Academic Conference on Transportation” has now been successfully held for sixteen sessions. Under the guidance of the China Communications and Transportation Association and the Transportation Engineering Discipline Appraisal Group of the State Council Academic Degrees Committee, the conference has established a high-level communication platform for young science and technology talents in the transportation engineering field, playing a positive role in promoting the development of transportation in China. As the host institution, Central South University was deeply honored and committed its full efforts, contributing significantly to the successful conclusion of the conference.
This conference aimed to strengthen communication and cooperation among the broad community of young science and technology workers in the transportation field, jointly research and explore issues related to technology, management, economy, and policy in China’s transportation sector, unite and serve young science and technology workers, and promote the reform, innovation, and sustainable development of China’s transportation industry. The School of Traffic and Transportation Engineering at Central South University will continue to leverage its strengths to contribute more wisdom and strength to the prosperous development of China’s transportation industry.
