IWA YWP Dialogue with Water Pioneers Workshop Successfully Held in Shanghai

On 18 December 2025, as a key thematic event of the 2025 International Conference on Sustainable Urban Water Systems (SUSwater 2025), the “IWA YWP Dialogue with Water Pioneers” workshop was successfully held in Shanghai. Organised by the International Water Association Young Water Professionals China Chapter (IWA YWP China), the workshop focused on the professional development of early-career researchers and innovation in water science and technology. It attracted a diverse audience of experts and young professionals from universities, research institutes and industry.

The workshop was co-chaired by Xiaoyuan Zhang, Chair of IWA YWP China Chapter and Tenured Associate Professor at Tsinghua University, and Ruobin Dai, Managing Committee Member of IWA YWP China and Associate Professor at Tongji University. Centred on the theme “Dialogue with Water Pioneers, Carrying Forward the Spirit of Innovation”, the event combined keynote lectures with salon-style discussions, creating a dynamic platform for in-depth exchange between senior scholars and early-career researchers in the water sector.

Professor Zhang opened the session by introducing the history, mission and positioning of IWA YWP China. As a key youth network within the International Water Association framework, IWA YWP China is committed to strengthening communication and collaboration among young water professionals across China, fostering academic innovation, and advancing the integration of research, education and industry. The chapter’s influence continues to grow, both nationally and internationally.

In the keynote session, How Yong Ng, IWA Fellow and Professor at Beijing Normal University, delivered a lecture entitled “Aspire, Persist, Innovate: Personal Reflections on My Academic Journey”. Drawing on decades of experience in research and teaching, he shared personal insights from his academic career and emphasised that aspiration, perseverance and innovation are the cornerstones of long-term academic development.

Yongmei Li, IWA Fellow and Professor at Tongji University, followed with a presentation titled “The Path to Research Excellence: A Senior Professor’s Perspective”. From the standpoint of a senior scholar, she discussed the cultivation of research capabilities, the development of academic judgement, and the importance of identifying and sustaining long-term research directions, highlighting optimism and passion as enduring drivers of academic success. 

Professor Lan Ling, also from Tongji University, then presented “Advancing Research in Interface Chemistry”. Drawing on her own experience, she outlined recent advances and application potential of interface chemistry within water and environmental sciences, underlining that sustained curiosity and perseverance are fundamental to long-term academic growth. 

During the subsequent salon discussion, speakers and participants engaged in lively, in-depth exchanges on issues of particular relevance to young scholars, including the selection of research directions, academic publishing and evaluation systems, international academic exchange, and the development of a resilient research mindset. Senior experts shared practical advice informed by their own career paths, generating an open and highly engaging discussion.

Looking ahead, IWA YWP China will continue to leverage the International Water Association platform to deepen domestic and international collaboration, establish higher-quality mechanisms for early-career researcher exchange, and contribute youthful insight and energy to the development of resilient, inclusive and smart sustainable water systems worldwide.