On the afternoon of March 2, 2024, a symposium themed "Where to Go — Exploring the Institutionalized Development Path of Science Intelligence (AI for Science) Amidst Its Bright Prospects" was successfully held at the Science Lecture Hall of Zhongguan New Garden, Peking University. Hosted by Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School (hereinafter referred to as "Shenzhen Graduate School"), the symposium invited leaders, experts, scholars, and frontline teachers from relevant colleges and functional departments of Peking University to participate.
Symposium Scene
Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Member of the Standing Committee of the Party Committee and Vice President of Peking University, and Dean of Shenzhen Graduate School Zhang Jin; Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, President of Beijing Academy of Artificial Intelligence, Director of the International Machine Learning Research Center of Peking University, and Chair Professor of the School of Mathematical Sciences E Weinan; Academician of the US National Academy of Sciences and Dean of the School of Life Sciences Chen Xuemei; Vice Dean of the Graduate School Xu Ming; and experts and scholars in related fields attended the symposium. The symposium was hosted by Tian Yonghong, Dean of the School of Information Engineering at Peking University and Boya Distinguished Professor of Peking University.
In his speech, Zhang Jin emphasized the need to attach great importance to the development and changes in scientific research paradigms. Combining his research work, he elaborated on the transformative impact of artificial intelligence technologies represented by machine learning on basic research. He demonstrated how to scientifically and intelligently integrate artificial intelligence theories and methods into materials science research to promote AI-driven innovative research in materials science. Zhang Jin stressed that the development concept of "problem-oriented, collaboration between north and south campuses, AI-driven, innovation and integration" has helped Shenzhen Graduate School achieve new development. Meanwhile, Shenzhen’s urban development and city-university cooperation strategy have provided important support for the graduate school. He stated that Shenzhen Graduate School is continuously advancing the construction of the AI for Science intelligent research platform, and exploring the development of science intelligence as a discipline is also a response to the university’s "Discipline Quality Year" initiative. He hoped that participants could gather ideas from the perspectives of disciplinary theory systems, research methods, curriculum settings, and academic evaluation standards starting from discipline construction; and through this symposium, further promote in-depth interdisciplinary integration of relevant disciplines in the university, providing references for advancing the construction of the new discipline and degree program in science intelligence.
Speech by Zhang Jin
Tian Yonghong delivered a special report on the theme "Ideas for the Construction of Science Intelligence (AI for Science) Discipline," which was divided into four parts: basic overview of the discipline, necessity and feasibility of discipline establishment, discipline talent training program, and discipline construction plan. Taking AI + mathematical science, AI + chemical science, AI + materials science, AI + life science, and AI + information science as examples, he introduced the core advantages of the AI4S discipline in accelerating disciplinary integration and promoting disciplinary development. He emphasized the goal of cultivating high-end research-oriented talents at the intersection of basic science and artificial intelligence, and put forward the vision of accelerating artificial intelligence to achieve research breakthroughs in the field of basic science.
Special Report by Tian Yonghong
In the "invited expert speeches" session, Professor Peng Liangyou, Vice Dean of the School of Physics, emphasized the role of physics ideas in promoting algorithm progress, pointed out the demand and support of physics development for AI technology, and suggested adding AI + physics-related content to the proposed directions of the science intelligence discipline. Professor Xu Bingjun from the College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering shared the unique advantages of the combination of chemistry and artificial intelligence, as well as the layout and latest progress of the College of Chemistry in the construction of the artificial intelligence chemistry discipline. Professor Chen Xuemei, Academician of the US National Academy of Sciences and Dean of the School of Life Sciences, emphasized the importance of artificial intelligence for the development of multi-scale research in biology and life sciences, and expressed her thoughts on building an AI for Life Science platform. Professor Wang Chu, Vice Dean of the Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, stated that science intelligence (AI for Science) inherently has interdisciplinary attributes, and suggested further strengthening forward-thinking on the types of students suitable for the "dual 导师 (dual advisor)" training model in promoting the talent training plan for the new discipline application. Professor Ma Siwei, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of the School of Computer Science, proposed that it is necessary to cultivate students to master both AI technology and professional knowledge of related disciplines, and expressed the importance of exploring the establishment of a national AI for Science graduate competition and promoting the approval of major projects to drive discipline construction. Professor Lu Keding, Vice Dean of the School of Environmental Science and Engineering, shared the applications of artificial intelligence in meteorological models, improving literature reading efficiency, and environmental protection decision-making, and expressed the hope that environmental disciplines could be included in the subordinate directions of the new science intelligence discipline. Assistant Professor Lei Ting, Dean Assistant of the School of Materials Science and Engineering, stated that the School of Materials has currently offered courses related to AI for Science, such as cutting-edge material design and application, and machine intelligence and scientific experiments, and looks forward to the university’s overall promotion of the construction and development of the new science intelligence discipline. Professor Liu Ying, Vice Dean of the School of Future Technology, introduced the college’s progress in the major "digital life" project and expressed the hope that the university could offer introductory artificial intelligence courses for teachers (PIs) and organize AI for Science teacher academic salons to help teachers in scientific fields better embrace AI technology. Professor Wang Zhouyi, Deputy Director of the Teacher Teaching Development Center, expressed through the center’s own practice that big data and artificial intelligence have facilitated related work. Professor Xu Ming, Vice Dean of the Graduate School, suggested supplementing the global benchmarking analysis of this research field in promoting the construction of the new science intelligence discipline and degree program, and considering the possibility of absorbing enterprise mentors into the "dual advisor" system to support enterprise R&D innovation.
Invited Expert Speeches
(From left to right, top to bottom, the speakers are: Peng Liangyou, Xu Bingjun, Chen Xuemei, Wang Chu, Ma Siwei, Lu Keding, Lei Ting, Liu Ying, Wang Zhouyi, Xu Ming)
In the "discussion and exchange" session of the symposium, participating experts, scholars, and representatives of functional departments actively offered suggestions on the topic of "AI4S interdisciplinary construction path" from the perspectives of theoretical systems, research methods, talent training models, curriculum system construction, and academic evaluation standards.
Speech by E Weinan
In his summary of the symposium, Academician E Weinan emphasized the importance of establishing the new AI for Science discipline in breaking existing disciplinary boundaries and fostering an outward-oriented scientific research culture. He stated that since realizing the importance of AI for Science in aiding scientific research in 2016, and formally proposing the concept in 2018, AI for Science has shown transformative impact in promoting the solution of scientific problems. He suggested considering the establishment of the new science intelligence discipline from the perspective of general education in terms of establishing an innovation mechanism, striving to cultivate students with a broad vision and pursuit of academic excellence.
Editing and Proofreading: Lilly
