The first BICTAM-CISM Symposium on Dispersed Multiphase Flows, initially scheduled for 4-6 March 2020, was successfully held online on 2-5 March 2021. More than 70 experts and scholars from 12 countries, including China, Italy, France, Sweden, Spain, Austria, Germany, Israel, Japan, Poland, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, attended the Symposium by means of a virtual meeting platform known as Zoom. The symposium’s live streaming platform attracted over 1,100 views from 23 countries around the globe.
The Symposium was co-sponsored by the Beijing International Center for Theoretical and Applied Mechanics (BICTAM), the International Centre for Mechanical Sciences (CISM), the International Union of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics (IUTAM), the National Natural Science Foundation of China, School of Aerospace Engineering of Tsinghua University, Institute of Mechanics of Chinese Academy of Sciences and University of Udine, Italy. The Symposium was co-chaired by Professor Jiachun Li, co-chairman of BICTAM and member of Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Professor Cristian Marchioli from CISM and University of Udine, Italy. Professor Lihao Zhao from Tsinghua University was the chairman of the Organizing Committee.
The opening ceremony was presided over by Professor Cristian Marchioli on 2 March. Professor Jiachun Li, co-chairman of the Symposium, addressed the opening ceremony. On behalf of BICTAM, he extended a warm welcome to all the attendees. Then, he introduced the general situation of the Symposium and pointed out that it was a collaborative activity between the two “International Centers for Mechanics” affiliated to IUTAM. He hopes that the Symposium will deepen mutual cooperation among researchers in the field of multiphase flow and become a link for academic exchanges between China and Europe. After that, Professor Cristian Marchioli, on behalf of CISM and University of Udine, expressed his gratitude to all the sponsors for their great support. He mentioned that he really hoped they could run the Symposium as an in-person event in Beijing. However, the COVID-19 pandemic brought some changes with the planning of the Symposium. He concluded by wishing the conference a complete success.
During the 4-day event, 8 world-renowned scientists were invited to deliver keynote lectures, including Xiaojing Zheng from Xidian University, China, Alfredo Soldati from Vienna University of Technology, Austria , Jianzhong Lin from Zhejiang University, China, Christian Poelma from Delft University of Technology, the Netherlands, Mingjiu Ni from University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, China, Eric Climent from University of Toulouse, France, Haitao Xu from Tsinghua University, China, as well as Wolfgang Schröder from RWTH Aachen University, Germany. The Symposium also organized 53 regular lectures from all the 12 countries, covering progress in research, development, standards, and applications of the topics related to dynamics of particles, bubbles, and droplets in isotropic and wall-bounded turbulence; rigid and deformable particle suspensions; non-Newtonian dispersed flows; reactive dispersed flows; advances in measurement and simulation techniques; modeling of collision, agglomeration and fragmentation/breakage phenomena, etc. Researchers from various countries shared their outstanding scientific achievements. Although it was an online communication, the academic exchanges among participants were highly active and effective.
A brief closing ceremony was held after the lectures ended on 5 March. Professor Jiachun Li once again thanked all the participants on behalf of the Organizing Committee for presenting excellent lectures and in-depth discussions. The lectures showcased a global overview of the most significant advancements in the field. It also served the purpose of identifying the main open issues and research pathways that the community should focus on in the future. Furthermore, the Symposium brought together scientists from all horizons to foster scientific exchange and strengthen interdisciplinary work among them. Finally, Professor Cristian Marchioli emphasized the necessity of the two “International Centers for Mechanics” of jointly organizing Sino-European academic exchange activities, adding that he hopes the two centers can promote continuous expansion of collaborations.
The Symposium series co-organized by BICTAM and CISM will be organized every 2 years, alternating between China and Europe. The Second BICTAM-CISM Symposium will be held in Udine, Italy in 2023.
Background
CISM was founded in Udine, Italy in 1968. It was affiliated to IUTAM in 1970. The principal activity of CISM is the organization of advanced courses to researchers and advanced training for engineers operating in industry. The Centre also organizes typical seminars and holds joint summer schools with IUTAM irregularly. BICTAM was established by the Chinese Society of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics (CSTAM), is an international non-governmental scientific organization, which is affiliated to IUTAM (2010), and then operates in close collaboration with the ICSU Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific. In July 2019, BICTAM and CISM held an exchange forum in Udine, Italy. The two Centers have signed a Memorandum of Understanding, which aims to reach the agreements for the future international collaborations and jointly promote the exchanges between the Chinese and European communities of theoretical and applied mechanics.
