The 32nd Annual Conference of the Chinese Association for Science and Technology, USA (CAST-USA) and the 2024 Global Innovation Summit Conclude Successfully in San Diego

San Diego, LAPost (October 13, 2024) – The 32nd Annual Conference of the Chinese Association for Science and Technology, USA (CAST-USA) and the 2024 Global Innovation Summit were grandly held in San Diego, California, on October 12, 2024. This event brought together top leaders from the global academic, technological, and industrial sectors to promote global scientific and technological innovation, explore cutting-edge advancements, and foster international collaboration. The theme of the summit, “Scientific Exchange, Collaborative Innovation, Breakthroughs, and Inheritance,” highlighted the outstanding contributions of Chinese scientists to global technology.

(Photo provided by: Vicky Huang/CAST-USA)

Joe LaCava, President of the San Diego City Council, praised CAST-USA’s significant contributions over the years in advancing science, fostering cultural integration, and promoting international cooperation. Scott Peters’ representative, Allison Apfeld, presented CAST-USA with a congratulatory certificate, officially declaring October 12 as “CAST-USA Day.”

Dr. Vicky Huang (黄晓燕)  (Photo by: Richard Ren/LAPost)

The conference opened with a keynote speech by Dr. Vicky Huang (黄晓燕), President of CAST-USA. She reviewed the 32-year history of the association and emphasized the importance of scientific and technological innovation, calling for increased global cooperation among scientists to drive progress. Co-chair Dr. Deli Wang (王德利) hosted the morning’s academic keynote presentations. Notable speakers included Nobel Laureate Dr. Kurt Wüthrich, emeritus professor Dr. Shu Chien (钱煦) from UC San Diego, Dr. Peidong Yang (杨培东) from UC Berkeley, Dr. Yi Cui (崔屹) from Stanford University, and Dr. Thomas Hou (侯一钊) from Caltech, all of whom delivered insightful speeches covering their latest research findings and breakthroughs.

• Dr. Kurt Wüthrich (2002 Nobel Prize in Chemistry) shared his six decades of scientific research experience and reflected on his journey to the Nobel Prize.
• Dr. Peidong Yang (Professor, UC Berkeley) introduced his 30-year accomplishments in the semiconductor nanowire field.
• Dr. Yi Cui (Professor, Stanford University) presented his insights on clean energy, technological innovation of batteries. and Dr. Thomas Hou (Professor, Caltech) shared the latest developments on the Navier-Stokes equation.
  

Shu Chien (Photo by: Richard Ren/LAPost)

At 93, renowned Chinese-American biologist Shu Chien, invited as a special guest, gave a 20-minute speech. Despite his age, he used the computer with ease, appeared energetic, and walked steadily. His speech received prolonged applause from the audience. Scientists and young students eagerly approached him afterward for photographs, and he always smiled. He was also invited to the stage to present awards to the “Scientists of the Year.”

Born in Beijing in 1931, Shu Chien is a member of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, the National Academy of Medicine, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the Chinese Academy of Sciences, among others. He is also a professor at the University of California system and the founding director of the Whitaker Institute of Biomedical Engineering at UC San Diego.

Awards Ceremony Recognizing Excellence

From left: Deli Wang, Sheng Xu, Yi Cui, Shu Chien, Peidong Yang, Thomas Hou, Bozhi Tian, Vicky Huang (Photo by: Richard Ren/LAPost)

The conference recognized several Chinese scientists for their outstanding contributions to global technological innovation:

• Dr. Thomas Hou was awarded the “Outstanding Scientist Award.”
• Dr. Peidong Yang received the “Outstanding Scientist & Innovation Award.”
• Dr. Yi Cui was honored with the “Outstanding Innovation and  Entrepreneurship Award.”
• Dr. Xu Sheng and Dr. Tian Bozhi were both awarded the “Rising Star Award.”

President of CAST-USA, Dr. Vicky Huang, and Dr. Shu Chien, who also presented awards, emphasized that these honors not only reflect the global impact of Chinese scientists but also acknowledge the importance of younger generations in future innovations.

Afternoon Forums and Discussions

In the afternoon, several special forums addressed hot topics in science and technology, including artificial intelligence, energy materials, life sciences, and global business expansion. These sessions attracted active participation from young scientists and experts.

• The Artificial Intelligence Forum, chaired by AI and computing expert Dr. Yu Bai, invited top AI figures like Professor Yajie Zhao from USC to share their latest research developments.
• The New Energy and Materials Forum, led by Dr. Yi Cui and Dr. Peidong Yang, discussed cutting-edge applications in nanotechnology and sustainable energy.
• In the Life Sciences Forum, renowned oncologists Dr. Gensheng Feng and Dr. Baofa Yu presented the latest progress in clinical cancer treatments.

Additionally, the Global Business Expansion Forum featured insights from Dallas-based attorney Tom Tong on legal and business strategies for Chinese companies expanding abroad. He stressed the importance of understanding local laws to mitigate risks and emphasized the critical role legal compliance plays in successful international expansion.

Global Startup Innovation Competition and STEAM Contest

The summit also held the CAST 2024 Global Startup Innovation Competition, providing a platform for startups to showcase their groundbreaking ideas. The judging panel, composed of venture capitalists, technical experts, and business leaders, ensured the competition’s fairness and professionalism.

Meanwhile, the Education Workshop and International Youth STEAM Competition were another highlight of the event, drawing enthusiastic participation from young entrepreneurs and students, showcasing the power of the next generation in scientific innovation.

Closing Ceremony and Future Outlook

The Chinese Association for Science and Technology Annual Conference team took a group photo at the closing ceremony (Photo by: Richard Ren/LAPost)

At the closing ceremony, Dr. Xiaochun Zhang, Chairman of the CAST-USA Board, summarized the conference’s achievements and looked ahead to the future. He stated that CAST-USA will continue to unite Chinese scientific talents worldwide, promote international cooperation, and contribute to global technological progress.

The summit was supported by CorDx, a company founded by Chinese-American entrepreneur Yu Feng Li, as well as the Global Strategy and Intelligence Studies Department of Hanyang University in South Korea. Co-chair of the conference, Dr. Deli Wang, a leading figure in embodied intelligence and wearable technology, returned to San Diego from China specifically for the event. He spent the entire night before the conference preparing for the academic keynote sessions.

Wide Participation Across Chapters

CAST-USA’s local chapters actively participated in the summit. The Los Angeles Chapter organized nearly 80 members to attend, while the Philadelphia Chapter, led by President Dr. Rong Zheng, brought five members to the event. Participants also came from as far as Utah, where William Jiang drove all day to attend the summit in San Diego. According to Junying Zhou, Vice President of the San Diego Chapter, many of the volunteers at the summit were engineers, PhDs, researchers, and their children, attending universities and high schools in the area. Their high-quality and efficient service ensured the success of the annual gathering, which brought together nearly 400 prominent Chinese-American scientists from across the country.

(By: Richard Ren/LAPost)