From April 19th to 21st, the "21st National Chemical Thermodynamics and Thermal Analysis Academic Conference and Salt Lake and Salt Industry Development Summit Forum" was grandly held in Tianjin. The conference was hosted by the Chemical Thermodynamics and Thermal Analysis Professional Committee of the Chinese Chemical Society and hosted by Tianjin University of Science and Technology and Tianjin University of Technology.

Academician of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Han Buxing researcher of the Institute of Chemistry of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Academician of Chinese Academy of Sciences, President of Henan University, Zhang Suojiang researcher of the Institute of Process Engineering of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Academician of Chinese Academy of Engineering, Vice Chairperson of the International Salt Lake Society Zheng Mianping, Director of the Chemical Thermodynamics and Thermal Analysis Professional Committee of the Chinese Chemical Society, Professor Wei Zhiwu of Tsinghua University, Professor Cheng Fangqin, Vice President of Shanxi University, Professor Xiao Qi, Vice President of Nanning Normal University, Vice President of Qinghai Salt Lake Industry Joint stock company Ma Lichun, Vice President of Tianjin University of Science and Technology Party Secretary Bai Haili attended the opening ceremony, and Professor Liu Yi, Vice President of Tianjin University of Technology and recipient of the National Outstanding Youth Science Fund, presided over the meeting. More than 660 experts and scholars from 165 universities, research institutes and enterprises across the country participated in the academic event, and the number of online simultaneous live broadcasts exceeded 8,000, the largest in history.

Secretary Bai Haili, Academician Han Buxing, Professor Wei Zhiwu, and Vice President Ma Lichun delivered speeches at the opening ceremony respectively. On behalf of the school, Secretary Bai Haili extended a warm welcome to the academicians and experts and scholars who attended the conference, and expressed his heartfelt thanks to the leaders, experts and scholars and co-organizers who gave attention and support to this conference! Bai Haili briefly introduced the goals and implementation plan of the "Opinions of Tianjin University of Science and Technology on Accelerating the Development of High-Quality Connotation" ("Pioneer Plan"). He hoped that the participating experts and scholars could provide more valuable suggestions and opinions for the professional development of relevant disciplines of Tianjin University of Science and Technology, further strengthen exchanges and cooperation, and jointly promote the innovative development of chemical thermodynamics and thermal analysis, salt lakes and salt industry.

The conference also selected the candidates for the Outstanding Contribution Award for Chemical Thermodynamics and Thermal Analysis, in recognition of experts and scholars who have made outstanding contributions in the fields of chemical thermodynamics and thermal analysis in scientific research and innovation, education and teaching, personnel training, popular science promotion, etc. After being voted by the Chemical Thermodynamics and Thermal Analysis Professional Committee of the Chinese Chemical Society, Academician Zhang Suojiang and Professor Wang Jianji were awarded this honor. Academician Han Buxing and Professor Wei Zhiwu presented awards to the two winners.

After the award ceremony, Academician Zhang Suojiang, Academician Han Buxing, Academician Zheng Mianping, Professor Wang Jianji, and Professor Liu Zhimin delivered conference reports entitled "New Theory and New Applications of Nano-micro Thermodynamics and Process Enhancement", "Research on Chemical Thermodynamic Properties and Applications of Green Solvent Systems", "Tibet Salt Lake and Green Development Thinking", "Solvation of Molecules/Ions in Nanopores" and "Research on Chemical Thermodynamics of Ionic Liquid Reaction Systems". Han Buxing, Zhang Suojiang, and Wei Zhiwu presided over the conference reports.

It is reported that the conference will focus on cutting-edge issues in the fields of chemical thermodynamics, thermal analysis, statistical thermodynamics and computer simulation, aiming to promote the cross-integration of chemical thermodynamics and thermal analysis with chemical chemistry, materials, life, environment, energy science, etc. The conference will have special invited reports, theme invited reports, special forums, youth forums and poster presentations, etc. There will be 5 sub-venues, which will focus on "solution chemistry/molecular thermodynamics/non-equilibrium thermodynamics", "materials/biology/energy thermodynamics", "calorimetry/thermal analysis/thermodynamics education", "phase equilibrium/separation/surface and colloid thermodynamics" and "youth forum" for exchanges and discussions. During the conference, academic activities such as the 2024 Salt Lake and Salt Industry Development Summit Forum, Frontier Cross Forum, Thermal Analysis-Calorimetry-MD Simulation Computing Basic Training Course will also be held, and the Youth Forum Award and Excellent Poster Award will be set up. Through building a high-level academic exchange platform, it will promote the interdisciplinary and integration of multiple disciplines and jointly promote the development of chemical thermodynamics and thermal analysis disciplines in our country.