The Fourth National Conference of Biological Phase Separation and Phase Transition took place in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, from May 21 to 25. 

The event was hosted by the Biophysical Society of China’s Academic Subgroup of Phase Transition and Phase Separation of Biological Macromolecules and organized by Westlake University with the support of Zhejiang University. 

Participants of the Fourth National Conference of Biological Phase Separation and Phase Transition pose for a group photo. [Photo/WeChat account: BSC]  

The conference, themed “Convergence of Interdisciplinary Sciences with Phase Transition and Phase Separation”, explored key scientific challenges and technological bottlenecks in phase separation and phase transition of biological macromolecules. It served as a platform to foster multidisciplinary integration, exchange and collaboration, and promote innovative development in this area, ultimately contributing to the rapid translation of basic research into clinical medicine and pharmaceutical development. 

More than 400 experts, scholars and researchers studying chemistry, biology, physics, materials science and mathematics from nearly 100 universities and research institutions in China and abroad attended the event. 

During the conference, two keynote speeches were delivered, and 51 invited and oral presentations were held. The Youth Scholars Forum featured sharing of innovative findings by 15 young scientists, showcasing the burgeoning strength in the field and injecting new vitality and hope into the research community. 

The conference includes a “Face-to-Face with Editors” session. [Photo/WeChat account: BSC]  

In addition, a “Face-to-Face with Editors” session was held, where Song Yiyun from Nature Chemical Biology and Ren Qingzhong from Cell Reports were invited to engage with attendees. This session provided valuable insights into the standards for publishing high-quality research articles, offering a unique opportunity for professional exchange. 

Liu Cong, research fellow at the CAS Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, delivers closing remarks. [Photo/WeChat account: BSC] 

The closing ceremony was chaired by Liu Cong, research fellow at the Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), who also unveiled winners of the conference’s poster presentation awards. Liu gave a comprehensive summary of the event and expressed heartfelt gratitude for the active participation and strong support of the experts and scholars in attendance. He also announced that the next conference would be held in Beijing.