In August, Hangzhou witnessed the successful conclusion of an academic dialogue and cultural exchange that engaged participants from 13 countries. From August 11 to 23, the First Asia Simulation Federation Summer School was held at the Hangzhou International Campus of Beihang University. As one of the flagship programs of Beihang International Summer School (BISS) series, the summer school attracted participants from 13 countries, including China, Singapore, Thailand, Rwanda, and Ethiopia. Over the course of 12 days, participants delved into the frontiers of simulation technology and immersed themselves in traditional Chinese culture. Through knowledge collision and emotional resonance, they completed a journey of international exchange that combined professional depth and humanistic warmth.
On the morning of August 11, the opening ceremony of the First Asia Simulation Federation Summer School kicked off in an enthusiastic atmosphere. Professor Weng Jingnong, Secretary General of the Asia Simulation Federation (ASIASIM), delivered a speech on three keywords: academia, platform, and city. He outlined Beihang University's academic disciplines and research strengths in related fields, interpreted ASIASIM's value as a bridge for international exchange, and demonstrated the characteristics of Hangzhou, where innovation momentum and cultural heritage coexist and integrate. Professor Weng Jingnong elaborated on the core theme of the summer school, which was to promote cross-cultural exchange through simulation. He extended a warm welcome to international participants who came from afar and announced the official opening of the summer school.
Professor Song Xiao from Beihang University provided a systematic introduction to the 17 instructors of the summer school, who came from eight countries. The cohort comprised senior academic experts in modeling and simulation and practical mentors with hands-on experience. The international faculty combined theoretical depth and industry experience. Their presence fueled the participants' anticipation for the professional value of the upcoming courses. With a focus on care for participants, Dr. Yu Xingyao, the homeroom teacher, explained in detail the arrangement of extracurricular activities, ranging from on-site tours of technology and cultural centers to cultural experiences such as traditional Chinese dessert-making and calligraphy. He encouraged participants to make the most of the 12 days to broaden their horizons in learning and grow through communication.
At the opening ceremony, Professor Zhang Lin, President of ASIASIM, gave the opening lecture of the summer school: Brief Introduction to Modeling and Simulation. From core principles to real-world application scenarios of simulation technology, he offered a clear and engaging introduction, introducing participants to the academic world of simulation.
On the evening of August 11, a lively ice-breaking activity sparked cross-cultural friendship in an instant. After brief self-introductions, participants took part in an interactive game of "guessing who" and a group event of "drawing and guessing". Some participants imitated signature gestures of scientists, while others used quick strokes to outline cultural icons of their country. Amidst laughter, language barriers melted away. Participants of different skin colors and cultural backgrounds instantly became familiar and bonded, laying the groundwork for follow-up academic cooperation and cultural exchange.
During the summer school program, participants delved into the diverse aspects of simulation in specialized courses. The curriculum covered core theories such as modeling and simulation fundamentals and agent-based simulation methods, included cutting-edge applications such as 3D reconstruction and visualization of cultural heritage, intelligent transportation, and digital industry innovation, and provided hands-on training of engineering simulation software in fluid and structural analysis.
Participants from different countries took part in classroom discussions with their respective academic backgrounds and practical experiences. A participant from Singapore drew upon the local intelligent transportation system to propose ideas for improving traffic congestion with simulation technology, while a participant from Ethiopia focused on how simulation could support the digital upgrading of the country's manufacturing industry. The convergence of diverse perspectives energized classroom discussions and fostered cross-cultural academic exchange.
To break down the barriers between theoretical learning and industrial practice, the summer school took participants to China (Hangzhou) Artificial Intelligence Town for visits to two industry leaders: KAT VR and Pimax. At KAT VR, participants tried out the haptic-feedback solution for VR. From "picking up virtual objects" to "simulating material textures", they gained firsthand insight into the innovative application of simulation technology in interactive experiences. At Pimax, the clear image quality and immersive effect of high-resolution head-mounted displays showed the potential for the integration of simulation technology with hardware devices. This tour not only allowed participants to learn about the latest developments in the VR industry, but also inspired deep thinking on "how academic research can address industry needs".
Beyond the classroom, the summer school featured rich and colorful activities of traditional Chinese culture. Through hands-on practice, participants immersed themselves in the charm of oriental culture: they made bean paste cakes with the logo of ASIASIM, discovering the Chinese culinary philosophy of "refined elegance and wellness" and the ASIASIM's core values of innovation, synergy and precision; they picked up a brush to write the Chinese characters for "simulation" and "Hangzhou" and their Chinese names, perceiving the cultural connotations of Chinese characters in each stroke; and they experienced the art of paper cutting by turning ordinary red paper into auspicious patterns such as the Chinese character for "spring" and lotus flowers, understanding the wisdom of Chinese folk art of "simplicity ruling complexity". These activities not only broadened cultural horizons, but also made the cross-cultural communication more heartfelt and profound.
Cultural exploration did not end with handicrafts. Participants visited the Liangzhu Museum for a close-range experience of the 5,000-year history of Chinese civilization by watching jade exhibits and site models and listening to professional explanations. From the wisdom of the Liangzhu ancestors in flood control to the ancient ritual culture embedded in jade decorations, the long and profound cultural heritage rendered cross-cultural communication no longer limited to the present, but transcending time and space, allowing participants from different countries to understand the Chinese cultural context and see more clearly why diverse civilizations coexist.
In the academic presentation session, participants in five teams focused on the core topic of "how simulation technology empowers industrial upgrading" to explore multiple dimensions such as technology application, scenario implementation, and tool optimization. They shaped a clear logical framework, which covered the entire chain of simulation technology from basic tools to industrial applications, and followed the "digital and intelligent" trend of industrial development. This demonstrated participants' profound understanding of interdisciplinary fields and provided diverse ideas and practical directions for the future development of manufacturing and engineering simulation, presenting a fruitful event of academic exchange that combined theoretical depth and practical value.
During the 12 days, the Asia Simulation Federation Summer School used simulation technology as the bridge, allowing ideas to spark, cultures to blend, and friendships to take root. As participants embarked on their way home with academic takeaways and cross-cultural memories, the journey, which "connected the world through simulation", had already outgrown a mere learning experience. In the simulation landscape, it is more like a seed that will grow into new possibilities for international cooperation and witness more achievements of cross-cultural innovation in the future. Looking forward to our next gathering, we will renew our pledge: In the Name of Simulation, We Progress with the World.
Approved by Dong Zhuoning, Zhang Wei, Xu Ran
Edited by Yuan Xiaohui
