From November 29th to December 1st, the 7th International Conference on Earthquake-Resistant Bridge Structures and Disaster Mitigation Engineering was held in Xiangtan, Hunan Province. This conference was co-hosted by Hunan University of Science and Technology (HNUST), Tongji University and the National Key Laboratory of Bridge Engineering Safety and Durability. The Schools of Civil Engineering of HNUST and the Central South University jointly hosted the conference. Academicians Xie Lili, Zhou Xuhong, Chen Zhengqing, Zheng Jianlong, and Hao Hong from the Chinese Academy of Engineering, as well as Academician Tony Yang from the Canadian Academy of Engineering, attended the conference. More than 400 experts, scholars, and graduate students from nearly 100 domestic and international universities, research institutions, and enterprises and institutions participated the conference. Jiang Lizhong, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and President of HNUST, attended the opening ceremony and delivered a speech on behalf of HNUST. Wang Jin, member of the Party Committee and Vice President of HNUST, presided over the opening ceremony.

Earthquake-resistant bridge structures and disaster mitigation represents a complex engineering endeavor that not only demands the integration of multiple disciplines, but also requires extensive cooperation and exchanges among scholars from both home and abroad. The scientific and technological problems and engineering challenges faced are addressed at their source through the adoption of new theories, methodologies, materials, and technologies. The conference will build a platform for academic exchange and achievement sharing around the latest issues in this field, and invite experts and scholars to conduct discussions in a wider and deeper field, and jointly promote the progress of bridge science and technology.

The conference set up a total of 162 reports. Academician Xie Lili and 13 other experts and scholars delivered presentations at the main venue, and 6 parallel sessions were organzied, covering the bridge structure vibration reduction and isolation, assembled bridge seismic performance, high-speed rail bridge seismic new technology and methods and other topics. These sessions showcased the latest research results in the field of bridge structure earthquake mitigation and engineering innovation.

The list of outstanding graduate student reporters was announced at the closing ceremony. It is confirmed that Lanzhou Jiaotong University will host the 8th International Conference on Earthquake-Resistant Bridge Structures and Engineering Innovation.

(Translated by LEI Ying and TAN Jingni)