The increasing frequency of global extreme heatwave events has triggered a dramatic surge in cooling demand. Current cooling technologies, however, consume substantial energy without fundamentally resolving extreme high-temperature environmental issues. China has established core strategic goals of "carbon peak" and "carbon neutrality", aiming to achieve a comprehensive green transformation of the economy and society through measures such as industrial upgrading and technological innovation. Meanwhile, in the Belt and Road Initiative, China emphasizes technological cooperation and innovation to create new growth points in finance, agriculture, poverty alleviation, green and low-carbon development, and to jointly build a community of shared future and mutual achievement. Singapore's "Green Plan 2030" outlines a long-term vision for achieving net-zero emissions through initiatives like urban greening, green finance, and energy transformations in transportation and buildings, while enhancing economic, climate, and resource resilience. The realization of a green and low-carbon strategy undoubtedly hinges on the integration of advanced technologies and innovative functional materials. These are essential for mitigating the global high-temperature climate challenge and unlocking the vast potential of sustainable development. Amid the momentum of national strategic development, advanced materials in the domains of optics, electricity, thermodynamics, and mechanics hold promise for large-scale implementation across urban building clusters and diverse equipment systems. This can facilitate efficient urban cooling and establish "urban cooling islands" , which carry profound implications for enhancing the urban ecological environment, reducing energy consumption, and advancing global green development.

To further advance the green development agenda through cutting-edge materials technologies aimed at addressing global high-temperature challenges, the International Symposium on Advanced Materials for Global Sustainability will be held from August 6 to 9, 2025, at the National University of Singapore. This four-day international symposium aims to convene leading experts and scholars in materials science to explore cutting-edge advancements in photovoltaic, thermal, electrical, optical and other emerging material technologies, aligned with global strategies for low-carbon and sustainable development. Furthermore, it seeks to foster innovative industrial applications of multi-functional materials within the domains of architecture and equipment, while advancing the use of intelligent materials to address global high-temperature challenges and promote sustainable development pathways. Your participation is highly appreciated, and we sincerely hope you can honor us with your presence.

The international symposium will be chaired by President Shuangjie Peng of Central China Normal University, Professor Cheng-Wei Qiu of the National University of Singapore, and Professor Guangming Tao of Central China Normal University. Renowned experts and scholars from China, the United States, Singapore, and other countries and regions will be invited to attend. The event will focus on cutting-edge technologies in the field of advanced materials and foster in-depth academic exchange and discussion on the innovative industrial applications of multifunctional materials in architectural and equipment systems.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                June 19th, 2025

Shuangjie Peng

President of Central China Normal University

Expert with Special Government Allowance from the State Council

Recipient of the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars

"New Century Excellent Talents Support Program" of the Ministry of Education of China

Recipient of the Hubei Province Major Talent Project "High-End Talent Leadership and Training Program"

Director of the Key Laboratory of Nonlinear Analysis and Its Applications, Ministry of Education

Central China Normal University, Wuhan, China

Cheng-Wei Qiu

Provost’s Chair Professor