On July 25, the 2025 International Congress of Basic Science (ICBS) concluded at the Yanqi Lake Beijing Institute of Mathematical Sciences and Applications after 13 days of intensive academic exchange. The event brought together nearly 1,000 leading scientists, renowned scholars, and university students from around the world, featuring over 500 plenary lectures, thematic sessions, and satellite meetings. It also welcomed nearly 1,000 high school students from more than 100 schools worldwide, with total online and offline participation exceeding six million.

Held for the third consecutive year in Huairou Science City, the Congress focused on mathematics, physics, information science, and engineering. It covered cutting-edge theories and interdisciplinary frontiers across basic sciences. Six Lifetime Achievement Award laureates delivered keynote addresses, while more than 100 Frontier Science Award winners presented their latest research. With broad participation from senior scholars and young researchers alike, the Congress has become a truly open and inclusive platform for global academic collaboration.　　

Professor Shing-Tung Yau, Congress Chair and Fields Medalist, remarked: “Basic science is the cornerstone of civilization and the driving force for meeting future challenges. Each year, we invite the world’s foremost scientists here to freely exchange and debate ideas. Their presence makes this Congress not only a gathering of science, but also a feast of thought and wisdom. What delights me most is seeing a new generation of young scholars joining the field, carrying the torch of basic science into the future.”

During the Congress, Lifetime Achievement laureates not only showcased their profound scholarship but also shared thought-provoking insights. At “Night of Physics,” Samuel Ting remarked, “We should make changes. If it is possible I hope I could live another hundred years to uncover the universe’s deepest secrets by myself.” While answering to when is the right age to start research, Steven Chu, at 76, quipped, “That depends. For me, now is just right.” David Gross echoed Einstein: “Through pure thought and faith in the unity of nature, one can derive elegant laws of physics.” At “Night of Mathematics,” George Lusztig admitted he prefers “beauty” over “utility” in research. Shigefumi Mori highlighted the non-linear, spiral nature of scientific progress. Robert Tarjan cautioned young people not to over-rely on AI, emphasizing that independent thinking is the only safeguard against being replaced by machines.

Artificial intelligence and its intersection with basic science emerged as a central theme. Discussions addressed AI’s paradigms, theoretical foundations, development bottlenecks, and high-efficiency architectures. At “Engineering Night” and the “AI and Basic Science Forum,” leading scientists and industry experts explored both opportunities and risks. Steven Chu observed that today’s AI relies heavily on data fitting and interpolation but lacks the ability to grasp or transform abstract concepts. Whether it will ever possess true creativity remains unknown. Robert Tarjan added that AI lacks curiosity and moral judgment, qualities innate to children—hallmarks of the “natural intelligence” machines cannot replicate.

The Congress also featured a wide array of thematic events, including “Night of Mathematics,” “Night of Physics,” and “Night of Engineering,” alongside special activities such as “Tsinghua Day—Math and Physics Frontier Forum and Public Outreach” and the “AI and Basic Science Forum.” Interactive sessions like “Scientists Meet Students” enabled undergraduates and high schoolers to engage directly with world-class scientists, sparking passion for scientific inquiry among young minds.

One highlight came during the “Night of Engineering,” when 600 drones lit up the Huairou night sky in a spectacular show. Formations depicted the Congress logo and Calabi–Yau geometries, turning abstract scientific concepts into luminous art. The performance became one of the most visually stunning moments of the Congress.

To inspire the next generation, the Congress presented “Outstanding Undergraduate Thesis Awards” and hosted poster sessions for both university and high school students. The undergraduate poster exhibition drew students from 27 universities worldwide, with six winning “Best Poster” honors. Over 100 posters from 58 secondary schools were also displayed, with 11 earning awards in mathematics, physics, computer science, and financial modeling. These posters showcased young scholars’ first steps in research, with some authors defending their work before expert panels.

As part of the “Discover Huairou” program, scientists climbed the Mutianyu Great Wall, strolled by Yanqi Lake, and visited the New Quality Productive Forces Creation Center, National Multimode Trans-Scale Biomedical Imaging Center, the Transdisciplinary Platform of Brain Functional Connectome and Brain-inspired Intelligence, and the Farm Operated by Doctors in Beifang Town, knowing more about the latest achievements that Huairou has made in fundamental research, technological innovation and commercialization. They experienced both China’s cultural heritage and Huairou’s coordination of original innovation and regional development.

“Harmony of Nature, Symphony of Minds” Eternal Harmony Technic Music Concert brought together over 300 scientists in Huairou. Centered on Chinese traditional music, the performance revealed the shared pursuit of truth and beauty in both science and art. Guests remarked that the rhythm of music and the logic of science resonated deeply, offering a unique harmony of reason and aesthetics.

In recent years, Huairou Science City has focused on five major fields—material science, life science, earth system science, space science, and information & intelligent science. It hosts six large-scale scientific facilities and more than 30 research platforms, 16 of which are now open globally. These facilities have produced 386 major scientific achievements, winning many awards. Today, Huairou is home to 26,000 researchers, making it a vibrant hub for talent and discovery.

One of the organizers, the Yanqi Lake Beijing Institute of Mathematical Sciences and Applications (BIMSA), is a new research institution supported by Beijing with the goal of world-class excellence. BIMSA devoted 75% to applied mathematics and 25% to fundamental mathematics, and has attracted 69 international researchers from 22 countries across multiple continents, making up 38% of its staff. By hosting the Congress, the Institute seeks to foster an international academic exchange platform, advance interdisciplinary research, and strengthen the foundation for future scientific progress.