(Reported by Zhang Xingwei) On the afternoon of October 24, Professor Qian Yu from the School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering at South China University of Technology was invited to deliver the 14th academic lecture at the 2025 Chemical Engineering and Technology First-Class Discipline High-End Forum hosted by our university.

The lecture, titled "Functional Material Chemicals: Molecular Design–Microscale Structure–Product Manufacturing", was chaired by Dean Xiong Qingang of the School of Chemical Engineering and Pharmacy. Prof. Qian systematically expounded the "molecule-product-process" trinity R&D paradigm centered on products, using the case of anticancer drug manufacturing to demonstrate how cross-scale precise control can be achieved from molecular design to factory production. His insights provided innovative ideas for the R&D of high-end chemicals.

During the interactive session, Prof. Qian engaged in in-depth exchanges with faculty and students, addressing questions ranging from technical details to broader research methodologies. In response to inquiries about AI applications in scientific research, he cited the classic computing adage "garbage in, garbage out", emphasizing that researchers must critically evaluate data and models. He advocated integrating AI tools with disciplinary expertise and practical validation to avoid blind reliance and truly harness AI’s potential to drive innovation.

The lecture was co-organized by the School of Chemical Engineering and Pharmacy, the Graduate School, and the Hubei Key Laboratory of Novel Reactors and Green Chemical Technology. Faculty members and students from relevant departments attended the event. (Reviewed by Yang Haibo and Yu Xianglin)

Biography of the Speaker

Qian Yuis a professor at the School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, South China University of Technology. He is a recipient of the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars, a member of the New Century Hundred-Talent Program, and the Guangdong Pearl River Scholar Distinguished Professor. He also serves as director of the Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Green Chemical Product Technology. Prof. Qian holds concurrent positions as deputy director of the China Chemical Industry Association Information Technology Committeeand a member of the European Federation of Chemical Engineering Systems Engineering Expert Group. His research focuses on theoretical and practical aspects of chemical product design and development, process modeling and simulation, process integration, and energy-saving low-carbon technologies.