From May 9 to 11, 2025, the 15th National Conference on Surface Engineering was held in Tianjin. The conference was organized by the Surface Engineering Society of the Chinese Mechanical Engineering Society and co-hosted by Tianjin University, University of Science and Technology Beijing, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), and Hainan University.

The conference, themed "Innovation in Surface Engineering Technology Boosts the Development of New Quality Productive Forces," brought together over a thousand experts and scholars from universities, research institutions, and enterprises across the country. Participants engaged in discussions on the latest research advances, technical challenges, and future development directions in the field of surface engineering.

Acting on the delegation of Professor Li Wenhui, Dean of the School of Mechanical Engineering at Tianjin University of Science and Technology, early-career faculty members Zheng Zhongpeng and Yin Xiaoming actively participated in the entire conference alongside their team, which included PhD candidate Zhou Zhennan, master's candidate Huo Yueming, and several undergraduate students. During the conference, they engaged in academic exchanges with experts and scholars across various sub-forums. These sessions covered topics such as surface engineering for high-end specialized equipment, material surface strengthening and modification technologies, laser processing and additive manufacturing, as well as bio-inspired functional surfaces and their applications. This participation facilitated valuable research exchange and collaboration between the school's early-career faculty and national experts, holding significant importance for the development of related disciplines and scientific research innovation within the school.

Moving forward, the School of Mechanical Engineering will institutionalize the practice of organizing faculty and student participation in academic conferences. This initiative aims to enhance the refinement and promotion of the school's research achievements, thereby expanding its influence and reach in teaching and scientific research.