ICBS 2026 poster session at BIMSA sets record – 48 students from 26 universities
A poster session is a conference format in which researchers present their work on visual posters and discuss them with colleagues in an informal setting. This year's poster session of the International Conference on Basic Sciences (ICBS) at the Beijing Institute of Mathematical Sciences and Applications (BIMSA) set a record with 48 students from 26 universities. But the numbers are less important than the quality of the work presented and the depth of the discussions.
True science is born at the intersection of ideas, when a young researcher, confined to a narrow field, suddenly hears a question from an entirely different discipline — and the world turns upside down. Such moments do not happen in the silence of offices, but in lively communication, where posters become bridges between mathematical physics and applied algebra, between theory and practice. ICBS 2026 offered exactly that atmosphere: here, participants did not merely present their work — they learned to hear each other.
We saw how students working in different areas – from mathematical physics to applied algebra – find a common language. Graduate student Ye Guoran noted the growing potential of interdisciplinary projects, while student Song Jiaxin emphasised that explaining one's ideas to "outsiders" helps overcome intellectual dead ends. Particularly valuable is that many participants attribute their success to curiosity and mental flexibility (Zhang Ronghan). Professor Sebastian Heller and graduate Ye Xiaowei agreed that year by year, not only the quality of poster presentation but also the depth of scientific questions is increasing.
ICBS 2026 became a platform where new collaborations were born. It is clear that the future of fundamental science depends on how ready we are to listen to young people and support their desire to go beyond the familiar. The International Conference on Basic Sciences (ICBS) is held annually and brings together leading scientists from around the world. BIMSA (Beijing Institute of Mathematical Sciences and Applications) is one of the key organisers, paying special attention to supporting young researchers. Poster sessions at ICBS traditionally serve as a platform for exchanging ideas between students and established experts, and this year they set a record in terms of participation, reflecting the growing interest of young people in fundamental science.
As CCTV+ reports, ICBS 2026 once again confirmed that dialogue between generations and disciplines is not just a trendy slogan, but the main driver of scientific progress. When students and professors discuss ideas on an equal footing, when mathematical physics meets applied algebra, that "mad" creativity that drives science forward is born. And if we want this movement to continue, we need not only to listen to the young, but also to create a space where their voices can be heard.
