The 7th International Conference on Magnesium (ICM 7) was successfully held on Nov. 19th -22nd, 2020. ICM 7 was hosted by Chinese Materials Research Society (C-MRS) and Journal of Magnesium and Alloys (JMA), and organized by International Magnesium Society (IMS), Institute of Metal Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chongqing University, and Chinese Committee for Magnesium and its Application (CCMA), etc.. Prof. Fusheng Pan (Academician of Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE), chairman of Chongqing Association for Science & Technology, director of National Engineering Research Center for Magnesium Alloys, vice President of C-MRS) from Chongqing University, China served as Chair of ICM 7, Prof. Karl Ulrich Kainer from Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Poland and Helmholtz Zentrum Geesthacht, Germany, Prof. Kwang Seon Shin (Member of the National Academy of Engineering of Korea) from Seoul National University, Korea, Prof. Alan A. Luo from Ohio State University, United States, and Prof. Yuansheng Yang from Institute of Metal Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China served as co-chairs. Three academicians of CAE, Prof. Tieyong Zuo, Prof. Jilin He, Prof. Wenjiang Ding and Prof. David St John from the University of Queensland, Australia served as the Honorary Chairs of ICM 7.
ICM 7 was held both online with Zoom and offline in Chongqing and Shengyang, China. More than 1200 delegates from China, United States, Germany, United Kingdom, Canada, Singapore, Korea, Japan, and Australia etc. participated online and onsite in ICM 7. The conference was watched by over 120,000 persons/times. There were 13 plenary talks, 105 keynote, invited and oral talks, 53 online posters and 5 forums.
Prof. Fusheng Pan made an opening speech and welcome all the participants from all over the world. The 13 wonderfully plenary presentations were given by Prof. Wenjiang Ding (Academician of CAE, China), Prof. Karl U Kainer (Germany), Prof. Andrej Atrens (Australia), Prof. Kwang Seon Shin (Korea), Prof. Alan A Luo (United States), Prof. Zhongyun Fan (United Kingdom), Prof. Yuntian Zhu (United States), Prof. Jian Lu (Hongkong, China), Prof. Maximilian Fichtner (Germany), Prof. Matthew R. Barnett (Austrilia), Prof. En-Hou Han (China), Prof. Manoj Gupta (Singapore), and Prof. Warren J Poole (Canada). The 105 oral presentations were arranged in six parallel oral sessions, which were Cast alloys, Wrought alloys, Processing, Performance & Application, Modeling & Simulation, and Corrosion & Protection. Ten Best Poster Awards were selected from the 53 posters. In addition, Forum on Standards, Forum on Lightweight, Forum on Scientific Journals, Forum on Frontier Technology, and Forum on Industry-Academy Cooperation were held in parallel with ICM 7. President of International Magnesium Association (IMA), Mr. Rick McQueary also joined in the forum on Lightweight and made a presentation on “IMA Supports the Global Growth of Magnesium Industry”.
Furthermore, the first award ceremony of the International Magnesium Science & Technology Award was held along with ICM 7. The Award was established by International Magnesium Society and Journal of Magnesium and Alloys. The winners of the Award were selected by the Award Committee with Prof. Fusheng Pan serving as the chairman and Prof. Karl Kainer serving as the co-chairman of the Award Committee. The Award Committee members are composed of 38 famous scientists in the field of magnesium and magnesium alloys from China, United States, Germany, United Kingdom, Canada, Singapore, Korea, Japan, and Australia etc. The award selection is conducted every three years by the Award Committee. The Award is categorized into International Magnesium Award for Lifetime Achievement, International Magnesium Award for Distinguished Scientist, International Magnesium Award for Outstanding Youth, and International Magnesium Award for Innovative Research & Application. Four Lifetime Achievement winners, one Distinguished Scientist winner, 3 Outstanding Youth winners and 10 Innovative Research & Application winners were selected for the first time. Prof. Wenjiang Ding (Academician of CAE, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China), Prof. Karl U Kainer (Helmholtz Zentrum Geesthacht, Germany) and Prof. Kwang S Shin (Seoul National University, Korea) etc. were awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award, Prof. Alan Luo (Ohio State University, United States) was awarded the Distinguished Scientist Award, Prof. Bin Jiang (Chongqing University, China), Prof. Nick Birbilis (Australian National University, Australia) etc. were awarded Outstanding Youth Award, and Prof. Matthew R. Barnett (Deakin University, Australia), Prof. Yuansheng Yang(Chinese Academy of Sciences, Institute of Metal Research, China), Prof. Guohua Wu (Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China), Prof. Takahiro Ishizaki (Shibaura Institute of Technology, Japan), Prof. Nack J. Kim (Pohang University Science & Technology, Korea/USA), Prof. Yufeng Zheng (Beijing University, China) etc. were awarded Innovative Research & Application Award.
Prof. Fusheng Pan also made a closing speech to conclude ICM 7. ICM 7 is a comprehensive international conference covering almost every aspects of magnesium and magnesium alloys, including smelting and casting, phase transformation, simulation and modelling, alloy design, plastic processing, production application, corrosion and protection, application of magnesium and magnesium alloy and environmental protection, etc. Extensive exchanges and discussions were carried out on the afore-mentioned aspects. This is a successful international conference which was held both online and offline in two places. In addition, ICM 7 effectively promoted the discussion and exchange between famous scientists, young scholars and students, promoted the interaction and cooperation among universities, research institutes and enterprises, and promoted the development of magnesium and magnesium alloy science and technology. ICM 7 provided an effective platform for international exchange and cooperation.
The 8th International Conference on Magnesium (ICM 8) is planned to be held in 2023.