On the afternoon of August 1st, the closing ceremony of "Ocean Dreams" 2025 International Summer School on Ocean Engineering and Mechanics was held in Mulan Building B208. With this, the two-week summer school successfully concluded.
This year’s summer school attracted 56 outstanding students from nearly 20 universities across China, Japan, Thailand, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and other countries. The summer school focused on technical guest lectures from 12 top scholars and renowned professors from both domestic and international institutions. The course contents covered a number of cutting-edge topics in naval architecture, ocean engineering and technology, and mechanics. The lectures sparked in-depth discussions between the students and the experts, fostering an enthusiastic academic atmosphere.

In addition to experts’ lectures, a variety of on-campus and off-campus visits have been organized to broaden the students’ scientific horizons and promote the cross-cultural exchange. Participants toured the Minhang and Xuhui campuses of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, including the School History Hall, the Tung Chao Yung Museum, and the Qian Xuesen Library, gaining a deeper understanding of Shanghai Jiao Tong University’s rich academic legacy and its notable contributions to naval architecture and ocean engineering. Beyond the campus landmarks, the students also visited the major research facilities at the School of Ocean and Civil Engineering, such as the Deepwater Offshore Basin, the Wind Tunnel-Water Circular Channel, the Cavitation Tunnel, and the Structural Mechanics Laboratory. These visits provided firsthand experience of the capabilities and complexity of modern large-scale experimental platforms.
Additionally, the summer school arranged for the students to visit YUANWANG1 research ship and the China Maritime Museum. During the onboard tour, students gained a direct understanding of the structural design and key functions of modern research ships, deepening their knowledge of maritime equipment. At the China Maritime Museum, participants explored the history of global seafaring and the evolution of maritime technologies across diverse cultural contexts, while also appreciating China’s unique contributions and remarkable achievements in the history of world maritime development. These field visits further broadened the students’ professional horizons and enhanced their academic interest in the field of naval architecture and ocean engineering.

In order to further integrate theory with practice and provide participants with hands-on access to Shanghai Jiao Tong University’s laboratories, the summer school offered 11 experimental courses in mechanics and 4 in ocean engineering. Working in groups, students selected projects based on their academic interests and engaged in the full research process, including design, implementation, data collection, and data analysis. Through this experience, they gained valuable insights into scientific investigation and engineering practice.

To foster academic exchange and interaction among students, this year's summer school also held team reports and poster exhibition. Participants from various countries and universities formed ten groups to conduct in-depth research on key topics in naval architecture and ocean engineering. Experts provided professional feedback and selected three teams for the Excellent Team Report Award. Meanwhile, participants also presented their individual research projects in the form of academic posters. The exhibition featured a lively atmosphere, with active discussions and idea exchanges. Several experts attended the session, offering evaluations and scoring each poster. Based on overall performance, ten students were awarded the Outstanding Poster Award.

At the closing ceremony, Professor Xinliang Tian, director of this year’s Summer School, presented graduation certificates to all participants and delivered a concluding address. He emphasized that the program not only conveyed cutting-edge knowledge in ocean engineering and mechanics, but also served as a platform for academic exchange and international friendship among young talents worldwide. Through their time in China and exploration of Shanghai, students gained deeper insights into Shanghai Jiao Tong University. In his closing remarks, he extended warm wishes for their continued academic success and expressed hope for future reunions.

This year’s Summer School provided an immersive academic experience through a diverse program of expert lectures, experimental courses, thematic discussions, and field visits. Distinguished by the global outlook, forward-thinking topics, and rigorous organization, the program not only facilitated the exchange of knowledge and ideas, but also served as a vibrant platform for cultivating international friendships and fostering academic collaboration.
We look forward to welcoming more promising young scholars to SJTU, committed to both visionary ambition and practical excellence, who will continue to advance key disciplines such as naval architecture, ocean engineering, and mechanics, and contribute their talent and passion to scientific progress and industrial innovation.