To honor the 40th anniversary of the establishment of the Shanghai Institute of Applied Mathematics and Mechanics, 12 of the top scientists in this field and notable scholars gathered at Shanghai University on Nov 1 to review the achievement in the past decades and pay tribute to the renowned academician Qian Weichang, the institute's first director and the former president of Shanghai University.

The Shanghai Institute of Applied Mathematics and Mechanics was officially established on Nov 1, 1984. The institute has made constant and countless contributions to various realms, including engineering and mathematics, fostering landmark progress and breeding exceptional talents for the country.

Cheng Danhong, Party secretary of Shanghai University where the institute was located, expressed his gratitude and stated that the institution will continue to promote breakthroughs in key areas of mechanics at the celebration seminar.

Zhang Tianzhong, deputy director of the Institute and the dean of the School of Mechanics and Engineering Science of SHU, said that the institute always resorted to innovation and built the country's first provincial and ministerial-level key laboratory combining mechanics and energy engineering and the first provincial and ministerial-level frontier science research base combining mechanics and artificial intelligence.

In memory of the renowned Chinese scientist, educator, and outstanding social activist Qian Weichang, his students donated a bronze statue of him, which will be erected on the grassland in front of the institute.

Li Zhongjiong contributed to this story.