The Power of Simulation Knows No Boundaries

Young People from Thirteen Countries Gather in Hangzhou

From Simulation Modeling to Liangzhu Jade Cong

Twelve Days and Nights Exploring Simulation Technology and Chinese Culture

This Summer’s Most Exciting International Exchange Went Far Beyond the Classroom!

An academic dialogue and cultural exchange spanning 13 countries came to a successful conclusion in Hangzhou this August. From August 11 to 23, the First Asia Simulation Federation Summer School was successfully held at Beihang University’s International Campus in Hangzhou. As part of the Beihang International Summer School (BISS) series, the program brought together participants from 13 countries, including China, Singapore, Thailand, Rwanda, and Ethiopia. Over twelve days, they explored the frontiers of simulation technology, experienced traditional Chinese culture, and completed an international journey that combined academic depth with a strong human touch through the exchange of ideas and shared emotions.

Setting Sail · Building a Strong Academic Foundation Together

# Opening Ceremony: Setting the Course and Inspiring Shared Expectations

On the morning of August 11, the opening ceremony of the First Asia Simulation Federation Summer School officially began in a lively and welcoming atmosphere. Professor Jingnong Weng, Secretary General of the Asia Simulation Federation, delivered remarks structured around three dimensions: academics, platform, and city. He introduced Beihang University’s disciplinary strengths and research capabilities in related fields, explained the Federation’s role as a bridge for international exchange, and vividly presented Hangzhou as a city where innovation and cultural heritage thrive together. Professor Weng highlighted the summer school’s central theme—“using simulation as a link to promote cross-cultural exchange”—extended a warm welcome to the international participants, and officially declared the program open.

△ Address by Professor Jingnong Weng

Professor Xiao Song of Beihang University introduced the summer school’s 17 instructors, who came from eight countries. The faculty included senior scholars in modeling and simulation as well as industry mentors with extensive practical experience. This international teaching team, combining theoretical depth with industrial expertise, gave participants high expectations for the professional value of the courses ahead.

△ Professor Xiao Song Introduces the Instructors

Dr. Xingyao Yu, the program coordinator, focused on the theme of “human-centered care” and introduced the extracurricular program in detail. Activities included field visits to science and technology centers and cultural institutions, as well as hands-on experiences such as making traditional Chinese pastries and practicing brush calligraphy. He encouraged participants to make the most of the twelve days by broadening their horizons through study and growing through exchange.

△ Dr. Xingyao Yu Introduces the Extracurricular Activities

At the opening ceremony, Professor Lin Zhang, President of the Asia Simulation Federation, delivered the summer school’s first lecture, Brief Introduction to Modeling and Simulation. Covering the core principles of simulation technology and its applications across industries, Professor Zhang opened the door to the academic world of simulation through an accessible and engaging presentation.

△ Lecture by Professor Lin Zhang

# Ice-Breaking Activities: Breaking Down Barriers and Building Friendships

On the evening of August 11, a lively ice-breaking event quickly warmed up cross-cultural friendships. After brief self-introductions, participants took part in a “Guess Who” game and a team-based drawing-and-guessing activity. Some imitated the signature gestures of famous scientists, while others used simple sketches to depict cultural symbols from their home countries. Amid laughter, language barriers gradually faded, and participants of different backgrounds quickly became acquainted. The event planted the seeds of friendship for the academic cooperation and cultural exchange that followed.

Multidimensional Exploration · Knowledge and Culture Growing Together

# Academic Courses: Exploring the Frontiers and Strengthening the Foundations

Throughout the summer school, participants explored a wide range of directions in simulation through specialized courses. The curriculum covered core theories such as the fundamentals of modeling and simulation and agent-based simulation methods. It also introduced cutting-edge applications, including three-dimensional reconstruction and visualization of cultural heritage, intelligent transportation, and digital industrial innovation, together with practical training in engineering simulation software for fluid and structural analysis.

Participants from different countries contributed their own disciplinary backgrounds and practical experience to classroom discussions. A participant from Singapore drew on local intelligent transportation systems to suggest ways simulation could help optimize congestion management, while a participant from Ethiopia focused on how simulation could support the digital transformation of manufacturing in their country. The interaction of diverse perspectives energized classroom thinking and turned cross-cultural academic exchange into a meaningful reality.

# Industry Visits: Connecting with Industry and Experiencing the Frontiers

To bridge the gap between theoretical learning and industrial practice, the summer school organized visits to China (Hangzhou) Artificial Intelligence Town and two leading companies: Hangzhou Virtual Reality Technology Co., Ltd. and Pimax Technology Co., Ltd. At Hangzhou Virtual Reality Technology, participants experienced virtual-reality haptic perception and feedback solutions firsthand, from “grasping virtual objects” to “simulating the feel of materials,” gaining an intuitive understanding of innovative simulation applications in interactive experiences. At Pimax, the clear images and immersive performance of high-resolution head-mounted displays revealed the future possibilities of integrating simulation technology with hardware devices. The visits not only introduced participants to the latest developments in the virtual-reality industry, but also inspired deeper reflection on how academic research can serve industrial needs.

# Cultural Experiences: Encountering Tradition and Growing Through Exchange

Beyond their studies, a colorful range of traditional Chinese cultural experiences added warmth to the summer school. Through hands-on activities, participants immersed themselves in the appeal of Eastern culture. They made mung bean cakes bearing the ASIASIM logo and, from grinding ingredients to shaping the cakes, experienced how the Chinese pastry ideal of “elegance and health” could blend with ASIASIM’s spirit of “innovation, collaboration, and precision.” They practiced writing Chinese characters such as “simulation” and “Hangzhou,” and tried writing their own Chinese names with brushes, discovering the cultural meaning embedded in every stroke. They also explored paper-cutting, transforming ordinary red paper into auspicious patterns such as the character for “spring” and lotus flowers, while appreciating the folk-art wisdom of achieving complexity through simplicity. These activities broadened cultural horizons and gave cross-cultural exchange both warmth and depth.

Cultural exploration extended beyond handicrafts. Participants also visited the Liangzhu Museum, where jade artifacts, archaeological site models, and professional interpretation brought them close to the 5,000-year history of Chinese civilization. From the wisdom of the Liangzhu people in managing floods to the ancient ritual culture embodied in jade decoration, the depth of this civilization gave cross-cultural exchange a historical dimension reaching far beyond the present. As participants from different countries encountered the continuity of Chinese culture, they also gained a deeper understanding of the coexistence of diverse civilizations.

Achievements in Bloom · The Power of Youth in Simulation

During the academic presentations, five groups explored the central question of how simulation technology can empower industrial upgrading. Their work examined technical applications, real-world implementation, and tool optimization from multiple perspectives, forming a clear and coherent line of reasoning. The presentations covered the entire chain from simulation as a foundational tool to its industrial applications, while closely reflecting the trends of digitalization and intelligent transformation. They demonstrated the participants’ deep understanding of interdisciplinary work and offered diverse ideas and practical directions for the future of manufacturing and engineering simulation, creating an academic exchange rich in both theoretical depth and practical value.

Over twelve days, the Asia Simulation Federation Summer School used simulation technology as a bridge: knowledge met and collided here, cultures blended here, and friendships took root here. As participants departed with academic gains and cross-cultural memories, this journey of “connecting the world through simulation” became more than a learning experience. It was like a seed that will grow into new possibilities for international cooperation in simulation and bear witness to future achievements in cross-cultural innovation. We look forward to meeting again and renewing our promise to “walk with the world in the name of simulation.”

The spark of simulation has been sown in international soil
The resonance of culture will sustain enduring friendship

Let wisdom ignite ideas and code sketch the future

At the intersection of the virtual and the real, we open up new frontiers