Hu Shennan（left 6) on the ceremony

Recently, the 8th International Conference on Matter and Radiation at Extremes (ICMR2025) concluded successfully in Xi’an. Hu Shennan, a 2022 cohort MSE student of Guangdong Technion – Israel Institute of Technology (GTIIT) and also a member of the group of Associate Professor Elissaios Stavrou in GTIIT, won the Best Poster Award with his research project titled “High-pressure structural and lattice-dynamics study of Yttria-Stabilized Zirconia.” He competed with over 70 scholars from top universities and research institutes worldwide, including Tsinghua University, Peking University and University of Chinese Academy of Science, and ranked among the top 10. He was the only undergraduate student to receive this honor and award.

The ICMRE, established by the China Academy of Engineering Physics, has been held annually since 2016 with topics covering major disciplines of the academy. This year’s conference attracted around 500 scholars from 15 countries, including China, US, Russia, Germany, Japan and UK. As a part of this conference, the poster session contained four tracks: Fundamental physics at extremes, Inertial confinement fusion and innovation fusion, Radiation and hydrodynamics and High-pressure physics and material science.

Hu Shennan said that in his poster, he mainly elucidated the structural evolution of two zirconia-based compounds (3YSZ and 8YSZ) doped with different proportions (3 mol% and 8 mol%) of yttria under high pressure. 3YSZ is used in surgical knives and dental implants due to its high hardness and corrosion resistance. 8YSZ is used in fuel cells and spacecraft thermal protection coatings due to its high-temperature resistance and high ionic conductivity at high temperatures. Hu Shennan’s research focuses on whether high pressure can trigger new structural changes in these materials, thereby providing an experimental foundation for future performance modulation.

In the second semester of his sophomore year, Shennan joined the research group of Assoc. Prof. Elissaios, where he focused on the research about mechanisms of material changes under extreme conditions. Driven by his interest in aerospace materials, he read many papers and found a material that is widely used in industry but lacks research data on its changes under high pressure. “Initially it was just a rough idea. However, Prof. Elissaios supported me a lot. He gave me full trust and professional guidance – that’s what kept me going with this project.”

Hu Shennan (left 2) and Prof. Elissaio (left 1)

Scientific research is never easy. Every step, from operating experimental equipment to processing data, posed significant challenges to Hu Shennan, a newcomer in scientific research that time. At the beginning, due to his unfamiliarity with the equipment and lack of professional knowledge, he always wanted to seek answers directly from his seniors. However, his senior mentor Sun Baihong told him, “The best way to learn is to try it yourself first. Scientific research is not about waiting someone to tell you how to do – it’s about exploring and figuring things out on your own.” These words made Shennan realize the importance of thinking actively. “Even for the basic operation, I practiced over and over again. The most difficult experiment took dozens of failures, but it was these attempts that made me grow.”

“I feel honored to present my research and receive an award in such an international conference. My sample data embodies the tireless efforts of our team, who worked day and night across the globe to collect them. So, the honor belongs to everyone in the group,” Shennan said. From data collection in GTIIT and synchrotron sources worldwide to pre-competition preparation, he gained a lot of thoughtful assistance from senior researchers in the team. One of them often checked on his project even when she was in the UK. During the 3-hour poster presentation, they stayed with him, enhancing his courage and confidence. 

Some members from Prof. Elissaio's team

“This is my first time to take part in such a high level international academic conference,” Shennan shared his experiences. “Besides cutting-edge academic insights, interaction with professors from top universities was also unforgettable.” After a professor from UC Berkeley finished his speech, Shennan asked him about exoplanet research. To his surprise, during dinner, the professor started a conversation with Shennan, saying, “Don’t feel concerned around us professors. We’re just ordinary people who write papers. Communication drives scientific progress and that’s why I’m here in China.” These words inspired Shennan. This is also GTIIT’s problem-driven teaching method. Science isn’t a lonely quest, it’s about communication, through which progress and breakthroughs are achieved.

Text: GTIIT News & Public Affairs

Photos: Hu Shennan, GTIIT News & Public Affairs