On December 14, 2024, the Shenzhen Bay Laboratory (SZBL) held a symposium centered on the theme of "High Spatiotemporal Spectroscopy". Hosted by the Institute of Systems and Physical Biology (ISPB) at SZBL, the event featured distinguished presentations from experts representing leading institutions, including Peking University, the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC), Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Nankai University, East China Normal University, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, the Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology & Engineering of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), and the Fujian Institute of Research on the Structure of Matter of the CAS. Scholars from Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Beijing Normal University, Xidian University, and the China Academy of Engineering Physics also joined the discussions, contributing to a vibrant exchange of ideas. More than 90 researchers attended the symposium in person.
The event opened with a welcoming address by Professor Yi Luo, Director of the Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale at USTC. Professor Luo highlighted the significance of the symposium's theme and expressed heartfelt appreciation to the organizers and attendees for their participation and support.
The conference began with the first morning session. Professor Dongping Zhong of Shanghai Jiao Tong University presented a comprehensive review of the development of time-resolved spectroscopy. The 1999 Nobel Prize in Chemistry recognized the groundbreaking use of femtosecond spectroscopy for the first direct observation of ultrafast quantum phenomena in chemical reactions. Professor Zhong’s team later advanced this technology to investigate the mechanisms of DNA photolyase, revealing the physical and chemical basis of DNA damage repair, a contribution instrumental to the 2015 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Next, Professor Yi Luo from USTC captivated the audience with his work on ultrahigh-resolution single-molecule chemical imaging. By integrating computational chemistry simulations with surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy, he presented detailed images of individual molecular vibrational modes. Professor Luo also highlighted the transformative potential of machine learning and artificial intelligence in creating intelligent chemical laboratories, or "robot chemists", which promise to accelerate research efficiency significantly.
In the subsequent morning session, Professor Feng Gai from Peking University detailed the development and use of small-molecule probes to unravel dynamic processes at protein active sites, such as protein folding kinetics. Associate Investigator Wei Zhuang from the Fujian Institute of Research on the Structure of Matter (CAS) introduced intriguing phenomena of supercooled water dynamics in biological systems, supported by theoretical insights. Professor Bei Ding from Shanghai Jiao Tong University shared her research on the molecular reaction mechanisms of BLUF domains in blue-light receptor proteins, utilizing ultrafast UV-visible and infrared spectroscopy to shed light on these intricate processes.
In the third session of the afternoon, Professor Jinquan Chen from East China Normal University presented the ultrafast chiral spectroscopy technology developed by his research team and its applications in chemical and biological systems. Associate Investigator Aiguo Wu from the Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology & Engineering, CAS shared advancements in frontier biomedical research, focusing on the application of biomedical imaging probes for cancer diagnosis and treatment. Professor Zenghui Zhang from the Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology introduced solvent models created by his team to analyze thermodynamic effects in condensed matter systems, with applications in biomolecular solvation and other thermodynamic processes.
In the final session, Professor Xuewen Fu from Nankai University discussed the development of 4D ultrafast electron microscopy by his team and its use in studying nonequilibrium dynamics in materials, including topological magnetic structures and charge dynamics. Professor Hao Chu from Shanghai Jiao Tong University presented research on ultrafast and nonlinear spectroscopy in condensed matter systems. Jiali Gao, Senior Principal Investigator from the Institute of Systems and Physical Biology of SZBL described the multistate density functional method developed by his team and their efforts in protein engineering and biosynthesis. To conclude, Gao extended his gratitude to all attendees and participants in his closing remarks.
The symposium featured lively discussions among participants on four key themes: time- and space-resolved spectroscopy, AI, theoretical computational simulations, and the dynamics of biological macromolecules. Participants shared their perspectives on and expectations for emerging spectroscopic techniques, focusing on the development of ultra-high precision time- and space-resolved spectroscopy and its applications in life science and materials science, as well as the role of AI in advancing these techniques. The symposium fostered a vibrant exchange of ideas, generating numerous points of discussion and underscoring the excitement of scientific discovery.
