USTC’s SFPE Hefei Student Chapter Clinches International Gold Award for Chapter Excellence for Three Years Running
The Society of Fire Protection Engineers (SFPE) recently announced the recipients of its 2025 Global Chapter Awards, recognizing the SFPE Hefei Student Chapter, associated with the State Key Laboratory of Fire Science at the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC), with the Gold Award for Chapter Excellence. This award represents the third consecutive year that the chapter has received this distinction from SFPE, a prominent organization in the field of fire protection engineering.
About the SFPE Hefei Student Chapter
Established in 2021, the SFPE Hefei Student Chapter focuses on fostering an academic exchange platform for students specializing in fire safety science. The chapter has hosted a range of distinguished scholars who have delivered lectures and provided academic mentorship. Among notable speakers are Professor Guillermo Rein from Imperial College London, Professor Kuang-Chung Tsai from National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, Professor Ruggiero Lovreglio from Massey University, and Senior Lecturer Ricky Carvel from the University of Edinburgh.
Academic Activities and Engagement
The chapter has also organized online lectures featuring Professor Luke Bisby, a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering at the University of Edinburgh, who presented advanced topics in fire safety science. To date, the chapter has conducted 23 academic activities, including public lectures and specialized forums, attracting over 8,500 participants through both online and in-person events, thereby promoting international academic dialogue.
Global Collaborations and Networking
Beyond local efforts, the SFPE Hefei Student Chapter has extended its global academic network by collaborating with international organizations. The chapter has interacted with the SFPE Taiwan Student Chapter and participated in the 2024 Asia-Oceania Symposium on Fire Science and Technology (AOSFST). Technical exchanges have been formed with institutions such as the Emergency Management & Evacuation (EME) team and other global partners, with a focus on fire protection design for high-rise buildings.
International Representation
Members of the chapter have represented USTC at significant international conferences, including the International Symposium on Fire Safety Science and the European Symposium on Fire Safety Science. Participation in international summer schools and fire safety programs has further enhanced global cooperation and knowledge-sharing in the field.
Leadership and Future Initiatives
The current executive committee of the SFPE Hefei Student Chapter comprises Haonan Chen, Yiyang Hu, and Liaoying Zhou, with guidance from Professor Yu Wang. The recognition through the Gold Award for Chapter Excellence highlights the chapter’s operational effectiveness and the academic capabilities of USTC students. The chapter intends to maintain its initiatives to promote student development and showcase USTC’s research strengths in fire science, contributing to the broader advancement of fire safety knowledge worldwide.
(Source: University of Science and Technology of China)
