From January 10 to 13, 2025, the 4th Academic Symposium on Network Science and Mathematics was successfully held at Shenzhen University. The event was organized by the School of Mathematical Sciences at Shenzhen University, with assistance from the School of Computer Science and Software Engineering at Shenzhen University and the Department of Statistics and Data Science at Southern University of Science and Technology. A brief opening ceremony was held at 9:00 AM on January 11 in Lecture Hall 2 of Huixing Building. Vice President Wang Yongcheng delivered a welcome speech, introducing the development history of Shenzhen University and its recent achievements. Following that, Professor Chen Guanrong, Chair Professor at City University of Hong Kong and an Academician of the European Academy of Sciences, expressed gratitude to Shenzhen University for hosting this high-level symposium and shared insights into the research and future prospects of complex networks. Professor Hu Yaohua, Associate Dean of the School of Mathematical Sciences at Shenzhen University, extended his appreciation to all experts and scholars for attending and introduced the school’s background. The opening ceremony was hosted by Professor Feng Jianwen from the same school.

The symposium gathered 150 experts, young scholars, and graduate students from over 30 universities and research institutions, including City University of Hong Kong, Peking University, Fudan University, Zhejiang University, University of Science and Technology of China, Wuhan University, Shandong University, Sun Yat-sen University, Beijing Normal University, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Sichuan University, Beihang University, Southeast University, East China Normal University, South China University of Technology, Northwestern Polytechnical University, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, East China University of Science and Technology, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Beijing Jiaotong University, China University of Mining and Technology, Southwest University, Jiangnan University, Shanxi University, Tianjin Polytechnic University, Zhejiang University of Technology, Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Zhongguancun Laboratory, and Shenzhen University. Among the participants were over 20 distinguished senior and young scholars recognized as national-level talents.

During the three-day conference, 21 experts delivered keynote speeches. Among them were seven recipients of the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars: Professor Li Zhongkui (Peking University), Professor Lin Wei (Fudan University), Professor Qin Jiahu (University of Science and Technology of China), Professor Chai Li (Zhejiang University), Professor Du Wenli (East China University of Science and Technology), Professor Xu Shengyuan (Nanjing University of Science and Technology), Professor Su Housheng (Huazhong University of Science and Technology), Additionally, three distinguished national-level senior talents: Professor Zhang Chenghui (Shandong University), Professor Li Tao (East China Normal University), Professor Gao Qing (Beihang University). Furthermore, five young national-level talents: Professor Zhao Yu (Northwestern Polytechnical University),Professors Xu Wenying and Fu Junjie (Southeast University),Professor Zhao Xueyan (South China University of Technology), Professor Tan Shaolin (Zhongguancun Laboratory), Notable scholars also chaired some of the sessions, including: Professor Huang Tingwen (Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Academician of the European Academy of Sciences), Professor Di Zengru (Beijing Normal University and Academician of the International Academy for Systems and Cybernetic Sciences), Professor Guan Zhihong (Huazhong University of Science and Technology), Professor Deng Feiqi (South China University of Technology), Professor Yu Wenwu (Southeast University, recipient of national-level talent awards). The keynote speeches covered the latest research progress, developments, and future trends in complex network science. Topics included network models, structures, dynamics, control and synchronization, consensus mechanisms, and higher-order network properties, along with their applications in information systems, social sciences, and biological networks. These presentations attracted significant attention and sparked extensive discussions among participants. Attendees highly praised the symposium, recognizing it as a high-level academic conference in the field of complex networks. They agreed that it played a crucial role in advancing network science in China and would have a lasting impact on the field.