Shenzhen University School of Mathematical Sciences

Liyuan Scholar Colloquium No. 142

Lecture Title: Talk on Graph Theory

Lecturer: Professor Xueliang Li (Nankai University)

Lecture Time: September 11, 2025, 10:30–11:30 AM

Venue: Classroom No. 1, Huixing Building, Yuehai Campus, Shenzhen University

Abstract: Discrete structures appear extensively in nature, social and economic systems, and provide excellent descriptions of many real-world phenomena. Graph theory, a discipline devoted to the study of discrete structures, has extensive connections with algebra, topology, probability, combinatorics, number theory, and other areas of mathematics. It is also widely applied in statistical physics, theoretical chemistry, bioinformatics, network design, computer science, as well as in economics and the social sciences.

This lecture will review several important historical stages in the development of graph theory, share anecdotes about renowned figures in the field, and present in an accessible manner some of the discipline’s major theoretical achievements. It will also explore the important application prospects of graph theory, enabling undergraduate and graduate students who are interested in or aspiring to engage in this field to gain a comprehensive overview in the shortest possible time.

Lecturer's Biography: Professor Xueliang Li is a Distinguished Professor and doctoral supervisor at Nankai University. He has been recognized as an “Outstanding Talent of the New Century” by the Ministry of Education, an expert entitled to special government allowances of the State Council, and the leader of the “Innovative Research Team in Combinatorics” funded by the Ministry of Education. He has also served as President of the Chinese Society of Combinatorics and Graph Theory. His research and teaching focus on graph theory and combinatorial optimization, chemical graph theory, and theoretical computer science. He has published more than 400 papers in leading international journals such as J. Comb. Theory Ser. B，SIAM J. Discrete Math., Siam J. Computing, J. Graph Theory, Adv. Appl. Math., IEEE Trans. Inform. Theory. He has authored over 10 books with international publishers such as Springer and translated 2 works published by Higher Education Press. He currently serves on the editorial boards of more than 10 international journals, including Discrete Applied Mathematics (Elsevier) and Journal of Mathematical Chemistry (Springer), as well as on the editorial board of Acta Mathematicae Applicatae Sinica (both Chinese and English editions). He has led 3 Key Projects and more than 10 General Projects funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC), and has also participated in 2 “973 Program” projects. He has supervised 12 postdoctoral researchers (10 have completed), 82 doctoral students (80 awarded PhD degrees), and 38 master’s students (37 awarded master’s degrees). Among his graduates are recipients of titles such as “Distinguished Professor under the Ministry of Education’s High-level Talent Program,” “Leading Talent in the Ten-thousand Talents Program” by the Organization Department of the CPC Central Committee, “National Teaching Master,” and “Excellent Young Scientists” funded by NSFC, as well as dozens recognized as high-level talents at the provincial or ministerial level.

All faculty and students are welcome to attend!

School of Mathematical Sciences

September 1, 2025