On Oct. 17-20, the 9th Asia-Oceania Symposium on Fire Science and Technology (AOSFST) was held in Hefei, hosted by the State Key Laboratory of Fire Science (SKLFS) at theUniversity of Science and Technology of China (USTC). Nearly 200 participants from 20 countries and regions, including about 70 foreign researchers joined this symposium.

Participants from both China and abroad were impressed by the fabulous organization of the conference. "This is probably one the best conferences that I have attended," said by Bogdan Dlugogorski, Chairman of theInternational Association for Fire Safety Science (IAFSS). "this is one of the largest we have ever had and best organized conference I have had. I have to say that it is that way because of the work of local organize committee. Prof. LIU Naian and his team really did a good job in this conference." Dr HE Yaping, the Vice President of Asia-Oceania Association for Fire Science and Technology (AOAFST), said:"The organization of SKLFS is very profession and thoughtful. This kind of international conference is a good chance for all scholars. It provides us a good platform to meet with other colleagues and friends from around the world."

Fig 1:  Bogdan Dlugogorski, Chairman of the IAFSS, gave a welcome talk on the open ceremony/ SKLFS

The success of the 9th AOSFST shows the academic capability and international influence of SKLFS in fire science. Prof. Wanki Chow, Professor of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and the President of AOAFST, said: "I am so happy to see the achievements SKLFS. They did great jobs not only in the quality of paper, but also in conference organization, personnel cooperation, and the participation of foreign scholars. I think SKLFS has reached the international advanced level in all these aspects. Actually, one of the papers that gave me deep impression in this conference is written by Koyu Satoh, Naian Liu, Kuibin Zhou and Xiaodong Xie from SKLFS. They did a good job in the research of fire whirls. " Prof. Bogdan Dlugogorski said: "SKLFS is one of the leading institutes in fire research. They have published a large number of high quality papers in leading journals in this field." Dr HE Yaping delightedly said "In Chinese mainland, the academic activities are very active in a very wide area. The research environment approved a lot. Chinese students are more bracing and daring than before. Everything trends good."

Fig 2:　 LIU Naian, Chair of Program Committee of the 9th AOSFST, gave a welcome talk on the open ceremony/ SKLFS

Many experts expressed their willing to cooperate or expand the collaboration with SKLFS.

After 20 years of successful cooperation with SKLFS, Prof. Wanki Chow said: "The collaboration with SKLFS is a plan that we must and have to do. There are so many advantages in USTC. You have so many brilliant teachers and student. In USTC, you can do experiments which require highly specialized skills and equipment. At the same time, in Hong Kong, we are facing some new problems which show up recently. There are so many aspects that we can work together. For instance, the fire safety measures in skyscraper." Dr HE Yaping, from University of Western Sydney, said: "The cooperation with USTC definitely will be more frequent and formal in the future. We will work on items such as united training of students." Bogdan Dlugogorski said: "Many of us will collaborate with the SKLFS. Personally I will work with Prof. Naian Liu. My colleagues work in other areas. SKLFS has always inviting senior Professors from overseas. The most distinguish of them is Prof. John L.de Ris. from FM Global."

Fig 3: Discussions at the Poster session/ SKLFS

This symposium is organized by the AOAFST which is under the International Association for Fire Safety Science (IAFSS). It is the premier fire safety science meeting in the Asia-Oceania region and has been organized since 1992. The two most recent symposiums were held successfully in Hong Kong and Australia in 2007 and 2010 respectively