1.      Background and Objectives

Fire safety engineering materials include flame retardant materials, heat insulation materials, fire warning materials, fire extinguishing materials, emergency disposal materials, repair materials, and more. They involve numerous fields related to national security and people’s welfare. The research on their preparation and processing, structure and performance, testing methods, and testing standards holds significant scientific importance and practical value.

Public safety science and technology is an important area of national scientific and technological development strategy. Research on fire safety engineering materials is an indispensable and integral part of the public safety science and technology field. It plays a crucial role in preventing and reducing fire hazards, protecting people’s lives and properties, and maintaining national public safety.

The theme of this training program is to provide the research findings of fire safety engineering materials to scholars engaged in public safety and materials science research in developing countries. The topic covered include the design, preparation and characterization methods of fire safety engineering materials, evaluation standards and testing methods for the combustion performance and smoke toxicity of fire safety engineering materials. It also includes environmental-friendly emergency response and key repair materials, green and efficient key fire extinguishing materials, as well as research on smoke suppression and toxicity reduction related fire safety engineering materials.

The purpose of this program is to cultivate scientific and technological talents in developing countries along the Belt and Road initiative who has long cooperation relationship with China. It aims to introduce China’s fire safety engineering materials and technologies to these developing countries, to further expand and strengthen the scientific and technological cooperation and exchange between China and these developing countries. This collaboration will foster mutual learning and contribute to the overall scientific and technological development of both China and the participating developing countries along the Belt and Road initiative. 

2.      Contents

The program adopts a combination of lectures, experiments, symposiums, visits and other training methods. The main training content includes: 

2.1. Lectures

l  Basic theory of fire (combustion) dynamics;

l  Evaluation standards and testing methods for material combustion properties and smoke toxicity;

l  Design and application of new fire-safe materials (basic principles of flame retardancy, typical flame retardants, flame retardancy and processing technology of materials, fire-safe design of polymer nanocomposites based on multi-component hybrid systems, fire characteristics and safety design of building exterior insulation materials, advances in lithium-ion battery safety technologies);

l  Green and efficient key materials and technologies for fire suppression;

l  Environmental-friendly key materials and technologies for emergency disposal and repair. 

2.2. Experimental courses

Experimental courses include the oxygen index test, cone calorimeter test, smoke toxicity and other material combustion performance test, as well as training in polymer material processing technology. Those courses aim to improve the technical abilities of trainees in the preparation, processing, and performance testing of fire safety engineering materials. 

2.3. Symposiums

Discussions and free exchanges with lecture experts, students in the SKLFS, and among trainees will allow for consultation and discussion of scientific issues related to fire safety engineering materials. 

2.4. Visiting activities

Visits to the State Key Laboratory of Fire Science of the University of Science and Technology of China and other research institutions will provide participants with a comprehensive understanding of the development and progress of research in fire, public safety, and materials science in China.

3.      Tentative Agenda

The tentative agenda of training course, provisionally planned to be held from October 22 - November 4, 2023 in Hefei, Anhui, China, is as follows:

4.      Fees

There is no training fee. Accommodation, food, and travel expenses (economy class by air, limited to RMB 10, 000) will be provided by the organizer. 

5.      Eligibility Criteria

l  Enrollment regions：Scholars and researchers from the Belt and Road countries.

l  Education background: Self-motivated young scientists/engineers with more than 2 years of working experience in the field of Safety Science and Engineering or Material Science and Engineering.

l  Age limit: Not more than 40 years.

l  Language requirements: Proficiency in English.

6.      Application Documents

l  Letter of recommendation from the head of your department.

l  A Cover letter stating the reason for the training application.

l  Provide a health certificate or medical examination form issued by a public hospital in your country.

l  Application form (attached).

l  Curriculum Vitae.

l  Recent 2-inch full- faced and bareheaded electronic photo.

l  Electronic copy of passport and previous Chinese visa (if available).

7.      Important Dates

Application Deadline: August 26, 2023 (Please send the application documents to the E-mail address: sttc@ustc.edu.cn).

Notification of acceptance will be sent via email by August 31, 2023. 

8.      Organizers

State Key Laboratory of Fire Science (SKLFS), University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) 

9.      Sponsors

Bureau of International Cooperation, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS)

10.  Contact Information

Dr. Wenru Zeng

State Key Laboratory of Fire Science (SKLFS)     

University of Science and Technology of China (USTC)

Jinzhai 96, Hefei 230026, Anhui, P. R. China

Tel：+86-551-63606064

E-mail：sttc@ustc.edu.cn

Application Form.xlsx