The 8th "WAYS+" Youth Salon was held at Kuanzhai Alley in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, on December 24.Under the theme "From Algorithms to Disciplines: New Paths for AI-Driven Interdisciplinary Research," the event explored how artificial intelligence can move beyond its conventional role as a research tool to become a broader, systems-level approach for bridging disciplines and tackling complex scientific challenges.

The salon was hosted by the World Association of Young Scientists (WAYS)and co-organized by the China-Europe Green Technology Industry Alliance, with operational support from Sichuan Weile Technology Development Co., Ltd.

Yan Zhu, a postdoctoral researcher at Imperial College London, and Tingze Chen, a professor at the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, delivered keynote addresses. Young scholars from Chinese and European universities also joined a roundtable discussion on the opportunities and challenges of interdisciplinary AI research.

The event also marked the formal admission of the China-Europe Green Technology Industry Alliance as a member of WAYS, opening up new opportunities for future cooperation.

Held at one of Chengdu's best-known cultural landmarks, the salon combined scientific discussion with the atmosphere of traditional local culture. Its small-scale, discussion-focused format created a more relaxed setting for in-depth exchange, offering young scientists a distinctive space to explore new possibilities at the intersection of AI and interdisciplinary research.