Announced on August 26, the 2024 Xplorer Prize awarded 49 promising young scientists for their significant contributions across various scientific fields. Prof. Shijin Feng from the College of Civil Engineering, Tongji University is honored with the prize for his innovative work in transportation and architecture—exploring the mechanism and key technology of thermal coupling of energy piles, and promoting the efficient use of geothermal energy.

The Xplorer Prize, launched in 2018, recognizes outstanding young scientists under 45 who demonstrate outstanding academic merits in mathematics and physics, chemistry and new materials, astronomy and geoscience, advanced manufacturing and other frontier science and technology areas. Developed and evaluated by prominent scientists, the non-governmental merit-based award, provides each prize-winner with 420,000 US dollars over five years, making it one of the most generous talent funding programs for young scientists in China.

Prof. Feng joined Tongji University as a lecturer in 2005 and then was promoted to professor and head of the Office of Research Administrate in 2012 and 2021 respectively. He has received many prestigious awards, including the 2015 Changjiang Young Scholars by the Ministry of Education and the 2017 National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars. Engaged in scientific research and teaching in environmental geotechnical engineering and energy geotechnical engineering for nearly 30 years, he has led more than 20 projects, including the National Key R&D Program of China and the Development of National Major Research Instruments of the National Natural Science Foundation of China. Prof. Feng has a prolific publication record, with 310 academic papers and 6 books authored by him. His work has earned him recognition as one of the top 2% of global scientists and has resulted in the granting of 34 national invention patents.

Cover image source: 科学探索奖 (xplorerprize.org)