On the afternoon of June 17, 2024, the opening ceremony of the Magic Folds 2024 International Workshop was held with due formality at the School of Civil Engineering, Southeast University. Distinguished attendees included Professor Zhang Jingjing, Deputy Director of the International Cooperation Office of Southeast University; Associate Professor Yao Yiming, Associate Dean of the School of Civil Engineering; Professor Cai Jianguo, Assistant Dean; Dr. Alireza Behnejad and Dr. Dan Bompa from the University of Surrey, UK; Mr. Chang Wenwu from the Modern Educational Technology Center of Putuo District, Shanghai; as well as prominent faculty members from the School of Civil Engineering, including Professor Kim SeungDeog, Professor Gao Kang, Associate Professor Chen Zhenyu, Dr. Liu Tianzhen, and Dr. Marco Meloni. The event also welcomed over 30 students from the United Kingdom, Denmark, and China.
Deputy Director Professor Zhang Jingjing warmly welcomed the delegation from the University of Surrey and provided a brief overview of the workshop’s content. Professor Zhang emphasized Southeast University’s commitment to advancing international collaboration and fostering globally-minded talent. She expressed her pleasure in hosting this workshop and conveyed her confidence that participating students would greatly benefit from the experience.
Associate Dean Yao Yiming provided an overview of the School of Civil Engineering, covering its history, faculty strength, and talent cultivation initiatives. Associate Dean Yao noted that the workshop aims to explore the art of origami, merging creativity with cutting-edge scientific research. He encouraged all participants to fully engage in discussions and exchanges, hoping that the convergence of ideas would spark innovative research concepts.
Dr. Dan Bompa expressed his gratitude for Southeast University’s warm hospitality. He provided an overview of the University of Surrey’s School of Sustainability, Civil, and Environmental Engineering, highlighting its key research areas. Dr. Bompa emphasized the opportunity this workshop presents for building friendships and exploring possibilities for future collaboration.
Following this, attendees watched a promotional video about Southeast University and engaged in in-depth discussions.
This workshop is jointly organized by Southeast University, the University of Surrey (UK), and the Royal Danish Academy. The event has attracted over 50 undergraduates, postgraduates, scholars, and artists from the UK, Denmark, and China. Throughout the workshop, participants will engage in a range of activities, including specialized lectures, focused seminars, model-making, experimental research, and project presentations, to explore the innovative applications of origami structures in modern civil engineering and architectural design. This international workshop is expected to be not only an enriching academic exchange but also a valuable platform for cultivating students' innovative capabilities and global perspectives.
