In preparation for the upcoming Fifth National Science and Technology Workers Day and to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Chinese Association for Artificial Intelligence. The Bioinformatics and Intelligent Information Processing Conference (BIIP2021) was held in Wuhan, China from May 21-23, 2021. The conference was hosted by the Chinese Association for Artificial Intelligence, Co-sponsored by the CAAI Bioinformatics and Artificial Life Committee and School of Information, Huazhong Agricultural University, and attended by 350 experts and scholars for academic exchanges.

Promoting the Development of Cutting-edge Interdisciplinary Subjects

The CAAI’s Bioinformatics and Artificial Life Committee aims to create a platform for academic exchange and an academic home for the nation’s vast pool of information and intelligence-based researchers, technology developers and practitioners who explore the mysteries of nature and artificial life, to promote the development of this cutting-edge interdisciplinary subject. The Bioinformatics and Intelligent Information Processing Conference, or BIIP for short, is the committee’s most important conference.

Vice President of the Huazhong Agricultural University, Guo Gangqi, and chairman of the Conference, Professor Zhang Xuegong of Tsinghua University, attended the meeting and delivered speeches. Professor Zhang introduced the basic situation of the conference in the light of the current development of the bioinformatics. Professor Zhang Hongyu, Dean of School of Information, Huazhong Agricultural University, presided over the opening ceremony as chairman of the procedure committee of the Congress.

The conference invited five experts, including Professor Chen Xiaoping of University of Science and Technology, Professor Pan Yi of CAS Shenzhen Institution of Advanced Technology, Professor Pan Linqiang of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Professor Zhang Wei of Southern University of Science and Technology, and Dr. Tao Xiaodong, General Manager of iFlytek's Smart Medical Division, to make the theme report on the conference. The theme of this meeting is “Artificial Intelligence + Health”, with a total of five topics, they included bio sequencing data analysis, deep learning applications in bioinformatics, biological networks and medical big data mining, bioinformatics algorithms, genomics and epigenetics. A number of experts and scholars from home and abroad in the field of bioinformatics brought the latest academic information and achievements to the delegates, presenting a highly international, academic, and rich in Chinese elements of the academic feast.

At the same time, the conference set up a branch of the Forum on the construction of bioinformatics specialty, professor Li Xia of Harbin Medical University, Professor Sun Xiao of Southeast University, professor He Huaqin of Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Professor Chen Ming of Zhejiang University, Professor Guo Maozu of Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Professor Liu Juan of Wuhan University, Professor Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Professor Wang Zhenlong of Zhengzhou University and Professor Jang Yong of Tongji University were invited to attend the Education Forum. President Zhang Hongyu, Vice President Li Guoliang, Vice President of the School of Information of Huazhong Agricultural University, Vice President Xu Xunguang and all the teachers from the Department of Bioinformatics of Huazhong Agricultural University attended the forum. In addition, the conference set a forum on publishing and industry, which was strongly supported by the editorial department of Springer’s journal Quantitative Biology.

Constructing the Platform of Academic Exchange

At 19:30 on May 21, the working meeting of the CAAI Bioinformatics and Artificial Life Committee was successfully held. The executive director of CAAI, director of CAAI bioinformatics, Professor Zhang Xuegong of Tsinghua University, and Professor Xiamen University Wayne Wang, Secretary of CAAI, gave a summary of 2020 – 2021. The meeting was chaired by Professor Wang Xiaowo, Deputy Director of the Committee and Tsinghua University. After deliberation by all the members and secret ballot, the special committee added 14 full members and 4 new members of the Communications Committee. Professor Liu Zhiping from Shandong University gave a presentation on the bid for the BIIP 2023.

At 16:00 on May 23, the conference concluded successfully in a strong academic atmosphere. With the development of artificial intelligence and bioinformatics, the research of precise medical theory, intelligent algorithm and system biology is continuing, and the application field of artificial intelligence is expanding, academic cooperation and exchanges at home and abroad are also deepening. The conference has created a platform for academic exchanges among Chinese scholars and is of great significance in promoting academic exchanges and development in the field of bioinformatics.

This article was contributed by the CAAI Bioinformatics and Artificial Life Committee