AT the 2025 World Youth Scientists Summit in Wenzhou, China on Saturday, four researchers received the "Young Scientist Award for Sustainable Development." Selected from 204 candidates across 29 countries, their work demonstrates science's vital role in advancing global sustainability.

Liu Yingjun revolutionized semiconductor performance by using electrochemical etching to transform defects in gallium nitride crystals into controllable channels. This enables precise manipulation of material properties at the wafer level. His work bridges lab research and industry, successfully scaling production from 2-inch to 12-inch wafers. His porous GaN technology also enables ultra-bright, low-energy micro-pixels for next-generation displays and augmented reality devices.

Wang Hui, a key developer of China’s Jiuzhang optical quantum computer, achieved a 99% indistinguishable single-photon source. The Jiuzhang prototype performed calculations 10¹⁴ times faster than the Fugaku supercomputer, establishing quantum supremacy. Remarkably, it used only 10% the power of classical supercomputers, offering an eco-friendly model for high-performance computing.

Mariangela Russo from Italy uncovered the “stress response mechanism” that allows colorectal cancer cells to resist targeted therapies. Her discovery, published in Science and Nature Genetics, reveals how cancer persister cells adapt under treatment. This work provides a new foundation for precision oncology, laying the groundwork for preventing recurrence and improving patient outcomes.

Wolfgang Tress from Germany develops low-energy, high-efficiency solar cells using perovskite materials. His technology requires less manufacturing energy and offers higher efficiency than traditional photovoltaics, shortening energy payback time and reducing land use.

Together, these scientists represent a new generation bridging scientific innovation with sustainable solutions to critical global challenges.

(SD-Agencies)