Exploring the universe and protecting the Earth: Young Chinese scientists in action

Summary of the 5th YSFPS and its participant comparison with other planetary science conferences

The 5th Youth Scientist Forum of Planetary Science (YSFPS) took place from March 25 to 29, 2023, in Sanya, a picturesque coastal city in the Hainan Province of southern China. This forum, one of China’s largest gatherings of its kind, experienced over 1,000 participants from domestic universities and research institutes discussing advancements in a variety of topics, including the surface, atmosphere, interior, core of planets, exoplanet exploration, asteroids, and comets (as shown in Figure 1A). One of the international hot topics in this meeting was lunar science research. With the return of lunar samples from the Chang’e-5 mission, scientists have immediately carried out various studies, forming new understandings about the moon’s evolution and raising new questions. The attending delegates enthusiastically discussed and exchanged ideas on this matter.