From June 28 to 30, 2025, the International Chinese Statistical Association (ICSA) China Conference was held at Beijing Normal University at Zhuhai (BNU Zhuhai). The conference was hosted by ICSA and co-organized by the Faculty of Arts and Sciences and the School of Statistics of BNU. The event drew over 600 prominent statisticians, experts, and university faculty and students from around the world, including the United States, Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, and France. The opening ceremony was chaired by Professor Lixing Zhu, Co-Chair of the 2025 ICSA China Conference.
In his opening remarks, Professor Hongpei Sun, Member of the University Council, Vice President of BNU, and Director of the Administrative Committee of BNU Zhuhai, highlighted the theme of the conference "The Future of Statistics: Partnership and Innovation in the Data-Rich Era." He emphasized the conference’s focus on the frontier developments in statistics and data science and their applications across various fields. As a Double First-Class university in China, BNU has actively promoted interdisciplinary and innovative development by leveraging the strategic location of its Zhuhai campus. Statistics has been identified as a key discipline under Guangdong Province’s "Strengthen Weak Areas and Reinforce Strong Ones" initiative, achieving significant advances in theoretical and applied research. He expressed hope that the academic exchanges during the conference would inject new vitality into the development of statistics and data science.
Professor Hongpei Sun delivers the opening remarks
Professor Lixing Zhu chairs the opening ceremony
Professor Hongyu Zhao, President of ICSA and faculty member at Yale University, reviewed the history and mission of the association. He noted that since its founding in 1987, ICSA has grown into one of the most influential academic organizations in the field of statistics, with over 2,200 active members worldwide. ICSA is committed to advancing the development of statistics and data science through conferences, journals, awards, and international collaboration. He emphasized that the 2025 ICSA China Conference is a flagship event, bringing together top scholars from around the globe and showcasing cutting-edge trends in statistical research.
Professor Hongyu Zhao introduces the development of ICSA
The conference featured a rich and diverse academic program, including three high-profile plenary lectures and 121 breakout sessions with over 480 presentations. Professor Runze Li from Pennsylvania State University, Professor Wenguang Sun from Zhejiang University, and Professor Tian Zheng from Columbia University delivered keynote speeches, presenting their latest research findings in frontier areas of statistics. The invited talks were chaired by Professor Yuanjia Wang, Co-Chair of the 2025 ICSA China Conference. The parallel sessions provided a vibrant platform for in-depth scholarly exchange.
Professor Yuanjia Wang chairs the invited talks session
Professor Runze Li delivers his keynote speech
Professor Wenguang Sun delivers his keynote speech
Professor Tian Zheng delivers her keynote speech
Parallel Sessions at 2025 ICSA China Conference
On the evening of June 29, the winners of the Junior Researcher Awards and Poster Awards were announced. The awards were presented by Professors Lixing Zhu, Yuanjia Wang, and Hongyu Zhao.
As one of the most prestigious international statistical societies, ICSA boasts a large number of globally renowned statisticians as board members and holds significant international influence. Since its inception, ICSA has held annual conferences in China. This year’s conference showcased the latest innovations and developments in statistical methodology and data science, establishing a high-level platform for global academic exchange. It effectively fostered international collaboration and knowledge sharing, contributing significantly to innovation in the field and the production of internationally impactful research.
