On August 1, 2025, the "ES&T: Workshop on Environmental Exposure, Ecotoxicology, and Public Health," co-hosted by Environmental Science & Technology (ES&T) and Peking University, was successfully held in Conference Room 106 of the Science and Technology Building at Peking University Health Science Center. Focusing on cutting-edge developments in environmental exposure, ecotoxicology, public health, and the application of artificial intelligence technologies, the symposium brought together top scientists in the field. Through a combination of guest keynote reports and interactive discussions, it facilitated the sharing of innovative ideas, advanced scientific knowledge, and injected new vitality into global research on environment and health.

Figure 1. Group photo with the scholars

The symposium received significant attention and active participation from the academic community. Dr. Bin Wang from Peking University served as the moderator, and the event featured a distinguished lineup of invited experts, including Professor Daniel Schlenk from the University of California, Riverside; Professor Huahong Shi from East China Normal University; Professor Pablo Gago-Ferrero from the IDAEA-CSIC Institute in Spain; Mr. Xiaogang Jiang from ACS Publications (China); Professor Mingliang Fang from Fudan University; and Professor Guangjie Zheng from Tsinghua University. All parties gathered to discuss key issues and future trends in the field.

Figure 2. Professor Li Hongtian delivered a welcome speech

At the beginning of the conference, Professor Hongtian Li from Peking University delivered a welcome speech, warmly welcoming all experts and scholars, and emphasizing the significant role of the symposium in promoting academic exchanges in the field of environment and health, thus kicking off the event. Subsequently, Mr. Xiaogang Jiang from ACS Publications shared insights on "Publishing with ACS Publications," introducing the publishing processes, requirements, and advantages of ACS journals, providing practical guidance for participants on publishing their academic achievements.

Professor Daniel Schlenk from the University of California, Riverside delivered a report titled "Why Was My Manuscript Rejected without Review? Focusing on Manuscript Preparation for ES&T." Drawing on years of editorial experience, he conducted an in-depth analysis of the review criteria and manuscript preparation essentials for the ES&T journal, offering valuable advice to researchers on improving manuscript quality and acceptance rates. Professor Huahong Shi from East China Normal University focused on "Environmental Relevance of Microplastic Studies," sharing cutting-edge research findings on the distribution, migration, and ecological impacts of microplastics in the environment, sparking in-depth reflections on microplastic pollution control. Professor Pablo Gago-Ferrero from the IDAEA-CSIC Institute in Spain explored "Frontiers of Exposome and the Preferred Studies of ES&T," systematically introducing the current application and future potential of exposomics in environmental health research, and providing new ideas for research directions in related fields.

Xiaogang Jiang, ACS Publications (China)

Daniel Schlenk, Professor, ES&T Executive Editor

Pablo Gago-Ferrero, Professor, ES&T Associate Editor

After the tea break, the conference entered the interactive session. Following a brief introduction by the participants, Professor Mingliang Fang from Fudan University shared insights on the theme "Priority Areas of Environmental Health," elaborating on the complex links between environmental exposure and human health through specific research cases. In the subsequent panel discussion, participants introduced themselves one by one and engaged in lively exchanges around the aforementioned reports and their respective research fields, generating numerous intellectual sparks. Dr. Bin Wang from Peking University focused on "AI & Big Data for Human Health," showcasing innovative applications of AI technology in environmental health data processing and risk assessment, providing new methodological references for interdisciplinary research in this field.

Mingliang Fang, Professor, EP Editor/ES&T Lett EAB

Bin Wang, Researcher, ES&T Associate Editor

In the final panel discussion, participants further explored the conference themes in depth, shared their research progress and challenges, and reached several consensus points. At the conclusion of the conference, Professor Daniel Schlenk summarized the symposium, highly praising its academic value and exchange outcomes. He emphasized that the symposium had built an efficient communication platform for experts in the global fields of environmental exposure, ecotoxicology, and public health, and announced the successful conclusion of the event. Subsequently, all participants took a group photo, bringing this productive academic event to a successful close.

The successful holding of the ES&T Frontiers Symposium on Environmental Exposure, Ecotoxicology, and Public Health not only promoted the sharing of cutting-edge research results among top global scientists in related fields but also facilitated interdisciplinary academic cooperation and ideological collisions. It provided new perspectives and methods for solving complex problems in the field of environment and health, and will effectively drive scientific research and practical applications in this field to new heights.