On April 11–12, 2026, the “3rd Aerospace Frontier Conference (AFC 2026),” guided by the Chinese Society of Aeronautics and Astronautics and jointly organized by the Journal of Aeronautics and Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, successfully concluded in Nanjing. Under the theme “Integration and Empowerment: Smart Aerospace,” the conference welcomed 14 academicians from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering as special guests. More than 1,700 delegates from top universities, research institutes, enterprises, and public institutions across the nation’s aerospace sector gathered to discuss cutting-edge advancements in aerospace technology and chart a blueprint for future development.

Wang Jingtao from the School of Mechanical Engineering attended the conference. For his outstanding paper titled “Study on the Preparation and Optimization of Electrochemical Deposition Coatings on Laser-Welded Surfaces,” he received the conference’s “Outstanding Paper” Award. Additionally, for his outstanding paper titled “Improving Profile Accuracy and Surface Quality of Blisks by Electrochemical Machining with a Micro Inter-Electrode Gap,” he received the “High-Impact Paper” Award for 2021–2024 from the *Chinese Journal of Aeronautics*. A feature segment highlighting the faculty member was broadcast on CCTV-7, the National Defense and Military Channel, fully showcasing the school’s research capabilities and achievements in talent development in the field of laser hybrid manufacturing, and reflecting the spirit and sense of responsibility of young scholars at Jiangsu University.