The Chinese Academy of Engineering revealed the outcome from the first "Mega Project Research" recently, a pioneering study that fills a long-standing void in China's academic sphere concerning engineering.

Over the past decade, the definition and scope of engineering has transcended individual projects, evolving into national-scale endeavors. This paradigm shift not only signifies the intricate layers within the realm of engineering but also mirrors the rapid trajectory of national development.

The conference articulated a precise definition of mega-engineering projects as "a specific entity (nation, government, conglomerate, corporation) that aims for the survival and advancement of humanity, employing science, technology and massive resources to systematically integrate human intelligence, inventions and experiences through selection and interdisciplinary approaches to construct colossal and transformative physical entities."

"The purpose of systematic research on 'Mega Engineering projects' is to delineate the history of human society, to eulogize the ingenuity of the engineers and technicians in building mega-engineering, and to guide the scientific construction of mega-engineering in the bright future," said Hu Wenrui, head of the research project.

According to Hu, over the past five years, 751 experts and scholars have participated in the research, including 49 academicians and 269 professors and researchers.

Initiated in 2019, the research team has completed two significant phases of work. The first includes a series of reports totaling 1.46 million words, comprising two general reports, four special reports and four final reports. The second involves the compilation of 29 volumes, encompassing 5.215 million words, featuring theoretical research in the China's Mega Project series.

During the conference, 643 mega projects from ancient to modern times in China and across the globe were meticulously assessed, resulting in 110 entries in the List of Ancient Chinese Mega-Engineering Projects, 299 in the List of Modern Chinese Mega-Engineering Projects, 100 in the World List of Ancient Mega-Engineering Projects and 134 in the World List of Modern Mega-Engineering Projects.

A documentary named China's Mega Projects, directed by Li Bing, showcases engineering projects across agriculture, energy, transportation, manufacturing and city, evoking a sense of wonderment.

Notably, innovations in super hybrid rice and salt-alkali tolerant wheat to address the challenge of a mere 7 percent arable land sustaining 22 percent of the global population; the introduction of "smart greenhouses" and a robust cold chain system ensuring a constant supply of fresh food; and initiatives such as the South-to-North Water Diversion Project and West-to-East Power Transmission Program tackling resource distribution imbalances.

Shi Yuwei contributed to this story.