Second WFST Time-Domain Astronomy Summer School

From August 9 to 15, 2025, the Second WFST Time-Domain Astronomy Summer School, co-organized by the Department of Astronomy at the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) and Guizhou University, was successfully concluded at Guizhou University. The 7-day summer school (including arrival and departure days) focused on the frontiers of time-domain studies of Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN), aiming to help participants systematically master professional knowledge in this field and cultivate reserve talents for related research directions. The event specially invited renowned experts and scholars in the field to offer courses centered around five major themes: “AGN Supermassive Black Hole Mass Measurement,” “AGN Variability and Supermassive Black Hole Accretion,” “Changing-Look AGN,” “High-Energy Processes in AGN,” and “Stellar-Scale Processes in Galactic Nuclei.” The program attracted 63 participants from various universities and research institutes across China.

On the morning of August 10, the opening ceremony of the summer school was held as scheduled. Professor Qijun Zhi, Vice President of Guizhou University; Professor Yongquan Xue, Associate Dean of the School of Physical Sciences at USTC; and Professor Fangyi Liang, Party Secretary of the School of Physics at Guizhou University, attended the ceremony. Vice President Qijun Zhi and Professor Tinggui Wang from USTC delivered welcome addresses. Professor Wang provided a detailed introduction to the WFST and expressed his hope that through five days of systematic study, the participants would deepen their understanding of time-domain AGN research while fully utilizing the communication platform established by the summer school to engage in in-depth discussions with experts in the field.

The summer school featured a rich curriculum, offering a total of 29 excellent courses. Professor Jianmin Wang, Professor Yanrong Li, and Professor Pu Du from the Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), taught the course on "AGN Supermassive Black Hole Mass Measurement." Associate Professor Zhenyi Cai from USTC and Professor Mouyuan Sun from Xiamen University co-taught "AGN Variability and Supermassive Black Hole Accretion." Professor Xuebing Wu from Peking University was responsible for the "Changing-Look AGN" course. Researcher Yizhong Fan, Deputy Director of the Purple Mountain Observatory, CAS, and Associate Professor Nenghui Liao from Guizhou University taught "High-Energy Processes in AGN." Professor Qingwen Wu from Huazhong University of Science and Technology taught the course on "Stellar-Scale Processes in Galactic Nuclei." The instructors carefully designed their course content and teaching methods based on the different knowledge backgrounds and learning needs of senior undergraduate and graduate students, ensuring that participants could efficiently absorb professional knowledge. The summer school also arranged free discussion sessions, providing an excellent platform for ample interaction and in-depth discussions among participants and with instructors.

On the afternoon of August 14, the closing ceremony of the summer school was successfully held. The ceremony was presided over by Professor Lulu Fan from USTC. All teachers and students first reviewed the wonderful moments of the summer school through a video. Subsequently, student representative Yu'ang Guo delivered a speech, expressing heartfelt gratitude to the instructors on behalf of all participants for their generous sharing of knowledge, and sharing his insights and gains from the program.

Professor Fangyi Liang, Party Secretary of the School of Physics at Guizhou University, delivered a speech on behalf of the university, noting that this event was an important manifestation of USTC’s in-depth implementation of the “group-based” assistance program for Guizhou University.

Professor Tinggui Wang from USTC delivered a concluding speech, expressing sincere thanks to all the participating experts for their diligent efforts and to Guizhou University for its strong support.

Finally, Professor Tinggui Wang, Professor Lulu Fan, Professor Qingwen Wu from Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Party Secretary Fangyi Liang, Associate Dean Yanhui Liu, and Associate Professor Nenghui Liao from the School of Physics at Guizhou University jointly awarded completion certificates to the participants. The successful hosting of this summer school has accumulated valuable experience for the continued organization of the WFST Time-Domain Astronomy Summer School series and has also expanded diverse ideas for future events.