The 2025 Annual Meeting and Academic Conference of the China National Committee for Terminology in Sciences and Technology (NCTST) was held in Beijing from November 20 to 21.

At the meeting, five frontier hot terms in water science and technology for 2025 were officially released, including:

    National Water Network;

    Smart Dam;

    Digital Twin Water System;

    Rapid Shifts between Drought and Flood; and

    River and Lake of Happiness.

The Danjiangkou Reservoir, part of China’s National Water Network [Photo / Xinhua]

The solicitation of frontier hot terms aims to highlight the latest advances and development trends in scientific and technological research in both China and abroad, while fostering an enabling atmosphere for public science education. Candidate terms are evaluated based on their forward-looking nature, innovativeness, practicality, influence, significance, and standardization. In line with NCTST’s overall plan, the Second National Committee for Water Science and Technology Terms (NCWSTT) organized the solicitation and review of the 2025 hot terms in water science and technology.

The Secretariat of NCWSTT, hosted by IWHR, carried out broad solicitation efforts among its 22 subcommittees and received 71 expert-recommended candidate terms. After review, “National Water Network,” “Smart Dam,” “Digital Twin Water System,” “Rapid Shifts between Drought and Flood,” and “River and Lake of Happiness” were recommended to NCTST. Following comprehensive evaluation and compliance review, these terms were officially released.

Established in 1985 with approval from the China’s State Council, the NCTST is the authoritative national body responsible for examining and promulgating scientific and technical terminology. In November 2024, NCTST authorized IWHR to serve as the Secretariat of NCWSTT.

The NCWSTT consists of 22 subcommittees covering all major disciplines in water science, with 28 senior experts from both within and beyond the water sector serving as committee members, 143 experts of different generations serving as subcommittee members, and 128 key academic contributors participating in the drafting groups.