【Academic Exchange】“Humanities & Social Sciences + Medicine” Interdisciplinary Salon Held During WHU Academic Service Month 2025

(Correspondents: Chang Xiaoyufei and Meng Ying) On November 13, Wuhan University held a “Humanities & Social Sciences + Medicine” Interdisciplinary Salon as part of the 2025 Academic Service Month activities. The event was jointly organized by the Institute of Humanities and Social Sciences and the Tai-Kang School of Medicine (School of Basic Medical Sciences). More than 50 experts and scholars from related departments and medical institutions—including Whu Tai-Kang School of Medicine, Zhongnan Hospital, Huazhong University of Science and Technology Tongji Medical School, Tongji Hospital, Wuhan Central Hospital, Wuhan Mental Health Center, and Huarun Wugang Hospital—attended the event.

The salon was chaired by Professor Wei Lei of the Tai-Kang School of Medicine (School of Basic Medical Sciences). Focusing on frontier intersections between the humanities/social sciences and medicine, six experts delivered keynote presentations. From the humanities and social sciences perspective, Professor Wei Lijia (School of Economics and Management) presented on “AI + Medical Decision-Making”, showcasing the potential of data-driven approaches in optimizing clinical processes; Professor Zhang Hong (School of Law) and her team discussed “Ethical Governance of Brain–Computer Interface Technologies”, analyzing legal boundaries and governance frameworks in the evolving technological landscape; and Professor Lu Quan (School of Information Management) introduced innovations in smart health and smart medicine, discussing the prospects of integrating big data and AI into health services. From the medical perspective, Professor Mei Longyun (Tai-Kang School of Medicine) used optogenetics and other advanced techniques to systematically explain the neural basis of maternal behavior; Dr. Ding Sheng (Director, Chronic Disease Management Center, Wuhan Central Hospital) addressed “Integrating Medical Care and Prevention in Regional Chronic Disease Management”; and Dr. Song Jin (Deputy Chief Physician, Wuhan Mental Health Center) presented on “Gut Microbiota and Mental Health.”

During the discussion session, participants engaged in in-depth dialogue on the practical paths and ethical challenges of applying AI and big data in medical decision-making and chronic disease management. They affirmed the salon’s significance in expanding research perspectives and identifying opportunities for collaboration, expressing hopes for future substantive cooperation in smart healthcare and health governance.

Academic Service Month, organized by the Institute of Humanities and Social Sciences, comprises the three themes interdisciplinary integration, digital intelligence empowerment, and youth teams. Held from mid-October to late November, it features 12 academic events aimed at building platforms for interdisciplinary exchange, empowering humanities and social sciences research with digital intelligence, inspiring innovation among young scholars, and fostering an open, collaborative academic ecosystem.

(Photos: Institute of Humanities and Social Sciences; Editor: Zhao Jifan)