The 16th International Conference on Salt Lake Research
FIRST CIRCULAR
ICSLR-2027, August 15-23, 2027, in Beijing, China
The International Conference on Salt Lake Research (ICSLR), organized by the International Society for Salt Lake Research (ISSLR), is the longest-running and most influential series of international conferences in salt lake and evaporite science. First held in Perth, Australia, in 1979, the conference has been held every three years; by the 15th edition in Antalya, Türkiye (2024), fifteen conferences have taken place in ten countries — Australia, Canada, Kenya, Spain, Bolivia, the United States, Russia, China, Argentina and Türkiye. China has hosted the conference twice: the 6th edition in Beijing (1994) and the 12th edition at CITIC Guoan Grand Epoch City (2014).
Salt lakes and salt deposits are unique and invaluable natural resources. They host abundant strategic minerals — potassium, lithium, boron, rubidium and caesium — preserve continuous records of global climate and environmental change, and sustain the sensitive and fragile ecosystems of arid and semi-arid regions. As the global energy transition drives sustained growth in demand for lithium, potassium and boron, aligning the green development of salt resources with ecological conservation has become a major challenge shared by academia and industry worldwide.
By decision of the ISSLR Board of Directors, the 16th International Conference on Salt Lake Research (ICSLR 2027) will be held in China in August 2027. The conference is organized by the International Society for Salt Lake Research and hosted jointly by the Institute of Mineral Resources, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences; Tianjin University of Science and Technology; CITIC Guoan Industrial Group Co., Ltd.; and China Salt Lake Industry Group Co., Ltd. It marks the return of this conference series to CITIC Guoan Grand Epoch City thirteen years after the 12th edition in 2014. The conference will bring together experts, scholars and industry representatives from salt science, geology, ecology, biology, social science, chemistry and chemical engineering, and resource and environmental engineering, to exchange views on the frontiers of salt science and on high-quality industrial and social development.
The Organizing Committee cordially invites colleagues from around the world to join us in China in August 2027.
1. Dates, Venue and Language
Dates: Registration on Sunday, 15 August 2027; scientific sessions from 16 to 18 August; post-conference tours from 19 to 23 August.
Venue: CITIC Guoan Grand Epoch City, China.
Language: English. Plenary lectures, session presentations, abstracts and papers will be delivered in English; bilingual Chinese–English support will be available on site.
Conference website and email: Registration, abstract submission, payment, and accommodation booking will all be handled through the official conference website. Details will be announced in the Second Circular.
2. Theme
Theme: AI-Empowered Multidisciplinary Innovation for a Sustainable Salt Future
Salt lakes and salt resources are natural laboratories for studying palaeoclimate and environmental change, ecological adaptation to extreme environments, and the formation of strategic mineral deposits. Faced with the twin challenges of growing resource demand and ecological conservation, the conference takes “AI + multidisciplinary empowerment” as its guiding thread, promoting the deep integration of artificial intelligence, big data and intelligent observation networks with geology, chemistry, biology, social sciences, chemical engineering and materials science. It aims to deepen our understanding of salt metallogeny, ecological evolution and public perception to advance technological breakthroughs in the green and efficient utilization of salt resources and in ecological security, and to build an open, inclusive and mutually beneficial international community for salt science.
3. Organization
(1) Organized by
International Society for Salt Lake Research (ISSLR)
(2) Hosted by
Institute of Mineral Resources, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences
Tianjin University of Science and Technology
CITIC Guoan Industrial Group Co., Ltd.
China Salt Lake Industry Group Co., Ltd.
(3) Co-organized by
Qinghai Institute of Salt Lakes, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Sichuan University of Science and Engineering
China University of Geosciences (Wuhan)
China University of Geosciences (Beijing)
Institute of Earth Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Shanxi University
Yuncheng University
(4) Organizing Committee
The Conference Chair, Secretary-General, Academic Committee and Session Conveners will be announced in the Second Circular.
4. Scientific Sessions
The conference will address the following six sessions. Contributions on related topics beyond those listed are welcome. Experts and scholars are invited to propose and convene a session; prospective Session Conveners are kindly asked to contact the Secretariat by 31 January 2027.
Session 1 Geological Processes and Metallogeny of Salt Lakes and Evaporites
1. Metallogenic theory and models for key elements (K, Li, B, Rb, Cs)
2. Comparative study of potash-forming mechanisms in marine and continental salt lakes
3. Metallogeny and exploration of lithium–potassium brines in deep basins
4. Associated resources of salt lakes (salt caverns, geothermal resources, etc.)
Session 2 Sedimentary Records and Global Water–Salt Dynamics
1. Salt lake sedimentary records and high-resolution environmental reconstruction
2. Environmental change and palaeoclimate reconstruction in salt lakes
3. Prediction of global water–salt dynamics
4. Response strategies for water–salt change in key salt regions
Session 3 Biological Resources and Ecology of Salt Lakes
1. Biological resources and mechanisms of adaptation to extreme environments
2. Structure, function and dynamic prediction of salt lake ecosystems
3. Impacts of climate change and human activities on salt lake ecology
4. Ecological conservation and restoration technologies for salt lakes
Session 4 Green and Efficient Separation and Utilization of Salt Lake Resources
1. Structure and phase chemistry of concentrated brines
2. Transport phenomena and interface science in complex salt lake fluids
3. Green and efficient separation and extraction technologies for salt lake resources
4. Comprehensive utilization of low-grade potassium and lithium resources
5. High-value utilization of dispersed elements (Li, B, Rb, Cs)
Session 5 High-End Products and Green Industrial Development
1. High-end products and functional materials from salt lakes
2. Salt lake energy materials (battery materials, etc.)
3. Intelligent and digital technologies for salt field operations
4. Green and low-carbon development pathways for the salt lake and salt mining industry
5. Technology transfer and industry–academia–research collaboration
Session 6 Social Dimensions of Salt Lake Science: Heritage, Perception and Sustainable Communities
1. Salt lake cultural heritage and traditional knowledge of salt production (intangible cultural heritage, salt routes, local and indigenous knowledge)
2. Public perception and the science–society interface (science communication, citizen science, education)
3. Socio-economic impacts of salt resource development on local communities (livelihoods, benefit-sharing, sustainable tourism)
4. Policy, governance and legal frameworks for balancing salt resource exploitation with ecological conservation
5. Social acceptance, risk perception and ethical considerations of AI and new technologies in salt lake regions
5. Presentation Formats and Awards
Formats: Keynote lectures, invited session talks, oral presentations, Young Scientist Forum and posters.
Side events: An exhibition on salt resource development, salt lake monitoring and relevant equipment, together with industry–academia matchmaking sessions. Companies are welcome to exhibit; further details are available on the conference website.
Awards:
1. Bill Williams Award — established by ISSLR for young scientists under 35, with one award for the best oral presentation and one for the best poster, each comprising a certificate and a cash prize of USD 750.
2. Salinology Award — endowed by Academician Zheng Mianping, with awards for the best oral presentation and the best poster.
3. ISSLR Young Scientist Triennial Award — for outstanding papers on saline lake research published over the past three years; the winners are invited to deliver a plenary lecture at the next conference.
4. Best Young Scientist Forum Award and Best Poster Award — established by the Local Organizing Committee of ICSLR 2027.
6. Abstracts and Key Dates
Abstracts: Abstracts must be written in English, between 300 and 500 words, excluding figures and references, and submitted online through the conference website. Templates and submission guidelines will be available on the website. Please indicate the intended session when submitting.
Book of Abstracts: Accepted abstracts will be published in the Book of Abstracts of the 16th International Conference on Salt Lake Research.
Special issue: Selected papers will be peer-reviewed and published in a Special Issue on Salt Lake Research of the Journal of Oceanology and Limnology. Submission requirements and deadlines will be announced separately.
Key dates:
| Milestone | Date | Notes |
| First Circular; registration and abstract submission open | November 2026 | Website online |
| Abstract submission deadline | 31 March 2027 | Late submissions not accepted |
| Notification of acceptance | 30 April 2027 | Invitation letters issued |
| Early-bird registration deadline | 31 May 2027 | Reduced registration fee |
| Full paper deadline (special issue) | 30 June 2027 | Optional |
| Scientific programme released | 15 July 2027 | Posted on the website |
| Registration and check-in | 15 August 2027 | CITIC Guoan Grand Epoch City |
7. Registration and Fees
| Category | Registration fee | |
| On or before 31 May 2027 | After 31 May 2027 | |
| International participants (regular) | USD 400 | USD 450 |
| International students | USD 250 | USD 300 |
| Domestic participants (regular) | CNY 2,200 | CNY 2,700 |
| Domestic students | CNY 1,500 | CNY 1,800 |
Notes: (1) Students must present proof of enrolment at registration. (2) The registration fee covers conference materials, the welcome reception, and lunches and coffee breaks during the conference; it does not cover accommodation, travel, or post-conference tours. (3) Early-bird arrangements, payment methods and the refund policy are detailed on the conference website.
8. Post-Conference Tours
Post-conference tours will be arranged from 19 to 23 August 2027. Four options are offered: two complimentary one-day excursions on 19 August (choose one), and two three-day tours at participants’ own expense, departing in batches within this period (prices to be confirmed by the travel agency).
Tour A (complimentary, 19 August) The Great Wall
A visit to the Great Wall north of Beijing, taking in the geology and cultural landscape of the mountains of northern China.
Tour B (complimentary, 19 August) National Maritime Museum of China
A visit to the National Maritime Museum of China in Tianjin Binhai New Area, including exhibitions on marine and evaporite sedimentation and on the development of marine resources.
Tour C (own expense, 3 days, within 19–23 August) Yuncheng Salt Lake, Shanxi
Millennia of salt heritage. Salt has been harvested at Xiechi Lake in Yuncheng for more than 4,600 years — the earliest recorded use of a salt lake for salt production anywhere in the world. Today, the lake combines salt-based wellness with its waterscape and intangible cultural heritage. Itinerary: pickup at Yuncheng Yanhu International Airport → check-in at the Colorful Salt Lake Scenic Area → Fenghuang (Phoenix) Valley → salt bath, floating and mud bath at the Colorful Salt Lake → Chishen Temple (Temple of the Salt God) → Salt Lake Museum → transfer to Yuncheng Yanhu International Airport. Travel by high-speed rail (up to 300 km/h) or by air.
Tour D (own expense, 3 days, within 19–23 August) Zigong Well Salt, Sichuan
The thousand-year salt capital. The Shenhai Well in Zigong is the world’s first human-drilled well to exceed 1,000 m by cable-tool drilling (1835). The “Zigong well-salt deep-drilling and brine-extraction techniques” are inscribed on China’s first national list of intangible cultural heritage, and the Zigong salt industry heritage site is on China’s Tentative List for World Cultural Heritage. Itinerary: Beijing Daxing International Airport → Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport → high-speed rail (Chengdu East–Zigong) → Zigong Salt Industry History Museum → Shenhai Well → high-speed rail (Zigong–Chengdu) → Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding → Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport → Beijing Daxing International Airport.
9. Practical Information
Invitation letters for visas: The Organizing Committee can issue official invitation letters to overseas participants for the purpose of applying for a Chinese visa. Please submit your request through the conference website after registration, and allow at least 60 days for visa processing.
Accommodation: CITIC Guoan Grand Epoch City has more than 3,000 guest rooms and can accommodate all participants. Negotiated conference rates and booking procedures are available on the conference website. August is peak tourist season in China and rooms are limited, so early booking is strongly recommended.
Transport: On arrival in Beijing, participants can reach the venue by intercity rail, long-distance coach or conference shuttle from Beijing Capital International Airport, Beijing Daxing International Airport or major railway stations in Beijing. A transport guide will be available on the conference website.
Climate: August is midsummer locally, with high temperatures and humidity. Light clothing and sun protection are recommended.
10. Conference Secretariat
Yongjie Lin, Institute of Mineral Resources, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences. Tel: +86-188 0109 6765
Yafei Guo, Tianjin University of Science and Technology. Tel: +86-152 2279 5901
Fei Yang, CITIC Guoan Industrial Group Co. Ltd. Tel: +86 131 6736 6211
Conference website: https://www.isslr.org (the web page of the ISSLR, and the separate conference webpage will be launched shortly).
Conference email: ICSLR2027@163.com
International Society for Salt Lake Research
Institute of Mineral Resources, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences
Tianjin University of Science and Technology
November 8, 2026