Since the launch of the conference theme solicitation campaign, we have received creativity and enthusiasm from around the world. Following review and approval by the ACUUS Board of Directors, the final theme has now been officially confirmed.
The Conference Theme Unveiled!
Best Theme Award
Underground Space: Beneath-Today, Beyond -Tomorrow!
Theme Overview
The theme “地下·明日” derives from “Beneath Today, Beyond Tomorrow”. Its rhythmic parallelism in both Chinese and English echoes the dual dimensions of urban underground space development: beneath the ground of the present lies the blueprint for cities of the future. Marking the 40th anniversary of ACUUS’s founding, this theme serves as both a rational retrospective of past research and a forward-looking vision for future progress. We advocate a systematic mindset to integrate diverse concepts including intelligence, low-carbon green development, ecology, urban resilience, humanity, vitality and high efficiency, breaking the physical constraints of urban space and broadening the horizons of urban imagination. Underground space is not merely an invisible foundation supporting urban functions; it shall also act as a sustainable engine driving the leap forward of human urban civilization.
“地下·明日”，取意于“Beneath Today, Beyond Tomorrow”，以中英文字的韵律呼应城市地下空间发展的双重维度：在当下的“地表之下”，孕育通往未来的城市图景。值此ACUUS成立四十周年之际，本主题既是对过往探索的理性回望，亦是对未来发展的前瞻构想。我们倡导以系统性思维统筹智能、绿色、生态、韧性、人文、活力与高效等多元理念，突破城市空间的物理局限，拓展城市想象的边界。地下空间，不仅是承载城市功能的隐性基底，更应成为推动人类城市文明跃迁的可持续引擎。
First Author
Dong Yunhao
City University of Hong Kong
Selection Justification
This theme concisely and powerfully encapsulates the core role of underground space in contemporary urban development. It pragmatically addresses real-world demands while adopting a forward-looking perspective that lends profound depth to the concept. Its concise, impactful wording balances poetic charm and rational rigor, enabling it to cross disciplinary boundaries and resonate with broad audiences worldwide, making it ideal for international outreach. The Organizing Committee unanimously agreed that this theme is rooted in the present while oriented toward the long term, featuring a clear strategic framework and warm humanistic undertones. It can maximize consensus-building, stimulate global dialogue, and guide collective action.
Benefits for the First Author
1. Complimentary conference registration (full fee waiver for the award recipient)
2. One official award certificate (printed copy to be collected on-site)
3. One conference gift (to be collected on-site)
4. A dedicated feature release across official ACUUS 2027 media platforms
About ACUUS
ACUUS 2027, the 20th World Conference of the Associated Research Centers for the Urban Underground Space will be grandly held in Nanjing, China from November 6 to 11, 2027. Eighteen years after the ACUUS 2029 in Shenzhen, this prestigious international event returns to the Chinese mainland once again. Marking the 20th edition of the annual conference, ACUUS 2027 will bring together world-leading experts, scholars and industry practitioners for in-depth exchanges on core topics including innovative underground space technologies, sustainable development strategies and smart city construction. A series of parallel forums and industrial exhibitions will be arranged to facilitate in-depth integration of global experience and Chinese practical achievements. ACUUS 2027 will inject fresh momentum into the global development of underground space and open a new chapter for sustainable urban development worldwide!
We invite you—to look down, and reach up
The choices we make today will shape the spaces beneath us—and those spaces will elevate our future. ACUUS2027 is not just a conference; it is a shared vision and a collaborative endeavor for the cities of tomorrow. We warmly welcome global experts to share their insights, and to be part of, contribute to, and enrich this historic event.
