On June 4, 2025, at the invitation of professors Zhou Xuhong and Xu Fei from the School of Civil Engineering at Chongqing University, professor Derek Elsworth, G. Albert Shoemaker, chair Professor in institute of Energy and Environment the at Pennsylvania State University in US, member of the National Academy of Engineering and Foreign Member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, visited the school. Professor Derek Elsworth delivered an academic lecture titled “Constraints on Triggered Seismicity and Controls on Permeability Evolution.” Professor Gan Quan from the School of Resources and Safety Engineering, Professor Yang Qingshan, chair of the School of Civil Engineering, Professor Xu Fei, director of the Structural Engineering Research Institute, professor Bao Ting, associate professor Wu Huanran, and over thirty representatives of faculty and students from related research fields attended the lecture. The meeting was chaired by professor Xu Fei.

At the lecture, professor Yang Qingshan warmly welcomed professor Derek Elsworth and introduced the school’s history of development, disciplinary strengths, faculty team, and scientific research achievements. During the lecture, Professor Derek Elsworth systematically elaborated on the key hazards of underground fluid activities inducing earthquakes owing to its impact on geological permeability. He pointed out that effectively mitigating risks requires an in-depth understanding of core controlling factors such as fault strength and frictional stability. He also demonstrated the application experimental models and achievement transformation of the research results, he led his team achieved in major projects in Sichuan, China, the United States, and other places.

During his visit, professor Derek Elsworth toured the editorial office of the journal Energy Infrastructure and engaged in in-depth discussions with Editor-in-Chief of the journal, professor Zhou Xuhong, Executive Editor-in-Chief, professor Wang Yuhang, deputy executive editor-in-chief, professor Xu Fei, deputy editor-in-chief, professor Yang Qingshan, and Editorial Board Member Professor Gan Quan. Both sides conducted a deep communication on core issues such as the journal’s founding positioning, development goals, and future development path.