Wetting and phase change are central to many natural and technological processes, from condensation and icing to heat transfer, anti-frosting surfaces, and droplet transport. Although wetting phenomena are ubiquitous, they remain scientifically rich because they connect molecular interactions, nanoscale surface design, microscale structures, and macroscopic liquid dynamics.

Recent advances have shown how surface chemistry and topography can be combined to control the behavior of drops, including water-repellent surfaces, liquid-repellent textures, jumping droplets, droplet ejection upon freezing, and enhanced control of the Leidenfrost effect. When phase change is involved, however, the coupling between surfaces, liquid motion, heat transfer, and vapor fields creates new challenges and opportunities.

The aim of this symposium is to bring together researchers working on wetting, interfacial flows, surface design, and phase-change phenomena to discuss recent progress and identify future directions. Particular emphasis will be placed on how nanoscale and microscale surface features, chemical patterning, and phase-change dynamics can be combined to generate new wetting properties.

The symposium will provide a forum to exchange ideas across fluid mechanics, surface science, heat transfer, and materials engineering, with applications ranging from efficient heat exchangers to anti-icing and anti-frosting technologies.

Topics include
– Wetting dynamics on structured and chemically patterned surfaces
– Condensation, freezing, icing, and anti-frosting phenomena
– Leidenfrost dynamics and vapor-mediated wetting
– Droplet nucleation, motion, jumping, and ejection
– Coupling between surface design, heat transfer, and phase change
– Applications in energy systems, thermal management, and sustainability