Reform & Innovation
CAS Shanghai Center for Interdisciplinary
Research Launched
What can happen when a physicist "bumps"
into a biologist? The double-helix structure of DNA was discovered as
Dr. Francis Crick (physicist) met with Prof. James Watson (biologist)
in 1953 to open up a new era for molecular biology.
The newly launched Shanghai Center for Interdisciplinary Research (SCIR)
under the Chinese Academy of Sciences is to create a favorable environment
for interdisciplinary exchange of ideas from scientists of different backgrounds,
so as to be an incubator of producing original innovative thinking. A
result of repeated discussion, negotiation and demonstration between the
CAS and the Max-Planck Society (MPG) is that the Center is co-sponsored
by both sides. The CAS provides a new mechanism for running the center,
with Prof. Uli Schwarz (well-known German scientist) serving as the Director
and Prof. Rao Yi (American scientist of Chinese origin) as the Deputy-Director.
As the first initiative of SCIR, a Round Table with the theme of "Reflection
on Thinking " was held on 27 March. High-caliber Chinese scientists,
such as Guangzhao ZHOU, Yongxiang LU, Zhu CHEN and so on, joined the first
"brainstorming" with scientists from Europe and USA.
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