Sino-Japan Laser Fusion Physics and Actuator Development Symposium Held in Shanghai

CAS member Zunqi Lin of the Shanghai Institute of Optics, and Fine Mechanics and Prof. Kazuo Tanaka of Japan's Osaka University co-chaired a "Sino-Japan Laser Fusion Physics and Actuator Development Symposium" from 12-13 January 2004, attended by about 50 Chinese and foreign scholars. Thirteen scholars from Japan's Osaka University, Bejing Institute of Physics of CAS, Tsinghua University, China Engineering Physics Institute and Shanghai Institute of Optics, and Fine Mechanics gave lectures in their respective fields at the symposium.

The objective of the symposium was to review the latest developments in China and Japan in the field of laser fusion physics and actuator development, and to enhance exchanges between scholars of the two countries in this field.

Symposium on Sharing Ideas Held by CAS and British Iceberg Royal Society

Afive-day academic symposium "Sino-Scotland Science: Sharing Ideas" held jointly by CAS and the British Iceberg Royal Society started on 8 March. Topics covered in this symposium include plant genetics, nanotechnology, optoelectronics and the public's understanding of science etc. Each side invited ten scientists who exchanged their views by way of lectures and group discussions. The British experts and scholars present at the symposium were from the famous institutions of higher learning such as Glasgow University, Iceberg University, Hurleyotto Watt University and Dundy University as well as the Iceberg Royal Arboretum. Members of the Chinese delegation mainly consisted of scholars of Chinese origin that CAS had recruited recently from abroad.

It is worth mentioning that in 2002 CAS signed a memorandum on scientific cooperation with the Society.

Well-known US Professor Invited as Deputy Science Director for Qinghai-Tibet Plateau Institute

Professor Lonnie G. Thompson, a well-known scientist from Ohio State University, USA, is a glaciologist of international fame, and is known for his studies in global change. Professor Thompson has maintained a long-term cooperation with CAS for 20 years, during which the two sides have been conducting good cooperation in field investigation of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, sample distilling, data analysis and thesis composition etc, making tremendous contributions to the study of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. During his most recent visit to China, Prof. Thompson happily accepted the position as the Deputy Science Director of the Qinghai-Tibet Institute. As a renowned foreign expert, Prof. Thompson's appointment to an important academic position in the Qinghai-Tibet Institute will help bring in more foreign advanced technologies and outstanding talents and promoting the institute's ability to acquire international research projects. Furthermore, it will provide great driving force to CAS' efforts in developing international cooperation.

Banna Botanic Garden to Participate in Building Cambodia National Botanic Garden

The Xishuang Banna Botanic Garden of CAS (Banna Botanic Garden) received a callback visit by an 8-member delegation headed by Dr. Mok Mareth, Minister of Environment, and Mr. Chan Sarun, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fishery of the Kindom of Cambodia. The two parties held friendly discussions on issues related to building a Cambodia National Botanic Garden, and a Memorandum for Cooperation was signed in this regard.

As the UNESCO and the Cambodia Government had long since had the intention to build a botanic garden in Cambodia, the Environment Ministry of Cambodia is eagerly seeking technical support from the Banna Botanic Garden.

Executive Editor of Nature Magazine Visits Institute of Zoology

At the invitation of Institute of Zoology, Dr. Charles Jennings, the Executive Editor of Nature magazine paid a visit on 10 March 2004 to the Institute and delivered a speech titled "The Nature Journals and the World of Scientific Publishing".

Professor from Connecticut University Visiting Institute of Zoology Gives Lecture

At the invitation of Institute of Zoology, the renowned Professor Xiangzhong Yang, Director of the Regenerating Biological Institute of Connecticut University, USA, and Director of the CBI (China Bridges International) Foundation Committee paid a visit to the Institute and gave a lecture on animal cloning.

Professor Yang has been engaged in the research on animal cloning and curing cloning for years, and was the first in the world to cloned six ox and a farm cattle "Any" in 1998 and 1999 respectively. The research group led by Prof. Yang was also one of the first laboratories in the world to have reported cloned animals with normal telomere.