Brief News

Lu Yongxiang Attends IAC/IAP Meeting

Lu Yongxiang, former president of CAS and co-chairman of IAC attended the InteAcademy Council/InterAcademy Panel (IAC/IAP) Development Advisory Committee Meeting in New York from Dec. 4 to 7, 2011, and during his stay there, Lu also visited the Global Research Center of GE and the Alcatel-Lucent Bell Laboratory.

Bai Chunli Meets Kenya Minister

On Dec. 2, 2011, Bai Chunli, President of CAS met with Margaret J. Kamar, Minister for Higher Education, Science and Technology of Kenya (MHESTK) and her entourage. Bai Chunli expressed that the S&T cooperation between CAS and Kenya and other African countries have become more active, and the cooperation between the CAS Wuhan Botanical Garden and the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) regarding biodiversity conservation proved to be quite effective. Bai hopes that the good collaborative trend should be encouraged and developed on a continuous basis. Margaret Kamar highly commented the project of jointly establishment of the Kenya Botanical Garden, and anticipating the success of the cooperation.

Bai Chunli Elected PAS Foreign Fellow

Prof. Atta Ur Rahan, President of the Pakistan Academy of Sciences (PAS), S&T Adviser to the Prime Minister, Chairman for Higher Education Commission and Foreign Member of the Royal Society wrote recently to Bai Chunli, President of CAS to congratulate Bai for being elected Foreign Fellow by unanimous vote. The Pakistan Academy of Sciences was founded in 1953, which is a non-governmental and non-political supreme scientific body of distinguished scientists in the country. The Government of Pakistan has given the consultative and advisory status to the Academy on all issues relating to the development of scientific efforts in the country, and generally on such matters of national and international importance in the field of science as may be referred to the Academy. At present, there are 87 Fellows and 22 Foreign Fellows, and 8 Members, who have been elected by the General Body.

Shi Erwei Meets NAKAMURA Michiharu

Shi Erwei, Vice President of CAS met with NAKAMURA Michiharu, the visiting new president of Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) and his entourage on Dec. 13, 2011. During the meeting, Shi hopes to strengthen the bilateral cooperation relation with JST through substantial collaboration on specific projects and to jointly sponsor workshops in fields of energy, environment, life science, etc. Michiharu expressed that the exchange and cooperation between JST and CAS could be further promoted in fields of industry, education and research during his term of office. Both sides also had a deep discussion on the long- and medium- term S&T programs, reforms of S&T systems and other issues.

Ding Zhongli Meets Maged Sherbiny

On Dec. 2, 2011, Ding Zhongli, Vice President of CAS met with Maged Sherbiny, Vice Minister of Egyptian Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research and President of the S&T Academy and the delegation headed by him. Ding pointed out that the two sides have already conducted a long term cooperation in fields of arid agriculture, control of desertification and remote sensing, etc. He further held that there is still a great potential for the cooperation in the future. Dr. Sherbiny expressed that Egypt has attached much importance to the cooperation with China as China has sharply increased its capabilities in S&T research in the recent few years. He wished to expand the cooperation with CAS to include more fields, such as solar PV power generation, nano-technology, etc.

Ding Zhongli Visits Burma and Sri Lanka

From Jan. 2 to 9, 2012, Ding Zhongli, Vice President of CAS and his entourage paid a visit to Burma and Sri Lanka. During their visit to Burma, the delegation focused their visit on the Burmese Ministry of Science and Technology, Ministry of Environment and Forestry. Seminars were also held with experts from the Burmese Earth Society, Lagoon University, and Lagoon University of Science and Technology. In Sri Lanka, Ding and his entourage visited the University of Ruhuna, and held talks with Dr. Susirth Mendis, President of the university and relevant experts.

Zhan Wenlong Meets Fernando Ferroni

On Dec. 9, 2011, Zhan Wenlong, Vice President of CAS met with Dr. Fernando Ferroni, President of the Italian National Institute of Nuclear Physics (INFN) and his entourage. Both Zhan and Ferroni reviewed the history of cooperation between the two sides, and further exchanged views on the progress of the Yangbajing-ARGO project. Dr. Ferroni fully confirmed the success of the bilateral cooperation, and hoped to have a more specific agreement to further promote the substantial cooperation between the two sides.

Yin Hejun Meets Terasaki Akiara

On Dec. 1, 2011, Yin Hejun, Vice President of CAS met with Terasaki Akiara，former Vice Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications, and consultant to the Nomura Research Institute, and his entourage. Yin Hejun hopes to strengthen the friendly relations existing between the two sides through high level visits, joint workshops and substantial cooperation. Terasaki Akiara confirmed that a smooth relationship between the relevant institutions of both sides was established during his term of office as vice minister for internal affairs and wishes to promote the cooperation in fields of internet of things and smart cities, etc.

Tan Tieniu: President-Elect of IEEE Biometrics Council

It was announced recently that Tan Tieniu, CAS vice secretary general and research fellow of the CAS Institute of Automation, was elected IEEE Biometrics Council president-elect. He will formally assume his post from 2013. Dr. Tan is a leading personage in biometrics research, and his achievements in Iris recognition technology have been widely distributed and applied in many different areas, such as coal mine production operation, public security, finance, etc., which obtained obvious economic and social efficiency. The IEEE Biometrics Council is an authoritative non-governmental international institution, and the fields of interest of it include the theory, design, and application of biometric characterization of human beings, based on physical and/or behavioral features and traits, in particular for identification, identity verification, and encryption.