Headline News

Bai Chunli Signs the Agreement on WHIST

On June 2nd, Bai Chunli, President of CAS, signed an agreement on establishing the UNESCO International Centre on Space Technologies for Natural and Cultural Heritage (WHIST) on behalf of the Chinese Government. This is the first centre established by UNESCO applying space technologies to monitor and conserve UNESCO Natural and Cultural World Heritage Sites. It is also the first agency under the auspices of UNESCO to be hosted by CAS.

CAS first took the initiative in May 2007 to submit a proposal to UNESCO suggesting the establishing WHIST in Beijing, based on years of work, and the proposal was then passed by UNESCO at its 179th Executive Committee in April 2008 and afterwards approved by the 35th General Conference of UNESCO in October 2009. In April 2011, WHIST was ratified by the State Council of China. I. Bokova, Secretary-General of UNESCO, signed the agreement on May 27th, 2011 on behalf of UNESCO.

Bai Chunli: Calls on More Attention on International Cooperation

The Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) is open to more international scientists and young research fellows. "Talents both at home and abroad will strengthen our innovative efforts and help tackle major science and technology issues,” Bai addressed at the meeting and stated that CAS takes the international collaboration as an inseparable part of its research and development. "International cooperation is both an effective means to bring in, assimilate and utilize worldwide scientific progress, resources and talents for innovation, and a way for CAS to contribute to the global science progress and the tackling of various global challenges," said he. Bai made such remarks at the Meeting of CAS Senior International Scientists and Young Fellows (2011) that was held from Jun. 9th to 10th. More than 70 overseas scientists attended the meeting and shared their collaboration research achievements in China during the past 12 months. The scientists represented 201 members of “CAS Visiting Professorships for Senior International Scientists” and 85 recipients of the “CAS Fellowships for Young International Scientists”, who were selected into the two programs last year.

"Meridian Project" Tested Its First Sounding Rocket

7 am on May 7th, 2011, the first sounding rocket of the "Meridian Project" (short form for the Meridian Project of Integrated Space Environment Monitoring in the Eastern Hemisphere), which is part of the National Major S&T Infrastructure Program, was launched at the CAS Hainan Sounding Rocket Base (HSRB). The sounding-rocket of the Meridian Project is designed to obtain relevant space environment parameters on atmospheric micro-constituents, electric field with an altitude lower than 200km, and parameters on electron density, ion density and electron temperature in ionosphere. The successful test is believed to play a substantial role in the independent monitoring of the space environment and the guarantee for safe activities in the space.