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In order to foster centers of research excellence and to combine the expertise and
superiority of both sides, CAS has reached agreements with the University of Hong Kong and
the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology respectively to set up joint
laboratories or research centers. These are: The agreements are for 3 years and may be extended. These joint labs or research centers all have 2 branches, one at each side, and the scientists will cooperate on their jointly selected research projects and will apply together to various sources for research funds. Other joint labs that have been set up with universities in Hong Kong include the Joint Lab. of Marine Science at Sanya, Hainan Province (South China Sea Institute of Oceanology/Hong Kong University of Science and Technology), the Large Space Fire Safety and Technology Joint Research Center at Hefei (University of Science and Technology of China/Hong Kong Polytechnic University), and the Joint Lab. of Material Science (Institute of Physics/Hong Kong City University). The establishment of still more joint labs is under consideration with the focus at combining superiorities of the two sides for frontier research and for training of talented young scientists. New CAS Plan for 1997 Great success was achieved in research and development in 1996. Projects carried out by CAS won 31 National S&T Progress Awards, 8 National Innovation Awards, 86 CAS Natural Science Awards, 12 first prizes and 13 other prizes in the CAS S&T Progress Awards. World-wide attention was attracted by the successful construction of the high resolution physical map of the rice genome, synthesis of the new nuclide 235Am, and development of key desert road construction technology. In the acceptance check, all 13 Class-A projects carried out by CAS and supported by the "Pandeng Program" won high appraisal. In the appraisal carried out by the State, CAS state key laboratories were considered among the best of their kind. Technological companies continued their healthy development. The sales volume of computers by the Legend Company ranked first in China. New medicines were developed by Di'ao Pharmaceutical Company. Changchun Heat-shrinkable Co. Ltd. and Xinkang Electronic Co. Ltd. of the Shanghai Institute of Metallurgy achieved excellent economic and social benefits. With the approval of the State S&T leading group, such projects as the second-period construction of the Hefei synchrotron radiation project, large space area multitarget fiber spectrum astronomical telescope, observational network of diastraphism of China were listed as the first batch of State big science projects. Preparations will be made to develop a new synchrotron radiation light source under the joint auspices of CAS and the Shanghai municipal government. Structural reorganization was accelerated in 1996. For example, the Wuhan Institute of Mathematics and the Wuhan Institute of Physics were merged, the Center of Condensed State Physics and the Morningside Center of Mathematics were set up. Four more State engineering technology centers were established. Much progress has been made in the cultivation of cross-century talents. Some 30 young scientists selected under the "Hundred Talents Program" over the past three years have achieved great success, cultivation and selection of 2,000 young researchers is underway, the Innovation Foundation of Young Scientists of CAS has now been set up, and the "Western Light Plan" has been launched. In 1996, CAS enrolled 1,603 students for doctoral degrees and 2,028 for master's degrees (these figures exceed those of any previous year), and 300 postdoctoral students. In addition, six more units were authorized to confer doctor's degrees, 12 new doctorate and 21 masters' stations were established, and reforms were instituted in the structure and distribution of CAS talent training institutions. Reform in CAS is now at a pivotal time. In 1997, CAS will deepen its reform, strengthen the structural readjustment and the organization of major and key projects, and expedite the cultivation of cross-century talents. Augmentation of Members of CAS and CAE in 1997 It is said that the two academies will augment their memberships simultaneously once every two years beginning from 1997. This year's primary election will be conducted before May 15th followed by two rounds of review and a multi-candidate election with secret ballot. According to the regulations of CAS and CAE, researchers, professors, senior engineers or those with equivalent titles who have made systematic or creative achievements in the natural sciences, technology or engineering, and who are patriotic, with rigorous style of study and with Chinese nationality (including those living in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macao and other countries), are eligible for membership. It is required that special attention be paid to the nomination of middle-aged and young scientists and specialists in newly-developed and interdisciplinary subjects. The number of nominees below the age of 60 should at least account for one-third of the total. Members of one academy can be nominated as candidates of another if they accord with the demands. Since 1991, the augmentation of Members of CAS and CAE has been done in a systematized and standardized way in accordance with international norms. In 1991, 1993 and 1995, altogether 328 new Members were elected, and 24 foreign Members were elected in 1994 and 1996. There are now 563 Members of CAS, and 325 Members of CAE. Among them, 34 hold membership in both academies.
The rice genome is composed of 12 chromosomes with a complete length of 4.3¡Á108 nucleotides. The rice genome program includes three key parts: establishment of the genetic map of the rice genome, establishment of the physical map of the rice genome, and measurement of the DNA sequence. Studies on the rice genome have been carried out in countries such as the US, Japan, India and the Philippines. After the establishment of the genetic map of the rice genome by the Japanese in 1994, the physical map has been the most difficult point in this field. The physical map plays an important role in the rice genome program. On the one hand it lays a foundation for disclosing the full genetic information of rice. On the other, by means of advanced techniques, such as chromosome location, it can provide important genetic and related information for genetic breeding in agriculture. This physical map has several characteristics: The high resolution ratio of 12¡Á104 nucleotides leads to direct measurement of DNA sequence, thus simplifying the procedures in obtaining necessary information. There are 565 labels of genetic molecules and the distance between some labels has been measured, thus increasing the speed in obtaining information. There are nearly 100 labels of genetic molecules which are also found in the genomes of barley, wheat, oat, corn, sorghum and sugar cane. According to the genetic information of the above six crops, corresponding genes in the physical map of the six crops can be obtained with the help of rice genes. This will have a great influence on genetic breeding in agriculture. Major Progress in Systematic Soil Classification Among the 33 diagnostic horizons and 25 diagnostic characteristics set in this project, two-thirds were established, corrected or replenished according to the characteristics and data of Chinese soil. For the first time the Chinese scientists indicated the diagnostic horizon and the diagnostic characteristics of artificial soil, and correspondingly established the classification system of the artificial soil. They suggested using the drought surface as the basis for drought soil classification, thus making up the shortcomings of diagnosing drought soil merely by water content estimation according to meteorological data. Their classification of frigid drought soil filled in gaps in the worldwide drought soil classification scheme. They differentiated ferralsol from ferrisol due to ferrallitic and ferrillitic soillayers. They established the order of homogeneous humus soil based on characteristics of dark generous surfacial soil and homogenous humus soil, completely reflecting the behavior of large-area prairies in China. In the North China Sea islands, they also classified a new type of soil: phosphorus-rich homogeneous humus soil. The artificial soil classification of China, especially the quantitative study of water-plough artificial soil, has received recognition from abroad. Demonstrated at the 15th International Soil Symposium, this study was adopted as the basis for the worldwide artificial soil classification. Chinese scientists researched deeply and extensively into 14 orders of soil across the country, made investigations in 300 towns and cities in various provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions, collected 5,460 soil samples of 1,249 typical layers, obtaining first-hand data and generating valuable results. Altogether they have published 3 proceedings, 8 books, 8 soil maps, 350 papers and abstained 5 patents. 2.16m Optical Astronomical Telescope New techniques applied in the 2.16m telescope, including the use of a relay lens to do the code system transition, have been adopted by many large-scale telescopes. The image field corrector and quality of the astronomical image in the optical system of the telescope are state-of-the-art. The electric control and autocontrol systems are the most important parts of the 2.16m telescope. By adopting advanced techniques, the computer control system first developed in China in the telescope increases the efficiency of observation and the automatic observing level. The 2.16m telescope has now become the main observation facility in astronomy and astrophysics in China. Near-earth Asteroid Observed By Beijing Observatory It is said to be an Apollo-type asteroid, with an orbit radius of 1.338A(2¡Á108 km), diameter of about 1-2 km, perihelion distance and aphelion distance of 0.929 A (1.4¡Á108 km) and 1.748A (2.6¡Á108 km) respectively. It has been categorized as one of the 96 potentially most dangerous asteroids to the earth. This asteroid was observed by Dr. Zhu Jin of the Beijing Observatory using a Schmidt telescope located in the Xinglong Observing Station, Hebei Province. Canadian astronomist Dr. David Baron said that the asteroid is 11¡Á106 km from the earth in mid-July when it is nearing the earth. Solution of Basic Problem in Real Algebra In many advanced fields of science and technology, any problems concerning the real number solution, such as the operating parameters of aircraft, rockets and robots, will encounter a basic problem in real algebra--the explicit decision of the root of polynomials with symbols as the coefficients. A lot of work has been done worldwide, but to no avail. Professor Yang Lu and his co-workers Hou Xiaorong and Zeng Zhenbing of the Chengdu Institute of Computer Application have given this problem a perfect solution. On a Pentium computer with the internal storage of 16M, when one calculates the Strum sequence of the 7th-degree polynomials with normal character coefficients using the classical definition, the program will overflow after 1,000s; while using Yang's algorithm and program, one can get a discriminant in only one second. Progress in Visualization of Scientific Calculation Visualization of scientific calculation has been attracting more and more worldwide attention. Following the leading world-level technology, the Institute of Computing Technology has been carrying out studies on the theories and application of visualization of scientific calculation since the beginning of the 1990s. Their achievements in tensor field representation, visualization of characteristics of flow field, plotting of parallel body and related areas have now reached the state-of-the-art. Some qualities of the data visualization system (DVS) have surpassed those of similar foreign systems. Their achievements have been applied in meteorological cloud chart processing, satellite remote sensing data processing, fluid mechanics and calculation of results of finite elements, and have brought about social and economic benefits. Achievements in Space Life Science These biological samples, accompanied with "space universal biological incubators", were sent into space on October 20,1996, and were successfully retrieved 15 days later. Scientists have been analyzing and processing data from these various samples. Through studies on the higher plants asparagus and round radish, scientists observed enzyme transformation in the process of oxygen production, nutrient consumption and their own growth. Scientists predict that some special enzymes with different composition from enzymes on earth could be discovered through the experiments on board the satellite. Through the mating of two groups of fruit flies, Chinese scientists succeeded in experiments on egg growth and the development of a complete insect. In microbiology, a bacterial strain was obtained, with its nitrogen fixing capacity increased by 15%, which could be widely applied in biological fertilizer. Other bacterial strains were also obtained which had increased yield of antibiotics and some edible strains. In the cultivation of the separated brain cells of mice, scientists were surprised to find that the brain cells grew normally in space under control. This is the first time that Chinese scientists have obtained a space culture of brain cells.
Among the 27 scholars, 15 were studying or working abroad when they enrolled themselves in the competition, accounting for 56% of the total, five were working in universities, accounting for 18%, and the other seven were from CAS. Seven of them have obtained support from the National Science Foundation for Outstanding Young Scholars. Their average age is 37. The youngest is Dr. Wu Heyu, who is 30 years old. Wu got his degree at the CAS Institute of Modern Physics. He is the winner of the CAS President's Scholarship. He is also the main participant in the thermonuclear tertiary fission and temperature factor of surface energy project, which won a third prize in the National Natural Science Awards. The five scholars working in universities have been promoted to full professorship, and four of them have won support from the National Science Foundation for Outstanding Young Scholars. The "Hundred Talents Program", started in 1994, is an important measure taken by CAS to cultivate cross-century young talents. This program also concentrates on the construction of research disciplines and research bases. The number of selected scholars is expected to be enlarged, more funds will be provided by CAS and the institutes, and the management of the program will be strengthened. Symposium of Young Scientists Lauded Since 1991, 33 conferences have been held. Altogether 739 young scientists returned from abroad for a short period to attend these conferences. Young scientists at home and abroad extensively discussed work in physics, chemistry, biology and other areas, which gave them a further knowledge of the current status of their subjects at home and abroad. Through this symposium, overseas Chinese scientists not only saw the development of their subjects in China but also experienced the great changes of their homeland, and some of them found opportunities to come back. For example, after the ¡°1996 Physics Symposium--Thin Layer Materials and Physics¡±held by the University of Science and Technology of China, Wan Junyou from America and Guo Xuezhe from Australia established cooperation with the Laboratory of Cluster Complex Materials at the University to study the characteristics of C60 system's electronic energy spectra. Huang Dehuan from the Science and Technology Agency of Japan became a part-time professor at the University and cooperated with Prof. Zhu Shiqing, Member of CAS, in the field of single photon control. After the "1996 Symposium of Life Sciences--Ecology and Evolutionary Physics", the sponsor of this symposium, the Institute of Hydrobiology, arranged for the scientists to visit the construction site of the Three Gorges Project. Scientists made valuable suggestions on ecological protection around the Three Gorges area. During the "Symposium of Polymer Materials" held by the Institute of Chemistry, participants visited the State key laboratories of nanometer materials and molecular reaction dynamics. They felt research conditions at home were very good and decided to cooperate with the Institute in many projects. International Cooperative Laboratory The three overseas Chinese scientists in the Laboratory, Lu Bai, Mei Lin and Rao Yi, all have their own laboratories in the US and are widely respected neuroscientists. In cooperation with associate Professor Feng Linying from the Shanghai Center of Life Sciences, their work was described by Nature as an 'innovative program.' Using the Lab as an experimental part of its restructuring effort, CAS has decided to attract more outstanding young scientists at home and abroad to work there.
The Plant has two departments (organic materials and inorganic materials). It concentrates on new materials development and is open to both Chinese and foreigners. In the past three years, the Plant has conducted 10 projects, including the development of alternatives to freon and batch processing of bromine fluoride oil. Cooperating with researchers from the Shanghai Institute of Ceramics, the Plant developed large cesium iodide crystals of high quality and good properties. Contracts for these crystals worth $5,200,000 have been signed with the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center of the US and the Institute of High Energy Physics of Japan. Chemical Computation Center Established A data base of chemical education and research will be established on the Internet, and
it is expected to become a State key education data base. SGI will take the Center as its
own software development center. The Center will concentrate on studies of parallel
computation, visible analogue simulation and web technique, and will build up its own
working and demonstration facilities. Scientists Trek Through "Sea of Death" In the spring of 1997, twelve scientists from the Institute and Waseda University conducted a second scientific trekking expedition through the eastern part of the desert. The Taklimakan Desert, located in Xinjiang, is the second largest shifting desert in the world. The vast expanse, the harsh weather, as well as the splendid ancient civilization that the world-renowned Silk Road left behind shroud the desert with mystery and fascination. Since the turn of the century domestic and foreign explorers had made attempts to reveal the secrets of the desert, only to fail with loss of lives. Thus the Taklimakan Desert was nicknamed "A Sea of Death". In recent years, the discovery of rich oil and natural gas resources has given it a new name: "A Sea of Hope". The expedition carried out this year took 30 days. The 450 kilometers trek enabled the scientists to acquire lots of precious first-hand data and information related to biology, meteorology, hydrology and the landscape. They sighted Camlus, Vulpes, Lepus yarkandensis, Dipodidae, Phrynocephalus, Calandrella, as well as Phragmites adans and Tamarix, which negates the allegation that life does not exist in the desert. SPOT Image Co. Enters Chinese Market Top Quark Symposium Probes Deeper into Microcosm The symposium was the first of its kind ever held since the discovery of the top quark was announced by Fermilab in 1994. During the symposium, 20 talks were given, touching various aspects in the study of top quark physics, such as the electro-weak interaction of the third generation Fermion; beyond the standard model; study of top quark pair production with a linear collider; decay of the top quark; and an overview of top quark physics. The overseas participants brought to the symposium the latest developments and information from the quark physics experiment. Short as the symposium was, it was very successful. The study of the top quark at Fermilab was closely related with the study of the t lepton and t neutrino in J/y energy range at IHEP. The development of experiment and theory should throw light on the origin of Fermion mass. This symposium was made possible with grants from CAS and SSTC. Neutrons Made To Cure Cancer Mr. Shao Liqian, Director-General of the High-Tech Bureau of SSTC, stressed in his speech that the Chinese government attaches importance to the study of neutron therapy and encourages international collaboration in this regard. Thirty two talks were given during the symposium. The participants were deeply impressed by the talk given by Professor George E. Laramore entitled Fast Neutron Radiotherapy in the United States. Neutron therapy has been in use for quite some years, and valuable experience has been accumulated in treating cancer patients. China began neutron therapy studies only a few years ago. Her first fast neutron radiotherapy facility was commissioned in 1991. Clinical results show that the neutron radiotherapy is efficacious for salivary gland cancer, prostatic adenocarcinomas, soft tissue sarcoma, bone sarcoma, metastatic cancer of the head and neck, malignant melanoma and pancreatic cancer. HTSC-V Attracts Scientific Elite Attendance at HTSC-V exceeded 1,100, including some 900 foreign scientists from more than 40 countries and regions. Professors K.A. Muller and J.G. Bednorz, both Nobel Prize laureates for the discovery of high temperature superconductivity, were among the participants. In parallel with the 9 symposia in Beijing, two 'satellite' conferences were organized in Xi'an and Hefei entitled Critical Current of Practical Supercondutors and Crystal Chemistry of HTSC respectively. Co-sponsors of the event were the Institute of Physics and the Cryogenic Laboratory of CAS, and the State Key Laboratory for Superconductivity. The next such conference is scheduled to be in Houston, USA in 1999. Tibetans To Become M.Sc's & Ph D's Brief - International Exchange and Cooperation * MAB-Sponsored Conference - A conference on the ecology and tourism management of nature reserves and on the protection and appraisal of the Dinghushan biosphere was recently co-sponsored by the National Committee of the Man & Biosphere Program (MAB), which is affiliated with CAS, and the South China Institute of Botany. Participants came from 17 nature reserves at the State level, two botanical gardens and the China Academy of Forestry Sciences. * Guo Musun Elected Foreign Member of SATW - Professor Guo Musun, Member of CAS, has been elected Foreign Member of the Swiss Academy of Engineering Sciences. He is scheduled to attend the certificate issuance ceremony in Switzerland in September. * Polish Scientists To Be Guest Research Fellow - Professor L. Pawlowski, Head of the Department of Environmental Protection Engineering, Technical University of Lublin and Vice President of the Polish Chemical Society, has been invited to be guest research professor of the Nanjing Institute of Soil Science. Professor Pawlowski is a well-known environmental chemist and has been very active in global environmental protection. He has contributed greatly to personnel training and research at the Institute. * Lu Yongxiang Visits Japan - On the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between Japan and China, Professor Lu Yongxiang, Member and Executive Vice President of CAS, and his entourage visited Japanese ministries, institutions and enterprises in March with a view to fostering closer cooperative ties in science and technology. * Sun Honglie Meets ICIMOD Officials - Professor Sun Honglie, Member of CAS and Chinese Board Member of ICIMOD, met with visiting ICIMOD officials Mr. P.S.S. Pradhan and Mr. B.R. Shrestha in Beijing late March. CAS and ICIMOD are carrying on a cooperative project on a mountain environment and information system. * Xu Zhihong Visits Europe - Professor Xu Zhihong, Member and Vice President of CAS visited the Czeck and the Russian Academies of Sciences in late March and the German Max-Planck Gesellschaft (MPG) in early April. The visits have enhanced CAS's cooperative relations with its counterparts. |
