Gerhard Brey [IMAGE: INSTITUTE OF GEOCHEMISTRY, CHINESE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES]

I was quite excited when I obtained the opportunity of carrying out research in a country that is eager to be open for new goals and is open to incorporate and generate new ways of thinking in so many scientific fields.

I met many colleagues who are very determined to achieve their scientific goals and who are working very hard to that end. Also, the availability and amount of the most modern, up-to-date research equipment is very impressive. However, my impression is that this equipment is not always accompanied by sufficiently trained technical personnel and scientists who can master such new techniques. Here, it is important to find the right balance. For my own needs I was always able to find the right partners to promote the joint research projects.

I enjoyed my stay in China very much. People are very friendly and helpful, even though there is a natural language barrier on many occasions. This does not exist within the research institution where colleagues could always be found to help out with language problems. Food was an interesting new experience even though I had already enjoyed "Chinese food" for a long time. Local cuisine brings different tastes than what one can experience from westernized food. Most impressive were visits to old Chinese heritage sites like temples and villages and the spectacular landscape that surrounds Guiyang.

Working with CAS was highly rewarding for me. It resulted in two publications with a further one under review. Also, there are two projects on the development of the early Earth in an advanced state that should also be published in international journals in the near future.

CAS in Guiyang has many excellent scientists and possibilities to carry out leading research in a variety of fields in geoscience. However, my impression is that the scientists are somewhat plagued by a too high absolute pressure for publication and by a load of organizational work that leaves little room for the establishment of new methods in the new laboratories and with new sophisticated analytical equipment. Especially the latter work seems to be little rewarding for the individual scientist. The time-consuming work of establishing new methods is not recognized because during that time there will be no new publications. However, new methods bring progress and open new ways in science.

I hope that I can continue my collaboration with CAS in Guiyang. Through the scientific exchange with the colleagues here and especially with my host, Professor Doctor Qiao Shu, we found new interesting projects that could be tackled here successfully in collaboration.

Gerhard Brey

Source: Institute of Geochemistry,

Chinese Academy of Sciences