I was very happy and delighted to have a great opportunity to visit China for three months from July to October in 2021 since the pandemic was well under control by the Chinese government. The CAS-PIFI program fills an important role in promoting talent mobility and international research collaboration, and this fellowship certainly allows scientists to collaborate with excellent Chinese researchers in various institutions in China and to promote a concrete research network through face-to-face interactions. I hope that the CAS-PIFI program funds a prolonged long stay, as well as shorter visits of 2 to 4 weeks.

I am an Emeritus Professor at Hanyang University in Seoul, South Korea. I visited China so many times over the last 25 years, and all my past experiences and memories were very enjoyable and fruitful. Surprisingly, it was the first time for me to stay in China for three months rather than a short-term stay of less than 10 days, and this visit was a very joyful time for me to meet many old and new friends, including young talented scientists who are important for the future of China in S&T fields. I also had the opportunity to witness the big achievements of several institutions of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) in recent years and the activities of the Alliance of International Science Organizations (ANSO), a non-profit, non-governmental international scientific organization founded in 2018 by CAS and 36 other international science and education institutions from around the world.

Professor Zhao Yuliang, who is Director of National Center for Nanoscience and Technology (NCNST), kindly invited me to NCNST, and I gave five well-attended lectures on the topics of “Introduction of Lithography and Nanostructure Fabrication” for graduate students and one lecture on the topic of “Fabrication of Hierarchical Nanostructures for Sensor Platforms & Global Science Network on Nanotechnology” for postdoctoral researchers and young researchers at NCNST.

The students and researchers are very bright and passionate in their research and have great self-esteem. In the series of lectures, I tried to do my best for the preparation of lecture materials of advanced lithography and semiconductor devices and distributed them to students in advance so that they could look at the contents of my lecture slides before the class. We were quite excited and enthusiastic about asking and answering questions. I received unforgettable heartfelt treatment by the students on Teachers’ Day. They celebrated the day and prepared a plaque of appreciation and a beautiful bouquet for me. I would like to say how truly blessed I was to meet all students and staff who were with me in the series of lectures. I really would like to express my sincere gratitude to students and staff for giving me such beautiful and warm treatment.

I was so impressed to find that all staff of NCNST who were arranged to work with me were so kind and energetic in assisting me and organizing several events, including lectures and logistics coordination. They are truly professional and the best at their jobs. Professor Zhao and many friends in NCNST made sure that I had everything I needed to be comfortable. I was so happy to meet all former three directors and many division heads of NCNST, and it was my great honor to watch the progress history of NCNST since its establishment in 2003. The NCNST operates three CAS Key Laboratories, and the Nature Index showed that NCNST was one of the “Top 5 Institutes of CAS” in 2018. Several research labs have been acknowledged as the best in the world and the general environment is very active and stimulated. I am sure that the NCNST will become the best premier institute in the world in the field of nanoscience and technology very soon.

I also gave several lectures at ANSO, Tsinghua University, Beijing Graphene Institute, and Korea-China Science & Technology Cooperation Center. I gave special lectures entitled “The Korean Wave: Culture, Economy, Innovation and Talent Mobility” at ANSO and BGI, respectively. I sincerely hope that both China and Korea can keep the best relationship and work together for the peace and prosperity of the world.

While I worked at NCNST, I was honored to work at ANSO as a special Advisor. ANSO aims to improve regional and global capacity in science and technology, human livelihoods and well-being, and to promote broader S&T cooperation and communication. ANSO members include national academies of sciences, universities, research institutes and international organizations. The secretariat is located at CAS’s Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research (ITP) near the Beijing National Stadium that hosted the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the 2008 Beijing Olympics. It has been my honor to work with ANSO since 2020, and I was able to participate in several events and meetings.

I would like to thank both NCNST and ANSO for inviting me to experience what both ANSO and NCNST offered. This was truly a very important and unique opportunity. Those who come to China as recipients of the CAS-PIFI will have a big and positive impression about the remarkable achievements of China in many areas. And one can raise their role and profile as one of the CAS visiting scientists, and furthermore the international research network can be strengthened through this CAS-PIFI. I am certainly looking forward to my next visits to China and further close cooperation with NCNST and additional institutions. It is highly anticipated that several leading institutions in Asia and the European Union will become new members of ANSO in the coming years.

Source: Haiwon Lee,

National Center for Nanoscience and Technology,

Chinese Academy of Sciences