On December 9, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) announced that 51 new academicians were elected and so the total number of CAS academicians was boosted to 727. Professor LIU Conqiang, Chairman of the Academic Committee of State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry (SKLEG), was elected CAS Academician, which brought the number of CAS academicians in IGCAS to 2.
LIU Congqiang, 56-year old, Ph.D., Professor, doctoral student advisor, the former Director of IGCAS from July 1997 to September 2009, is the current Chairman of the Academic Committee of SKLEG. Professor LIU Congqiang‘s long-term research interests include the study on karst ecological and environmental problems in Southwest China, and has made remarkable achievements in the following two areas: geochemical process of the Earth’s surface and Eco-environment effects in karst area, and the basic theory and the application of trace element and isotope geochemistry.
Professor LIU Congqiang has successfully applied and implemented nation’s first 973 Program focusing on the basic research on karst rocky desertification in Southwest China, not only providing the scientific support on optimizing the eco-environment and enhancing the regional economic and social developments in karst areas of Southwest China, but also offering the guidance on managing and restoring karst ecosystems in Guizhou Province. For his extraordinary research achievements, Professor LIU Congqiang was awarded the “Qianling Technology Award” at the Science and Technology Conference of Guizhou Province on November 26.
Professor LIU Congqiang was granted the National Science Found for Distinguished Young Scholars. He has served as Chief Scientist of National “Climbing” Program, Chief Specialist of National Program on Key Basic Research Project of China (973 Program), and Chief Scientist of Science Fund for Creative Research Groups of the National Nature Science Foundation of China. In addition, Professor LIU Congqiang was honored with the titles including Outstanding Scientist of Guizhou Province (First Class Award), the First CAS Advanced Individual of Innovation Culture, State Science and Technique Workers, and Key Scientist of Guizhou Province.
The title of Academician is the highest academic title and lifelong honor awarded to the Chinese scientists with remarkable achievements. The election of CAS Academician is held every two years, with a quota of no more than 60 for each election. Going through the cycle of posting the application notice in public, communication review, meeting-based evaluation, follow-up review and confirmation, and approval, 51 academicians were elected out of 314 valid candidates in 2011. The new academicians included nine in Mathematics and Physics Division, seven in Chemistry Division, nine in Life Sciences and Medical Sciences Division, ten in Earth Sciences Division, seven in Information Technology Sciences Division, and nine in Technology Sciences. Average age of the new academicians is 52.6. Out of 51 new academicians, 43 are under 60 years old, accounting for 84.3%.
Meanwhile, nine foreign scientists from the United States, Japan, France, Israel, and Britain, including three Nobel Laureates, were elected CAS foreign academicians, which increased the total number of foreign academicians to 64.
(Provided by General Office, Translated by XIAO Yi)
