Top science awards of China announced

Home>>Sci-Edu

Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Saturday, February 21, 2004

Top science awards of China announced

China Friday announced its annual science awards, with the top honors going to Wang Yongzhi, the chief designer of China's first manned spacecraft and Liu Dongsheng, a geologist with the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). The two ace Chinese scientists each won the 5-million-yuan (604,500 US dollars) .

DISCUSSION

CHINESE

SEND TO FRIEND

China Friday announced its annual science awards, with the top honors going to the chief designer of China's first manned spacecraft and a geologist.

Meanwhile, China's manned space project, which successfully launched the first manned spacecraft last November, also won a special award.

Wang, a 72-year-old academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE), has been the chief designer of China's manned space program in the past dozen years since 1992.

China launched its ever first-manned spacecraft Shenzhou-5 on Dec. 15 last year and planned to send the second one, Shenzhou-6, by 2005.

Liu Dongsheng, a noted geologist and academician of the Chinese Academy of Science (CAS) born in 1917, is one of the eminent pioneers in China's geographic environmental research, especially the research on loess.

China annually presents five state science and technology awards, namely, the State Preeminent Science and Technology Award,the State Natural Science Award, the State Technological InventionAward, the State Scientific and Technological Progress Award and the International Scientific and Technological Award.

The 5-million-yuan State Preeminent Science and Technology Award, established in the year 2000, is granted to two persons at most every year.

The winner receives 500,000 yuan and the remaining 4.5 million yuan is used for future scientific research under his guidance.

The scientific award cover various areas ranging from ancient biology and geology to information technology and maize with high yields.

At Friday's awarding ceremony, Premier Wen Jiabao expressed his congratulations to Liu and Wang and other prize winners.

Wen said science and technology must be on the country's top agenda as the country marches towards the goal of building a wealthy and comfortable life for its people.

Science and technology is unprecedentedly important to sustainable economic and social development, and should be based on natural resources-savings , Wen said.

Chinese scientists can make technological breakthroughs in cutting-edge scientific fields as long as they persist in seeking innovation. This has been proven by the successful development of the A-bomb, H-bomb and a satellite and launching of "Shenzhou-V,'' the premier said.

He encouraged scientists to brave new challenges and breakthroughs.

"The government will go on to increase funds for scientific development and further reform scientific systems,'' Wen indicated.

Redoubled efforts should be made to propel technological innovations among enterprises, basic scientific research, applied science and high-technology development, he said.

The old system of seniority-dominated employment should be totally abandoned, to generously employ young talented scientists.

Wen emphasized a strategy of further revitalizing the nation through talent, cultivating powerful research teams, especially talented pioneers in important scientific fields.

State Councillor Chen Zhili said four foreign scientists have won special prizes for outstanding contributions to international scientific co-operation. They are: mathematician Shing-Tung Yau from the United States; agricultural and economic expert Jweregen Voegele from Germany; medical professor Mizushima Yutaka from Japan and Archimedes Company president Elio Matacena from Italy.

By People's Daily Online

Questions?Comments? Click here

Senior Scientists Win China's Top Award

Two Scientists Win Second State Supreme Science and Technology Award

Chinese premier calls for government clean-up ( 26 Messages)

China reviews efforts to better serve people ( 7 Messages)

Japan decides to further cut back economic aid to China ( 60 Messages)

How 'sea turtles' turned out to be 'seaweeds'? ( 4 Messages)

CEO of Indian Wipro Industries: Chinese software industry can't catch up with India's ( 23 Messages)