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No.172 |
CHINA SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
NEWSLETTER
The Ministry of Science and Technology
People's Republic of China
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December 20,1998 |
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IN THIS ISSUE
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China's First Projects on Basic Research and Development Approved
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CAS Excellent Post-Doctorship Awarded
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China's Small Satellite Platforms
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China's New Window Cleaning Robot
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China's 15th Antarctic Expedition
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Meeting Stresses Sustainable Development
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China's First Projects
on Basic Research and Development Approved
The experts panel organized by China's Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST)has completed its three phased screening appraisal procedures on 207 projects submitted by different sources in the spirit of “select according to needs, priority and advantages on a fair, just and open basis”. Pursuit to the proposals made by the experts panel, MOST has sealed its approval on the following 15 projects for the first batch:
1. Founding of theoretical and technical systems for “disease genome”;
2. Applied theory and high performance software for information technology;
3. Theory on image, sound and natural language and associated software;
4. Automatic inference platform and mathematics machinery;
5. Mechanism of efficient photic energy transformation of photosynthesis and its applications in agriculture;
6. Mechanism of severe continental earthquakes and its prediction;
7. Functional materials of rare earth and associated basic studies;
8. Formation and evolution of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and its environment and resources;
9. Discovery and optimization of leading structures of innovative medicines for
major diseases;
10. Studies on major scientific issues relating to disaster prevention and control and economic performance of China's major power generation system;
11. Studies on formation mechanism of China's severe climate and weathers and as sociated disasters;
12. Functional mechanism, molecule and microstructure designing and manufacturing techniques of functional crystal materials;
13. Studies on key agricultural crop species structures, major new genes and their effective applications;
14. Basic studies on genesis and development of malignant tumors;
15. Major basic studies on new generation iron and steel materials (super steel).
CAS Excellent Post-Doctorship Awarded
The selection of Excellent Post-Doctorship sponsored by Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) was completed on November 15, 1998. Chen Qing from China Science and Technology University and other nine students were conferred with the honor. CAS's post-doctorate program has witnessed great progress since the post-doctorate and post doctorate mobile systems were introduced in the country in 1985. Up to date, there are 380 mobile post doctorate stations created by 73 qualified research institutions, covering 18 disciplines including mathematics, physics, dynamics, astronomy, chemistry, biology, geology, geography, earth physics, atmospheric sciences, computer science and technology, automatic control, dynamic engineering, engineering thermal physics, chemistry engineering, industrial chemistry, material science and engineering, marine sciences, psychology, electronics and telecommunication. The institutes who are qualified to grand post doctorship have taken 73.7% of CAS's total authorized institutions. At October 1998, CAS has enrolled altogether 2192 post doctorate research fellows, of whom 250 are overseas students returned from abroad. So far 1400 post doctorates have completed their studies in the stations on a cumulative basis with 700 and more still working for the stations. Research fellows working for the mobile stations have participated or been involved in major national research projects. According to incomplete statistics, 30% of the stations' research topics are associated with national key programs with 400 research results reaching world advanced level and 6000 papers published in domestic or international academic journals.
It is reported that CAS's post doctorate program will see greater development with the impetus of ongoing trial project of “knowledge based innovation project”. In the meantime of improving the existing mobile stations, a number of new stations will be added in the priority fields and enrollment further expanded. By the end of this century, the institutes who have their own mobile stations are expected to reach 80 in number and stations 90 with annual enrolment amounting to 600-750 and on-station research fellow number 1200-1500. This will attract more doctorate graduates to work on post doctorship and promote scientific innovations of post doctorate research fellows.
Integrated Innovative
Design for New Generation Radio Telescope
The research team headed by Prof. Duan Baoyan of Xi'an University of Electronic Science and Technology has worked out its photo-mechanics-electronics integrated designing scheme for new generation large radio telescope. Been appraised as “a revolutionary new design” by experts in the field both at home and abroad, the innovative design will reduce the feed structure weight of US made Arecibo telescope, the only 305m telescope in the world from 800 tons to 20 tons. The innovative designing concept has greatly reduce the manufacturing costs and remarkably improved the tracking accuracy.
China's Major Achievements
on Artificially Induced Lightening
Lanzhou Institute of Plateau Atmospheric Sciences of Chinese Academy of Scienceshave produced a number of innovative results on the basis of their 9-year painstaking efforts. In 1989, researchers in the Institute successfully triggered lightening in China with its own developed lightening inducing rocket, which made China the fourth country in the world mastering lightening inducing technology following France, Japan and US. Since 1989, the research team have published 44 papers in major academic journals both at home and abroad and collected a great amount of real time observational data on electric current, fields, radiation and photic features of artificially induced lightening. These have revealed the characteristics and differences of lightenings in China's southern and northern areas and artificially induced lightening and helped in creating numerical models on electronic charge evolution under lower lightening air. The team has for the first time in the world worked out air born electric field condition and indicators for artificially induced lightening, which improved ground lightening transmission model and found a more rational explanations on the relationship between lightening currents and radiation magnetic fields. The said results have gained positive comments of international communities in the field.
National Human Genome
Centers (North) and (South) Established
National Human Genome Center (South) was recently established in Shanghai with its sister center National Human Genome Center (North) in Beijing. The former was established on the basis of Shanghai Human Genome Center with the latter on Beijing Nuosai Genome Research Center. Both centers will take full advantage of their respective merits under the guidance of national high tech research and development plan, national plan on major basic R&D and with the support of National Natural Science Foundation and strengthen the collaborations in technology, human resources, fund sources and management.
China's Small Satellite Platforms
Thanks to its many-year efforts, China has been able to produce modern small satellite systems on a massive basis required by different networking needs. Its production capacity may basically meet the needs of environment and disaster monitoring and mobile telecommunication for the next decade in the country.
International space communities have defined the satellite of a weight under 1000 kilos as small satellite and the one under 100 kilos as mini. Comparing with larger satellites, small satellites are of the merits of lighter weight, shorter research cycle and flexible payload modes.
Started from the 1960s, China has developed and launched 8 small or mini satellites with the longest life span lasting for 8 years.
China's New Window Cleaning Robot
The new window wiper and scraper robot developed by Tang Shiming, a doctorate student of Beijing Aviation and Space University is believed to be able to solve the difficulty of cleaning the windows of high rise buildings-an international engineering difficulty.
The crawling robot attaches the window panel surface with the help of its directed pushing force rather than absorbing capability. By taking advantage of space technology such as the combined forces produced by simple propellers and channel fans, the robot is able to attach to the panel surface in a steady manner. Its moving mechanism is driven by simple wheels or caterpillar. As the pushing force is always directing to the wall surface, it is easy for the robot to move across the obstacles and walk over smooth or rough surface including level or curved ones. These characteristics have thoroughly solved difficulties of robot climbing.
The said robot is extremely simple in terms of its structures. Its main body is composed of a channel wind fan driven by electric motor that will produce pushing force directing to the wall surface. A small cable rack installed on the top of high rise building will realize the up and down movement of the robot with the help of cable. As a result, its four wheel driven mechanism is not engine-powered. The robot is designed with manual operation: it will wipe the window panels with wet cloth and then scrape away the water with rubber bar. As the result of simultaneous wiping and scraping, the cleaning speed may reach 10m2 per ten minutes, 5 to 10 times that of manual operation. Equipped with video camera and radio transmitter, the Robot can be coordinated for its movement through ground control system. The new robot is featured with high efficiency, low cost, [CM(23]fine reliability, easy operation and simple maintenance.The robot can also be used to clean mosaic or marble surface. The newly developed cleaning mechanism is of extensive application perspectives.
China's 15th Antarctic Expedition
Snow Dragon an Antarctic expedition vessel weighed its anchor in Shanghai Harbor, heading for China's 15th Antarctic expedition on November 5, 1998.
The 15th Antarctic scientific expedition is a major scientific survey listed in the country's 9th Five- Year Plan. Snow Dragon carries 117 investigators, 5 heavy duty trucks, snow sledge, fuels and accommodations. The ship is scheduled to travel 18,000 nautical miles in 147 days. The expedition is designed with multi-disciplinary investigations focusing on the major theme “Antarctic role in global changes”. Collaborating with American scientists, Chinese investigators will also carry out relevant studies. The major mission of this expedition is to further investigate the ice cover of 1000 km on the basis of the investigations made in last year so as to reveal the formation process of this white continent, its evolution and its relationship with men's existence and development.
Meeting Stresses Sustainable Development
Environmental considerations should be raised to the centres of decision-making at all levels because the success of China's current reform programme depends on it, some Chinese and foreign environmental authorities and academicians said on November 18 in Beijing.
They said it is important that industry researches and develops low-energy consuming and more efficient technologies.
The experts made the recommendations to the Chinese Government at a closed Second Meeting of the Second Phase of the China Council for International Co-operation on Environment and Development (CCICED)on November 18 in Beijing.
The council developed a series of recommendations for the Chinese Government during its three-day discussion on the environmental statusof China.
The recommendations are expected to be submitted to the State Councilto be used as a reference point for making policies.
The experts stressed that the environment should be respected as afundamental resource of society for present and future generations.
Sustainable development should be considered in all social and economic fields and industrial policies, they said, and regional planning should take full account of it.
It will be particularly important in formulation of the 10th Five-Year Plan (2000-2004) and other plans for economic and social development.
In formulating its macro-economic goals, the State should consider a proper balance between the environment and resources, population and economic development and such indicators as rates of investment,imports and exports, price levels and employment. It should also take account of regional disparities, particularly that between coastal and inland provinces, they said.
They suggested the government should support environmental businesses and industries and restrict construction projects which consume high levels of water and energy or that cause heavy pollution in the Bohai coastal region.
The council recommended establishment of a compensation system in water usage by reforming water prices so that those downstream who derive benefit from clean water reward those upstream whose development is limited by the need to preserve natural vegetation.
Particular attention should be paid to the sustainable use of grassland resources and the development of husbandry in South China. They agreed that this area has great potential and could develop intoa meat and wool production base like that in New Zealand.
The council further suggested the Chinese Government support development of cleaner production methods and research on alternative energy sources; to expand public transportation systems and to limit the use of private cars in cities. Pollution fees must be charged on all emissions.
The council expressed hope the Chinese Government would avoid mistakes of other countries and protect its environment and culture and make its own distinctive contributions to sustainable development.
Comments or inquiries on editorial matters or Newsletter content should be directed to:Mr. Dong Jianlong, Department of International Cooperation, MOST 15B, Fuxing Road Beijing 100862, PR China Tel: (8610)68512650 Fax: (8610) 68512594, or Mr. Wang Jianping, Editor,NEWSLETTER, 15 Fuxing Road Beijing 100038, PR China, Tel:(8610) 68515544 Ext. 2921
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