A Proposal for Responsible Conduct of GM Technology Research and Development

Genetically modified （GM） technology is an ＂inevitable result of the rapid development of modern science and technology. With broadapplication prospects in fields such as medicine, industry, agriculture, environmental protection, energy and new materials, it will certainly provide new development space for human society. However, as with other high technologies, its nonstandard R＆D activities and misuse might raise safety risks. For this reason, the Presidium of Academic Divisions of the Chinese Academy of Sciences （CASAD） calls on practitioners of GM technology research and development （including basic and applied research, and product development）, and those involved in the research and development of safety monitoring, evaluation, and detecting techniques to retain a high sense of responsibility and to widely promote professional ethics, conduct research properly, fulfill social responsibility, facilitate public communication and support the sound development of GM technology.     

International Cooperation Key to Success of Earth Observation System---An Interview with Dr. Ghassem R. Asrar

＂It is a very wonderful story to tell,＂ in the interview with BCAS reporter SONG Jianlan before the opening of the 35 th International Symposium on Remote Sensing of Environment （ISRSE）, Dr. Ghassem R. Asrar, Director of the World Climate Research Program （WCRP） and former Earth Science Associate Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration （NASA） could not help expressing his joyfulness and satisfaction at the wonderful job the global community has done in just thirty years： building the Earth observing system （EOS）,turning the observations into useful information and making it available to scientists and decision makers around the world. Let＇s follow him to celebrate the contributions of Earth observations to our understanding of the Earth system and climate, a sub-system of our planet, and recognize China＇s current and future role in this system. Meanwhile we will have an opportunity to learn about his experiences of EOS and expectation of China＇s bigger participation in internationally cooperative projects in the field of space-based remote sensing, for future decades.     

CAS hydrologists meet to address water resource issues

With the objective of exploring approaches to integrated research into water resources and giving full play to the Steering Committee of the CAS Water Resources Research Center （WRRC）, the second meeting of WRRC experts and a symposium on WRRC development were held at the CAS Institute of Geographic Science and Resources Research （IGSNRR） in Beijing on 4 and 5 December,     

Biodiversity Is Life——An interview with WANG Song and XIE Yan

Prof. WANG Song （WANG Sung） with the CAS Institute of Zoology （IOZ） is among the first scholars to realize the prime importance of wildlife and biodiversity and to initiate early conservation efforts in China. To mark the UN International Year of Biodiversity, BCAS reporter SONG Jianlan invites Prof. Wang and his cooperator and IOZ colleague, Dr. XIE Yan to give a review of the past practice and offer advice to future conservation of wildlife and biodiversity in the country.     

Important Source of Greenhouse Gas Emissions from rieultural Soil Underestimated

Changes in agricultural practices could reduce soil emissions of nitrous oxide （N2O） and nitric oxide （NO）, according to a new study by scientists at the Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences and the University of California, Davis.     

Greenhouse gas emissions from rice-based ecosystems and natural wetlands

Rice-based ecosystems and natural wetlands are important sources of atmospheric methane （CH4） and nitrous oxide （N2O）, two kinds of greenhouse gases that are continuously increasing.     

China＇s 10 most significant S＆T developments in 2007

Under the auspices of the Academic Divisions of both the Chinese Academy of Sciences （CAS） and the Chinese Academy of Engineering （CAE） and Science Times, a selection of the 10 most significant S＆T developments in China in 2007 was recently made in Beijing. Some 540 Members of CAS and CAE took part in the voting. Its results were released on 20 January.     

Ecological Protection and Sustainable Development in Sanjiangyuan

The region of Sanjiangyuan （meaning ＂Source of Three Rivers＂） on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is the origin of three of China＇s major rivers - the Yellow River, the Yangtze and Lancang （named Mekong when it leaves China）. Encompassing 16 counties of the four Tibetan Autonomous Prefectures （Yushu, Guoluo, Hainan, and Haungnan） in northwest China＇s Qinghai Province,     

Flagship project on cryopheric changes launched at CAS

With the support of the National Basic Research Program （dubbed “973” Program）, a research project entitled the “dynamic process of China＇s cryosphere, and the mechanism behind its impact on climate, hydrology and ecology” has recently been launched at the CAS Cold and Arid Regions Environmental and Engineering Research Institute （CAREERI） in Lanzhou, capital of northwest China＇s Gansu Province, marking the inception of a systematic and allround exploration of the subject.     

CAS-TWAS Centre of Excellence for Biotcchnology

CAS-TWAS Centre of Excellence for Biotechnology （CoEBio） is one of the 22 CAS-TWAS Centres of Excellence （CoE）, which are supported by the Chinese Academy of Sciences （CAS） and the Academy of Sciences for the Developing World （TWAS） -- for the advancement of science in developing countries.     

Exploring Novel Functiona Compounds

The MPSICAS Partner Group on the Chemistry and Physics of Inorganic Solid State Materials was formally established in 2006 by the Shanghai Institute of Ceramics, CAS （SIC-CAS） and the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Physics of Solids （MPI-CPfS）. The work of the group focused on two research directions within the scope of solid state chemistry and physics, namely intermetallic compounds and inorganic borophosphates and related compounds. Cooperative work has been carried out at both sides, either through the exchange of students and coworkers or by sharing research facilities. The outcomes of the collaboration are justified through joint and partner group facilitated publications, joint contributions at scientific conferences, co-supervised students, exchange visits of members and joint scientific reports.     

Mangshan Pit Viper Now Protccted against lllegal Trade,under Scientists＇ Proposal

Mangshan pit viper （Protobothrops mangshanensis）, a rare and endangered snake, became listed in the Appendix 11 of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora （CITES） at the Convention＇s 16th meeting of the Conference of the Parties held in Thailand in March 2013.     

Studies decode crystal structure of a neurotrophic factor and the p75 neurotrophin receptor complex

CAS biophysicists have made new discoveries about the p75 neurotrophin receptor （p75^NTR）. Under the guidance of Prof. JIANG Tao of the CAS Institute of Biophysics （IBP）, Dr. GONG Yong and Dr. CAO Peng revealed crystal structure of a symmetrical complex of the neurotrophin-3 and p75^NTR,     

CAS-TWAS-WMO Forum： 12 Years On

In 2000, with the joint efforts of the Chinese Academy of Sciences （CAS）, the Academy of Science for the Developing World （TWAS） and the World Meteorological Organization （WMO）, a regular international...     

CAS to set up a free-electron laser facility in Shanghai

CAS has decided to establish a soft X-ray free-electron laser （SXFEL） experimentfacility and an RF superconducting accelerator unit in Shanghai, according to a presentation made by Prof. ZHAO Zhentang, vice directorgeneral of the CAS Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics （SINAP）, at the 122nd session of the Eastern Forum of Science and Technology held on 11 and 12 December, 2008, in Shanghai.     

China＇s top 10 events in basic research in 2007

Under the joint auspices of the Ministry of Sciences ＆ Technology （MOST） and China Association for Science ＆ Technology, more than 1,600 Chinese scholars including CAS and CAE members, chief scientists of the National Basic Research Program （dubbed 973 Program） and directorsof national key labs, have voted for China＇s top 10 events in basic research in 2007.     

BAL Quasars without intrinsic X-ray absorption

While observing a sample of quasars with broad absorption line （BAL） in their spectra, Prof. WANG Junxian and his colleagues Prof. WANG Tinggui and Dr. ZHOU Hongyan with the Center for Astrophysics at the University of Science and Technology of China （USTC） discovered that unlike most of BAL quasars, two of the observed do not show intrinsic X-ray absorption, indicating a different composition of matter in their outflows. This might help us better understand how black holes devour and project gases, according to the astronomers.     

Regulations for CAS Visiting Professorships for Senior International Scientists

Article I These regulations are made in accordance with the Chinese Academy of Sciences （CAS） ＂Package Program for Talent Training ＆ Recruitment＂ and ＂Guidelines of the Chinese Academy of Sciences for the Implementation of the Program for Attracting Overseas Scientists and Experts and Cultivating Talent through International Exchange＂, to guide the implementation of the ＂CAS Visiting Professorships for Senior International Scientists＂ （hereinafter referred to as the ＂Visiting Professorships Program＂）.     

USTC： half a century＇s glory

The University of Science and Technology of China （USTC） under the Chinese Academy of Sciences （CAS） celebrated its 50th anniversary on 20 September, 2008. In eastern China＇s Hefei city where the USTC main campus is located, about 15 thousand students, alumni and faculty hung out banners and held ceremonies to say happy birthday to their college.     

CAS, TWAS Join Hands in Developing Centers of Excellence to Promote Science in the Developing World

On June 28 and July 1, Dr. Peter McGrath, Programme IOfficer of TWAS （The World Academy of Sciences -- for the advancement of science in developingworld）, paid visits to four CAS-TWAS Centers of Excellence （CoEs） in Beijing, including the CoE for Green Technology, the CoE on Space Technology for Disaster Mitigation, the CoE for Water and Environment and the CoE for Biotechnology, together with staff from the CAS Bureau of International Cooperation.