Remembering Things

In an attempt to listen to things, and to unpack the dynamics and particularities of the role of things in constituting memory (and the role of memory in constituting things), we argue four points: that relations between things are crucial; that things provide us with markers of time, place, purpose, and identity; that these markers are historically obdurate; and that things actin ways that transcend semiotics. Each of these four—relations, markers, obduracy, and actions—are significant for and constitutive of memory. The argument is thus antirepresentational, suggesting that the world is perfectly capable of representing itself, and that our understanding of the world is immanent in the world and its relations.     

Beijing Declaration

The 14th General Meetingand 9th General Conferenceof the ThirdWorld Acad-emy of Sciences (TWAS) and the8th General Assembly of the ThirdWorld Network of Scientific Orga-nizations (TWNSO) have been suc-cessfully convened in Beijing,Peoples Republic of China, during16 19 October 2003.We, the participants, focusing onthe subject of Science forDevelopment; aiming at scientificadvancement, openness, andcooperation; and further enhanc-ing South-South cooperation,And having witness…     

Remembering me: big data,individual identity,and the psychological necessity of forgetting

Each of us has a personal narrative: a story that defines us, and one that we tell about ourselves to our inner and outer worlds. A strong sense of identity is rooted in a personal narrative that has coherence and correspondence (Conway in J Mem Lang 53:594–628, 2005): coherence in the sense that the story we tell is consistent with and supportive of our current version of ‘self’; and correspondence in the sense that the story reflects the contents of autobiographical memory and the meaning of our experiences. These goals are achieved by a reciprocal interaction of autobiographical memory and the self, in which memories consistent with the self-image are reinforced, in turn strengthening the self-image they reflect. Thus, personal narratives depend crucially on the malleable nature of autobiographical memory: a strong sense of self requires that one remember what matters, and forget what does not. Today, anyone who is active online generates a highly detailed, ever—expanding, and permanent digital biographical ‘memory’—memory that identifies where we go, what we say, who we see, and what we do in increasing detail as our physical lives become more and more enmeshed with electronic devices capable of recording our communications, online activities, movements, and even bodily functions. This paper explores the consequences of this digital record for identity, arguing that it presents a challenge to our ability to construct our own personal narratives–narratives that are central to a sense of ‘self’. In the end, the ‘right to be forgotten’ may be, above all else, a psychological necessity that is core to identity—and therefore a value that we must ensure is protected.     

ChinaNANO 2011 convenes in Beijing

With more than 1,000 participants from all over the world, the International Conference on Nanoscience and Technology (ChinaNANO) was successfully convened in Beijing from September 7 to 9, 2011. The scientists held hot discussions on the forefront of nanoscience and nanotechnology     

大力发展北京知识密集型服务业

当前,知识经济所引起的产业变革方兴未艾,如果说在第二产业中产业结构的变化特点是高技术产业替代了传统产业,那么在第三产业中是服务业革命促进了第三产业内部结构向高级化的演变和知识密集型服务业的崛起.     

Beijing Genomics Institute Officially Inaugurated

The nameplate for the CAS Beijing Genomics Institute (BGI) was officially unveiled on May 28 in Beijing.     

Lenovo College opens in Beijing

Under the auspices of CAS,a training program designed to foster entrepreneurs was officially kicked off on 14 July,2008,in Beijing.CAS President LU Yongxiang was present at the launching ceremony.     

ChinaNANO 2007 opens in Beijing

With all-round supports from the Ministry of Science & Technology,the Ministry of Education, CAS, the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) as well as China Association for Science and Technology, the International Conference on Nanoscience and Technology, China 2007(ChinaNANO 2007) opened on June 4 in Beijing     

An Astronomer's Encounter with Beijing

正When Dutch astronomer Richard de Grijs first met Chinese astronomer DENG Licai at a workshop in Mexico in 2003,he was already married to a Chinese woman and interested in seeking links with Chinese astronomy.At that point,Richard was a junior faculty member at the University of Sheffield in the UK,while Licai was a research professor at the National Astronomical Observatories,Chinese Academy of Sciences(NAOC),in Beijing.They got along very well and forged a bond during     

TWOWS Assembly Convenes in Beijing

<正>"Women are still under-represented in the fields of science and technology," remarked HE Naledi Pandor, minister of science and technology of South Africa,     

Facial recognition technology safeguards Beijing Olympics

To ensure the safety of spectators and athletes at the biggest-ever OlympicGames, automation experts from CAS have developed China＇s first system to identify individuals by their facial features, and successfully applied it to the opening night security check on 8 August in Beijing.     

北京学专题数据库建设初探

对建立北京学专题数据库的必要性、可行性进行分析.初步总结了北京联合大学建设该专题数据库的做法,并对建设过程中存在的一些问题进行探讨.     

Chinese TWAS Members meet in Beijing

The Fifth Meeting of Chinese Members of the Academy of Sciences for the Developing World (TWAS) was held in Beijing on April 16. Chaired by CAS Vice President and TWAS Member ZHANG Yaping, the meeting was attended by nearly 60 people from across the country.     

Space Science Assembly Convenes in Beijing

The opening ceremony for the 36th Scientific Assembly of the Committee on Space Research (COSPAR) was held on the evening of July 17 in Beijing. Chinese President HU Jintao sent his congratulations to the assembly. Chinese Vice Premier ZENG Peiyan spoke at the opening ceremony.     

发展首都知识型服务业

本文讨论了知识型服务业的兴起历程,阐释了知识型服务业兴起的原因。提出关于知识型服务业的概念和行业类别的界定,探讨了知识型服务业的特征,并提出北京发展知识型服务业的战略规划。     

GRC 2014 Summit Convenes in Beijing

<正>Jointly hosted by the Chinese Academy of Sciences(CAS),the National Natural Science Foundation of China(NSFC)and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada(NSERC),the 2014 Annual Global Meeting of the Global Research Council(GRC)was held in Beijing from May 26th to 28th,2014.LI Keqiang,Premier of China’s State Council attended the meeting and made an important speech.More than 110 delegates from over70 science funding agencies and research organizations in more than 40 countries attended the event.     

National Sci-ence Library Opens in Beijing

The nameplate-unveiling ceremony for the Na- tional Science Library (NSL), CAS, was held on March 18 in Beijing. The establishment of NSL is considered the most important re- form measure in the history of CAS library system over the past 56 years. It is …