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China granted its State Scientific and Technological Award for
2007 on Tuesday to petrochemical scientist Min Enze and
botanist Wu Zhengyi for progress in technological innovation.
Chinese President Hu Jintao, with other senior leaders, presented
the 5 million yuan (about US$600,000) awards at the annual national
science-technology award ceremony at the Great Hall of the
People.
President Hu Jintao
presents the awards to Min Enze
Senior petrochemical engineer Min, 84, a native of Sichuan
Province in southwest China, is a member of the Sinopec Science and
Technology Committee and a senior advisor of the Research Institute
of Petroleum Processing (RIPP).
Min graduated in 1946 from the then National Central University
and obtained a doctorate in chemical engineering from Ohio State
University in 1950.
Min became an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences
(CAS) in 1980, a research fellow of the Third World Academy of
Sciences in 1993 and an academician of the Chinese Academy of
Engineering in 1994.
As an innovator in petrochemical technology, Min laid the
foundation of petroleum refining applied catalysis in China,
according to the award review committee.
Min has dedicated his life to the study of petrochemical and
chemical engineering, as oil demand soars globally. The committee
praised his work as an explorer in the research and development of
petrochemical green chemistry, as well as his efforts to make
better biofuel.
Botanist Wu, 91, a native of eastern Jiangxi Province, has been
engaged in botanical research and education for 70 years. "He is an
authority in the fields of systematic botany and plant geography as
well as plant diversity, conservation and sustainable use of plant
resources," the committee remarked.
President Hu Jintao
presents the awards to Wu Zhengyi
The botany professor, also a CAS senior academician, graduated
from the biology department of the elite Beijing-based Tsinghua
University in 1937 and later became director of the botany
institute of CAS.
As the chief editor of Flora Reipublicae Popularis Sinicae, or
"Flora of China," which showcases the work of three generations of
botanists, Wu played the key role. His critical contributions made
the book "the most comprehensive of its kind that characterizes
plant species and distributions in China," the review committee
said.
Wu organized several massive surveys of plant resources in East
Asia, especially the biologically rich Yunnan Province in southwest
China.
"He has published research on 1,766 new taxa of plants in his
study of plant taxonomy, which makes him the top botanist in China
in terms of the number of plants that were discovered and named,"
the committee said.
Premier Wen Jiabao said in a keynote speech that
China had reached a stage in its history where it was more
dependent on scientific and technological innovation, and it should
strive to enhance its innovative capabilities, which were a
national strategic priority.
Premier Wen delivers a
keynote speech at the awarding ceremony
Government and Party officials should "make friends with
scientists" and "extensively take their advice", Wen said, adding
the country should create a sound, respectful environment for
scientists and scientific progress.
Other Party and government leaders -- Li Changchun, Xi Jinping and Li Keqiang-- also attended the event and
presented awards to other scientists and enterprises for
significant scientific contributions.
The ceremony was jointly held by the Central Committee of the
Communist Party of China and the State Council.
(Xinhua News Agency January 8, 2008)
