South China Institute for Soft Matter convenes first council meeting

Secretary Zhang Xichun issued the Letter of Appointment to Professor Stephen Z. D. Cheng on the AISMST's first academic council meeting

SCUT will assemble some of the world’s most remarkable scientists together to conduct frontier researches on soft matter, based on the academic platform built by the South China Advanced Institute for Soft Matter Science and Technology (AISMST).

The AISMST held the first meeting of its International Academic Advancement Council on April 17 at the Shaw Building of Humanities. Among the first session of the council are scholars from top universities and research institutions in the US, the Netherlands, Japan and China.*

Secretary of the CPC SCUT Committee Zhang Xichun addressed an opening speech at the meeting. He praised that the launching of the institute marked an important step on SCUT’s course of internationalization, and he was looking forward to having advices from the council, who would play vital roles to help the institute achieve solid progress in the future.

On behalf of the university, Zhang Xichun then issued Letters of Appointment to council members. Professor David A. Tirrell of the California Institute of Technology and Professor Zhang Xi of Tsinghua University were assigned as joint chairmen.

The council, after the opening ceremony, held panels to discuss academic issues of the institute, including reviewing dean’s report and recruiting staff members.

Established by SCUT in May 2016, the AISMST aims to bring together high profile academics from around the globe to build a world-leading multidisciplinary platform for scientific research and technology application. It will answer to major demands of China and Guangdong province by taking its focus on soft matter related fields such as the scientific basis of soft matter and soft material engineering.

* Members of the first session of the AISMST International Academic Advancement Council include:

David A. Tirrell, Professor at the California Institute of Technology, Member of the US National Academy of Sciences, Member of the US National Academy of Engineering, Member of the US National Academy of Medicine;

Edwin L. Thomas, Professor at Rice University, Member of the US National Academy of Engineering;

Egbert W. Meijer, Professor at the Eindhoven University of Technology, Member of the Academy of Europe;

Stephen Z. D. Cheng, Professor at the South China University of Technology and the University of Akron, Dean of the South China Advanced Institute for Soft Matter Science and Technology , Member of the US National Academy of Engineering;

Takuzo Aida, Professor at the University of Tokyo, Recipient of the Japan Medal with Purple Ribbon;

Cao Yong, Professor at the South China University of Technology, Member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences;

Jiang Ming, Professor at Fudan University, Member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences;

Zhang Xi, Professor at Tsinghua University, Member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Source from the South China Advanced Institute for Soft Matter Science and Technology
Translated and edited by Xu Peimu
From the SCUT News Network