HKUST President Prof Paul Chu has been appointed to the US President's Committee on the National Medal of Science to select and recommend to the US President the recipients of the highest honor for scientific achievement in the US.
Prof Chu is the few Chinese scientists ever to be appointed to the President's Committee since the establishment of the National Medal of Science by the US Congress in 1959.
Hailed as the United States' equivalent of the Nobel Prize, the National Medal of Science is awarded by the US President on an annual basis to honor the contributions made by outstanding scientists who have significantly advanced knowledge in the fields of physics, biology, mathematics, engineering, and sociology and other behavioral sciences.
Prof Chu's appointment to the President's Committee, announced by the White House on June 21, is for a term of three years ending December 2009. The President's Committee comprises 12 members who are outstanding scientists and engineers from a variety of disciplines in the natural and social science.
"The medal is to recognise the best scientists from across the US, and I am deeply honoured to be given the opportunity to play a part in recommending the recipients," Prof Chu said.
Prof Chu is himself a recipient of the National Medal of Science in 1988 for his scientific breakthrough in high temperature super-conductivity. He was also named the Best Researcher in the United States by US News and World Report in 1990.
Out of a total 425 National Medal of Science laureates, nine are of Chinese descent, including:
Chen-Ning Yang (1986);
Yuan-Tseh Li (1986);
Yuan-Cheng B Fung (2000), the "Founder of Modern Biomechanics";
Shing-Tung Yau (1997), winner of the Fields Medal,
Alfred Y Cho (1993), the "Father of Molecular Beam Epitaxy";
Tung-Yin Lin (1986), one of the greatest structural engineers of his time;
Shiing-Shen Chern (1975), a leading differential geometer of the twentieth century; and
Chien-Shiung Wu (1975), the "First Lady of Physics"
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May Cheung
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Email: mccheung@ust.hk
