Portraiture of President Zhou Guangzhao

Portraiture credit: VOCAST

The China Association for Science and Technology (CAST) convened a memorial seminar in Beijing to honor the late President Zhou Guangzhao, China’s renowned physicist, former President of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and former President of CAST on September 26, 2024.

Zhou Guangzhao passed away due to illness at 10:55 pm on Aug 17 in Beijing. He was 95. Zhou was extolled as an excellent member of the Communist Party of China (CPC), a loyal Communist fighter and an outstanding scientist.

Zhou was a renowned physicist and a pivotal figure in China’s nuclear weapon program. He was honored with the "Two Bombs, One Satellite" Meritorious Service Medal in 1999.

Zhou made significant contributions to theoretical physics, including his discovery in 1960 of the partial conservation of axial current -- one of the most important contributions to particle physics and the key to understanding the interactions of fundamental particles known as pions.

In his distinguished career, Zhou received numerous awards, including the first prize of the National Natural Science Award in 1964, 2 special prizes of the National Award for Advancement of Science and Technology in 1985, and the first prize for Major Scientific and Technological Achievements from the Chinese Academy of Sciences in 1987.

Zhou was a veteran academician of the CAS, and served as President of CAS from 1987 to 1997, and he was Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) -- China's top legislature from 1998 to 2003.

The other posts Zhou had served included Vice President of the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics (IUPAP) and President of the Pacific Science Association (PSA). He was also foreign member of the Academies of Sciences of a number of countries.

Zhou was President of the 5th and 6th National Committee of CAST from May, 1996 to May, 2006.

During his tenure as President in CAST, Zhou made great efforts in initiating CAST Annual Meeting and the National Science Popularization Day programs.

He also took his responsibilities in establishing exchange platforms and science award programs for young scientists including the Qiu Shi Outstanding Young Scholar Award and the Zhou Guangzhao Foundation Outstanding Young Scholar Award.

He established the CAST Ethics and Equity Working Committee to rally Chinese scientists and technologists to pay concerted efforts, thereby steering CAST towards becoming a home for Chinese sci-tech professionals.

The seminar was attended by CAST President Wan Gang, Honorary President Han Qide, and Secretary of the Leading Party Members Group He Junke, who presided over the seminar.

(Part of the report adopts materials from the official website of Peking University and CAST portfolios.)

Tag: Department of Publicity and Culture of CAST, Chinese Scientists, Science Program Organizers