Charles M. West, President of the American Academy of EngineeringVest met with Zhong Zhihua, President of Hunan University, Chairman of the First Sino-US Engineering Frontier Seminar and academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering.JIANG JINGLI/Photo by JIANG JINGLI
From October 19 to 21, the first Sino-US Engineering Frontier Seminar jointly organized by the Chinese and American Academy of Engineering was held in Changsha, Hunan Province.During the seminar, Charles West, President of the American Academy of Engineering, was invited to our interview.
"Science Times": For more than 20 years, a group of famous Chinese scientists and engineering technologists have been elected foreign academicians of the American Academy of Sciences and the American Academy of Engineering.How is the American Academy of Sciences different from the American Academy of Engineering?
Charles West: The American Academy of Sciences is an honorary government advisory body to the American scientific community, established in the mid-19th century (1863) by a congressional decree signed by President Lincoln.It is an autonomous organization of non-governmental, non-profit scientists who provide advice and advice to the federal government in the development and operation of science and technology.This is different from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, which has no research institutions.
100 years later, due to the rapid development of science and technology, the American Academy of Engineering independent from the American Academy of Sciences.There are two reasons for this, one is that people have begun to attach importance to engineering science and to disseminate knowledge of engineering science and technology to the public.At this point, the goal of the American Academy of Engineering and the American Academy of Sciences to disseminate scientific knowledge to the public is similar.Another reason is to advise the Government on engineering and technology so that the industrial elite can be selected into the Academy of Engineering, which is why nearly half of the Academy is from enterprises.Our goal is to reach 50 percent of the academicians in industry, which is now actually about 42 percent.Fifty-one percent of engineering faculty members come from universities, the rest from national laboratories.No matter where they come from, they must be elected by ballot.
Founded in December 1964, the American Academy of Engineering is the highest level of academic institutions in the United States engineering and technology, and serves as a scientific and technological adviser to the federal government with the American Academy of Sciences.The American Academy of Engineering brings together distinguished members of the engineering industry and the corporate elite to advance the nation's technology with their knowledge and insights.Academicians of the American Academy of Engineering are the highest academic honor in the field of engineering science, elected academicians are scientists who have made outstanding contributions to engineering scientific research, engineering technology practice and engineering education.
Each year, the American Academy of Engineering elects a new group of academicians and foreign academicians.In 2009, 65 new academicians were added, and a total of 9 foreign academicians were added.The US Academy of Engineering now has 2,246 academicians (including 241 retired) and 197 foreign academicians.
The National Research Council (NRC) has an executive body called the National Research Council (NRC), which has more than 1,000 staff members. Its work procedures are usually authorized by the U.S. Congressional Committee or federal government.The Academy of Medicine was separated from the Academy of Sciences in the 1970s.Given the intersection of disciplines in science and technology, the Academy of Sciences, the Academy of Engineering, and the Institute of Medicine, the partnership between us is very close.
Scientific Times: What are the academic exchanges between the American Academy of Engineering and the Chinese Academy of Engineering?What do you think is the significance of these exchanges for both sides?
Charles West: In June 2008, President Xu and I signed a memorandum of understanding on scientific and technological cooperation on behalf of the two institutes of engineering.We hope to promote further communication and cooperation in the field of engineering and technology and the corresponding engineering and technology industries, and build a platform for exchanges and cooperation between scientists, engineers, technicians, officials and entrepreneurs.The two sides will focus on holding a series of seminars on the frontiers of bilateral engineering and conducting joint research in the field of energy and environment, especially renewable energy.In addition, the two sides will prioritize cooperation in areas of international and regional importance through the holding of strategic science and technology policy forums.
The United States also faces many challenges in public understanding of science, particularly in how to reach the American public with engineering knowledge.The development of engineering and technology is at the heart of society's prosperity, and more young people will return to scientific research and engineering when the public realizes the importance of science and engineering for social development.
For the United States, cooperation with foreign countries is important.The challenges of the 21st century are global, and cooperation and exchanges with China are important.Because exchanges and cooperation are beneficial to both sides, we can carry out many cooperation projects with China or internationally, and these cooperations are related to global issues.
Science Times: At present, the world's science and technology has developed rapidly, and engineering technology has played an increasingly important role in social and economic construction.
Charles West: Mainly divided into two main areas, one is micro, specific technologies and systems, such as nanomaterials technology, information technology, biotechnology, mechanical engineering technology, etc.These fields are attractive to many young scientists.The other is macro-scientific engineering systems, such as energy, climate protection, food and water protection, public health and health care, and the production and distribution of consumer goods.In the United States, especially some universities, the focus is on the second aspect.I think in the second area we can learn a lot from China.
Science Times: What do you think of the exchanges and cooperation between the engineering and scientific communities of China and the United States?What are the recommendations or expectations for further cooperation and exchange?
Charles West: Our engineering academies can work closely together.The first Sino-US Engineering Frontier Seminar held in Changsha, Hunan Province, was a good cooperation.We conduct leading-edge research in engineering and public health, ensuring food safety, new energy-saving technologies, infrastructure sustainable development and disaster prevention and mitigation, and intelligent transportation systems.This seminar will discuss four broad areas of cooperation that our two sides intend to work on in the coming years.
Xu Kuangdi said at the opening ceremony that high-level exchanges between academicians and experts from both sides are mutually beneficial and hope that the cooperation and friendship between the two sides will last forever.I agree. Through similar seminars, we can learn from each other, and the most important thing for successful exchanges is that the two sides can continue to cooperate in scientific research after the meeting.In addition to these cutting-edge areas, I hope that we can continue to cooperate on energy, climate change prevention, and urban terrorism prevention.These collaborations have just begun and hopefully will continue to expand in the future.