The Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE) announced here Wednesday that 48 prominent scientists have been elected academicians, bringing the number of CAE academicians to 756.

CAE vice president Xu Rigan said, "The average age of the newly elected is 56.2, the youngest in CAE's academician election history."

About 66.7 percent of the new academicians were under 60, up from 45.5 percent in 2007. The oldest was 75 and the youngest 41, he said.

The new academicians were elected from 449 candidates. Twenty of the newly elected are from higher learning institutions, 18 from research institutes, six from factories and companies, and four from administrative departments.

A CAE academician is the highest national academic title in engineering science and technology and is a lifelong honor. New members are added every two years, with a quota of no more than 60 for each election.

In addition, six scientists were elected foreign CAE academicians, among whom five were from the United States and one from the United Kingdom.

(Xinhua News Agency December 2, 2009)