Twenty-nine prominent Chinese scientists have been elected as members of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and five of their colleagues from the United States, France and Russia as CAS foreign members in 2007. The announcement was made by CAS Vice President Li Jinghai at a press conference held on Dec. 27 in Beijing. CAS President Lu Yongxiang was present at the meeting.

The CAS membership is the highest academic title and an honor of life tenure conferred by the state in science and technology circles in China. The election of CAS members is held biennially, and each time the total number of new members will not exceed 60, according to the Bylaws for CAS members. At present, CAS has a total of 710 members.

The new CAS members, elected from 287 candidates, included six from the Division of Mathematics and Physics, six from Division of Chemistry, seven from Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, four from Division of Earth Sciences, one from Division of Information Technical Sciences and five from Technological Sciences. Sixty-nine percent of the new CAS members are under 60. The oldest is 69 and the youngest 41. The average age of the newly elected is 53.7, the lowest since 1991.

According to the Bylaws of CAS Members, Foreign Members of CAS are elected for their distinguished achievements in scientific research and valuable contributions to China's S&T development. A candidate for the foreign membership becomes eligible only when nominated by not less than five CAS members. The election takes place biennially at the General Assembly of the CAS via secret ballot. Now there are 53 Foreign Members at CAS.

(Xinhua News Agency December 28, 2007)