An Introduction to CLSS-UK
– The Parental Organisation of ALSC-UK:
Chinese Life Scientists
Society in the UK (CLSS-UK) was founded
in 1992 and since then it has been
devoted to building a link for Chinese
life scientists in the UK and in China.
CLSS-UK is the only organisation of its
kind in the UK, representing all Chinese
scientists in the broadest fields of
life and biomedical sciences from
mainland China and beyond. It also has
become one of the most important
professional organisations within
Chinese community. So far, CLSS-UK has
over 5000 members, comprising the best
academics, scientists, clinicians and
students from all over the UK, as well
as alumni who have return back to China
or are currently working in other
countries.
The History of ALSC-UK –
The Senior Members’ Club of CLSS-UK:
On April 6, 2008, the
same day as the auspicious snow welcomed
the Olympic torch relay in London, the
Academy of Life Sciences for Chinese in
the UK (ALSC-UK) was officially
announced in the Education Section of
the Chinese Embassy in London. ALSC-UK
is the senior members’ club of CLSS-UK
and is the brainchild of Minister
Counsellor Mr Yongda WANG of the
Education Section of the Chinese
Embassy.
At the inauguration
meeting, Professor Mingqing DU from the
University of Cambridge introduced the
principles of this new initiative and
the meeting agenda. Dr. Wei Wang from De
Montfort University described the
preparing processes of the meeting and
the ALSC-UK. Dr. Henglong HU from
GlaxoSmithKline presided over
discussions on the Chinese and English
names of the Academy and the titles of
its members in both Chinese and English,
as well as the organisational structure
and key appointments of the Academy.
Professor Xin LU from the University of
Oxford led a warm discussion on the
unique opportunities, rights and
responsibilities of the members of the
ALSC-UK.
Finally, Dr. Qihe XU,
Chairman of CLSS-UK (2007-2009),
concluded the meeting by summarising the
agreements reached during the meeting
and especially emphasised the expected
role for ALSC-UK in promoting China-UK
scientific and technological
collaboration. The meeting confirmed the
appointment of Professor Mingqing Du as
the President of ALSC-UK, with Professor
Xin LU, Professor Qingbo XU, Professor
Zhanfeng CUI, Professor Wen WANG, Dr.
Henglong HU, Dr. Wei WANG, and Dr. Qihe
XU as Vice-Presidents. Dr. Qihe XU was
appointed Chairman of the nomination
committee of ALSC-UK, which is in charge
of identification and nomination of
fellow candidates. Professor Mingqing DU
was appointed the Chairman of the
Selection Committee of ALSC-UK, which
makes final decisions on award of
fellowships and other important issues.
Prof Ziheng YANG, FRS
from University College London, as well
as Minister Counsellors Mr Yongda WANG
and Mr Xiaogang TIAN of the Education
Section of the Chinese Embassy also
attended the meeting and delivered warm
congratulating speeches.
From the left in the front row:
Professor Xin Lu, Mrs and Mr Minister
Counsellor Yongda Wang, Minister
Counsellor Xiaogang Tian,Professor
Ziheng Yang FRS, Professor Mingqing Du;
from the left in the second row: Dr.
Honggang Zhou, Dr. Xuebin Dong, Dr. Qihe
Xu, Dr. Henglong Hu, Dr. Wei Wang, Dr.
Shiyu Yang, Dr. Zhidao Xia and Dr. Xin
Fang.
The Presidents and
Fellows of ALSC-UK:
At the April 6, 2008
Meeting in London, Professor Mingqing DU,
University of Cambridge, was appointted
Founding President of the ALSC-UK. After
wide selection and stringent evaluation
by the Nomination Committee and Decision
Committee, 23 ALSC-UK Founding Fellows
were elected on 13th September 2008 at
the 14th Annual Meeting of the CLSS-UK
in Oxford. A majority of the elected
ALSC-UK Fellows attended the CLSS-UK
Annual Meeting where the ACLS-UK
Fellows’ Meeting was held. On behalf of
the CLSS-UK, Dr. Qihe XU, Chairman of
CLSS-UK (2007-2009) warmly congratulated
Fellows for their successful election.
Drs Shiyu YANG, Hongwei ZhANG and Xin
FANG, Vice Chairmen of the CLSS-UK,
attended the meeting as observers.
Left: Some Founding Fellows who attended
the 14th Annual Meeting of CLSS-UK in
Oxford. Right: Group photo of Fellows
and some CLSS-UK members at the Oxford
Meeting.
At the 15th Annual
Meeting of CLSS-UK held on 12th-13th
September 2009 in London, Professor
Qingbo XU was elected new President of
ALSC-UK. Additional 8 senior members of
CLSS-UK were elected as Fellows of ALSC-UK.
They are Professor Kian Fan CHUNG from
Imperial College London, Professor Ian
WONG from School of Pharmacy, University
of London, Professor Ping WANG from
Queen Mary College, University of
London, Professor Swee Lay THEIN, Dr.
Wuding ZHOU and Ying Sun from King's
College London, Dr. Suling LI from
Brunel University and Dr Zhiliang LU
from MRC Human Reproductive Sciences
Unit, Edinburgh.
Left: Some Founding Fellows and new
Fellows who attended the 15th Annual
Meeting of CLSS-UK in London. Right:
Group photo of Fellows, external experts
and some CLSS-UK members at the London
Meeting.
The
Current Status of ALSC-UK:
ALSC-UK is the senior
members’ club of CLSS-UK and currently
has 31 elected Fellows. It receives full
support from CLSS-UK and also has
responsibility to support academic
activities organised by CLSS-UK.
President of ALSC-UK is
elected from ALSC-UK Fellows. To enforce
the intimate link between ALSC-UK and
CLSS-UK, Prof Qingbo XU, President of
ALSC-UK is automatically Honorary
Chairman of the CLSS-UK Committee; Dr.
Xiongzhong RUAN, Chairman of the CLSS-UK
Committee is automatically Standing Vice
President of ALSC-UK (appointed by
President of ALSC-UK). Other Vice
Presidents will be elected from ALSC-UK
Fellows. In addition, ALSC-UK President
has the right to appoint Executive Vice
Presidents and President Assistants to
assist his work.
ALSC-UK Fellow candidates
are nominated through the ALSC-UK
Nomination Committee chaired by Dr
Xiongzhong RUAN (Standing Vice President
of ALSC-UK) and the final decision-maker
is the ALSC-UK Decision Committee
chaired by Prof Qingbo XU (President of
ALSC-UK). The election outcome will be
announced at the next CLSS-UK Annual
Meeting.