In 2009, the Institute of Botany (IOB) made substantial progress in its whole life as an institute. After strengthening the scientific research strategic development and discipline composition adjustment, IOB made an international authoritative institution as a target.
EDITING AND RESEARCH OF THE FLORA OF CHINA WON THE FIRST PRIZE OF THE 2009 NATIONAL NATURAL SCIENCE AWARD This is the third time that IOB received the first prize of the National Natural Science Award. As a plant encyclopedia, the Flora Reipublicae Popularis Sinicae (FRPS, Flora of China, Chinese edition,1959-2004 )was completed by the efforts of more than 4 generations of plant taxonomists for 80 years in preparation and writing. It is the pioneering achievement of innovative, systematic, and fundamental work for China’s half-century research in botany. Its completion will make a magnificent contribution to biological diversity and sustainable development for China and the world.
STRENGTHENING THE COMPETITIVE ABILITY IN SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH As the institution in charge, IOB obtained 82 national major scientific research plan projects, including one “Modern Agricultural Industry R&D System Building” project. 6 important direction projects of the CAS, and 63 NSFC projects, of which 1 was an innovation research team project, 1 a key project, 1 a major research plan project, and 1 a “National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars” project, and 57 were general projects. On the basis of contracts, the total funds of these projects reached 184 million yuan, with 156 million yuan actually going to IOB.
QUICK ENHANCEMENT OF OUTPUT OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH Science and technology output were at the forefront of the research institutions in China. Different research fields were developed equally, with high-quality and -quantity papers published for more influence on international research fields. In 2009, IOB published 405 papers, among which 224 were indexed by Science Citation Index (SCI), 137 were published in the top 30% of the SCI journals in various fields, 29 in journals with an impact factor (IF) > 5.0, and 133 in journals with an IF > 2.0; in 2009, IOB published 4 monographs and licensed 14 patents.
RESEARCH PLATFORM MAKES A GOOD REAR SERVICE The state Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change passed the acceptance of an expert group. A new CAS key laboratory named Key Laboratory of Photobiology, CAS was constructed with the authorization of CAS. IOB established 2 field research stations in Gutianshan, Zhejiang Province, and in Wulanchabu, Inner Mongolia. IOB established a public technical service center to manage most of the huge scientific equipment of IOB for a transgenetic technique and functional genomics platform and ecological and systematic evolutionary botany research platform. These equipments are available to every researcher of CAS.
EQUALLY STRESSED RECRUITMENT AND CULTIVATION OF TALENT TO OPTIMIZE THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE TEAM One researcher were introduced into IOB as a talent of the “100 Talents Project” of the CAS. One researcher was supported by the National Natural Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars. Young scientists introduced more than a year ago have begun to achieve well. Two of them were chosen as being excellent to be supported by the “100 Talents Project” of the CAS. In 2009, IOB strengthened the recruitment and cultivation of young talent. IOB constituted some rules and regulations, such as “the Knowledge Innovation Program” for supporting young talents, and high-level postdoctoral rules for recruiting excellent doctoral candidates all over the world. Now that the IOB has a more reasonable personnel structure, the research team has more excellent research results.
INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC EVALUATION OF IOB WAS HELD FOR THE FIRST TIME According to the arrangement of the Bureau of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, CAS, IOB underwent an international evaluation for the whole institute and each research group. The expert group gave a high appraisal of the development of IOB. This is the first time for IOB to be evaluated with international criteria in the whole institute. From the evaluation and suggestions of the expert group, IOB adjusted the scattered disciplines to make the research team more competitive.
EXCELLENT PROSPECTS FOR INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION The IOB has set up long-term international cooperation relationships with many foreign institutions and carried out many international cooperative projects. In 2009, IOB obtained 12 international cooperation projects. An internationally established Research Center for Regional Climatic Research was jointly built by IOB, HSBC and the Earthwatch Institute. Because of the international influence of the Flora of China (English revision) and individual contributions, the U.S. editor in chief, Dr. Peter H. Raven, received “the 2009 CAS international cooperation in science & technology award”.
CAS–LOCAL COOPERATION DEVELOPED Following the policy of "Cooperation for Win-Win Progress", IOB continuously sought the integration of local economic development, demand for social development and scientific research. Furthermore, IOB aimed to strengthen scientific innovation and serve local economic development while using local sources. In 2009, two new joint research centers were established. One was Wulancabu grassland research station, Inner Mongolia, and the other was the Industry Botany Department of “Tangshan Research and Commercialization Center for High Technology, CAS”. The technique for the “prevention and cure of the fault of Ziziphus jujuba mill.cv.hupingzao” was greatly useful in Shanxi province.
THE CONSTRUCTION PROJECT MADE GOOD PROGRESS. A new office building with area of 12000 m2 was prepared. Construction on a new greenhouse with area of 2100 m2and a new door of the Beijing Botany Garden was finished. Supported by the Dujiangyan City Government and a Special Fund from the Central Budget of Government, the re-construction of the West China Subalpine Botanical Garden was started in a different area in the same city.
In 2010, under the guidance of the policy of "cultivating the team, producing elaborate works, increasing income and reducing expenditures, and scientific development” and an innovation philosophy of "understanding, support, appreciation and harmoniousness", IOB will emphasize coordinate key international scientific areas and the key strategic demands for national development and will make great efforts to build the IOB into an international authoritative institution.
In 2009, the Institute of Botany (IOB) made substantial progress in its whole life as an institute. After strengthening the scientific research strategic development and discipline composition adjustment, IOB made an international authoritative institution as a target.
EDITING AND RESEARCH OF THE FLORA OF CHINA WON THE FIRST PRIZE OF THE 2009 NATIONAL NATURAL SCIENCE AWARD This is the third time that IOB received the first prize of the National Natural Science Award. As a plant encyclopedia, the Flora Reipublicae Popularis Sinicae (FRPS, Flora of China, Chinese edition,1959-2004 )was completed by the efforts of more than 4 generations of plant taxonomists for 80 years in preparation and writing. It is the pioneering achievement of innovative, systematic, and fundamental work for China’s half-century research in botany. Its completion will make a magnificent contribution to biological diversity and sustainable development for China and the world.
STRENGTHENING THE COMPETITIVE ABILITY IN SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH As the institution in charge, IOB obtained 82 national major scientific research plan projects, including one “Modern Agricultural Industry R&D System Building” project. 6 important direction projects of the CAS, and 63 NSFC projects, of which 1 was an innovation research team project, 1 a key project, 1 a major research plan project, and 1 a “National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars” project, and 57 were general projects. On the basis of contracts, the total funds of these projects reached 184 million yuan, with 156 million yuan actually going to IOB.
QUICK ENHANCEMENT OF OUTPUT OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH Science and technology output were at the forefront of the research institutions in China. Different research fields were developed equally, with high-quality and -quantity papers published for more influence on international research fields. In 2009, IOB published 405 papers, among which 224 were indexed by Science Citation Index (SCI), 137 were published in the top 30% of the SCI journals in various fields, 29 in journals with an impact factor (IF) > 5.0, and 133 in journals with an IF > 2.0; in 2009, IOB published 4 monographs and licensed 14 patents.
RESEARCH PLATFORM MAKES A GOOD REAR SERVICE The state Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change passed the acceptance of an expert group. A new CAS key laboratory named Key Laboratory of Photobiology, CAS was constructed with the authorization of CAS. IOB established 2 field research stations in Gutianshan, Zhejiang Province, and in Wulanchabu, Inner Mongolia. IOB established a public technical service center to manage most of the huge scientific equipment of IOB for a transgenetic technique and functional genomics platform and ecological and systematic evolutionary botany research platform. These equipments are available to every researcher of CAS.
EQUALLY STRESSED RECRUITMENT AND CULTIVATION OF TALENT TO OPTIMIZE THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE TEAM One researcher were introduced into IOB as a talent of the “100 Talents Project” of the CAS. One researcher was supported by the National Natural Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars. Young scientists introduced more than a year ago have begun to achieve well. Two of them were chosen as being excellent to be supported by the “100 Talents Project” of the CAS. In 2009, IOB strengthened the recruitment and cultivation of young talent. IOB constituted some rules and regulations, such as “the Knowledge Innovation Program” for supporting young talents, and high-level postdoctoral rules for recruiting excellent doctoral candidates all over the world. Now that the IOB has a more reasonable personnel structure, the research team has more excellent research results.
INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC EVALUATION OF IOB WAS HELD FOR THE FIRST TIME According to the arrangement of the Bureau of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, CAS, IOB underwent an international evaluation for the whole institute and each research group. The expert group gave a high appraisal of the development of IOB. This is the first time for IOB to be evaluated with international criteria in the whole institute. From the evaluation and suggestions of the expert group, IOB adjusted the scattered disciplines to make the research team more competitive.
EXCELLENT PROSPECTS FOR INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION The IOB has set up long-term international cooperation relationships with many foreign institutions and carried out many international cooperative projects. In 2009, IOB obtained 12 international cooperation projects. An internationally established Research Center for Regional Climatic Research was jointly built by IOB, HSBC and the Earthwatch Institute. Because of the international influence of the Flora of China (English revision) and individual contributions, the U.S. editor in chief, Dr. Peter H. Raven, received “the 2009 CAS international cooperation in science & technology award”.
CAS–LOCAL COOPERATION DEVELOPED Following the policy of "Cooperation for Win-Win Progress", IOB continuously sought the integration of local economic development, demand for social development and scientific research. Furthermore, IOB aimed to strengthen scientific innovation and serve local economic development while using local sources. In 2009, two new joint research centers were established. One was Wulancabu grassland research station, Inner Mongolia, and the other was the Industry Botany Department of “Tangshan Research and Commercialization Center for High Technology, CAS”. The technique for the “prevention and cure of the fault of Ziziphus jujuba mill.cv.hupingzao” was greatly useful in Shanxi province.
THE CONSTRUCTION PROJECT MADE GOOD PROGRESS. A new office building with area of 12000 m2 was prepared. Construction on a new greenhouse with area of 2100 m2and a new door of the Beijing Botany Garden was finished. Supported by the Dujiangyan City Government and a Special Fund from the Central Budget of Government, the re-construction of the West China Subalpine Botanical Garden was started in a different area in the same city.
In 2010, under the guidance of the policy of "cultivating the team, producing elaborate works, increasing income and reducing expenditures, and scientific development” and an innovation philosophy of "understanding, support, appreciation and harmoniousness", IOB will emphasize coordinate key international scientific areas and the key strategic demands for national development and will make great efforts to build the IOB into an international authoritative institution.