NAOC -TJU Astronomical Information Technology Joint Research Center Established

NAOC -TJU Astronomical Information Technology Joint Research Center Established

On October 16, 2015, the National Astronomical Observatories of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (NAOC), and Tianjin University (TJU) Astronomical Information Technology Joint Research Center (NAOC-TJU Astronomical Information Technology Joint Research Center) was inaugurated at the Peiyang Park Campus. During the ceremony, two adjunct professors were appointed. Tianjin University’s Vice President Liu Dongzhi and Director Pan Jun of the NAOC Research Division jointly unveiled the plague indicating the establishment of the center. Representatives from the School of Computer Science and Technology and the School of Computer Software at Tianjin University also attended the event.

During the ceremony, Associate Professor Yu Ce was appointed as Director and Professor Sun Jizhou as Honorary Director of the NAOC-TJU Astronomical Information Technology Joint Research Center. Honorary Director Sun reviewed the past eleven years of cooperation between the NAOC and Tianjin University and spoke about the blueprint for future collaboration.

Vice President Liu praised the achievements of the cooperation between the two parties. He indicated that Tianjin University would make every effort to support the development of the center, and expand and deepen the scope of cooperation. Director Pan hoped that both parties would seize the opportunities presented by the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ reforms in the scientific research systems, and the establishment of the joint research center to further develop the research collaboration and promote the rapid development of astronomy in China. Director Yu reported on the planning of the Antarctic science investigation.

After the ceremony, Dr. Zhao Yongheng, a researcher at NAOC and Executive Deputy Director at the Operation Development Center of the Large Sky Area Multi-Object Fiber Spectroscopy Telescope (LAMOST), and Dr. Cui Chenzhou, a researcher at NAOC and Director of the Information and Computing Center were appointed as adjunct professors of the Joint Research Center. Both adjunct professors respectively gave academic reports on "LAMOST Spectra Survey Technology and Achievements” and “Achievements of China’s virtual observatories and the development plan of the Astronomy Big Science Center of the Chinese Academy of Sciences”.

The establishment of the Joint Research Center will promote a multi-tier and all-round research collaboration between the two parties, develop research teams with interdisciplinary and complementary strengths, and contribute to the development of astronomy and information technology.