Recently, SUSTech Professor Liu Junguo of the School of Environmental Science and Engineering was awarded the “Science and Technology Communication Award ” by the Society for Ecological Restoration (SER). The “Science and Technology Communication Award” was set up 20 years ago, with a total of 10 experts receiving awards, Professor Liu Junguo is the first Chinese and even Asian scientist to receive it.
The International Society for the Restoration of Ecology was established in the United States in 1987 and has more than 60 members, partners and offices in 14 countries. It has made outstanding contributions in recognizing and promoting the progress of ecological restoration disciplines, raising public awareness and strengthening cooperation between organisations. The “Science and Technology Communication Award” is handed out every two years to outstanding individuals or organisations after the committee selects a winner.
Liu Junguo founded the Beijing Science and Technology Association, the first professional organisation for ecological restoration and environmental protection around Beijing, and served as the first chairman. He led the team, which included 20 provincial and ministerial level administration officials to provide technical support and an exchange platform for the protection of the environment in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, as well as Shenzhen, Jiashan and other places.
At the same time, Liu Junguo is one of the first international experts to propose the creation of an “International Water Footprint Research Alliance”, which has been formally established in 2015, and has brought together scientists and researchers from the United States, Britain, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, the Netherlands, Canada, Australia , India, South Africa, Brazil and dozens of other countries’ to share research and ideas on the main hydrology and water resources, global environmental change and ecological restoration. Liu Junguo’s outstanding contributions on environmental protection and other fields in 2017 led to him being awarded the “Science and Technology Communications Award” this year.