YNU representatives hold a meeting with Hou Zengqian (sixth from right), academician at the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and deputy director of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NNSF), on Dec 23. [Photo/ynu.edu.cn]

Hou Zengqian, an academician working at the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and deputy director of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NNSF) visited Yunnan University (YNU) to learn more about YNU’s work to develop its geoscience department, on Dec 23. 

During a meeting with university representatives, Hou met Yang Lin, Party secretary of YNU. 

Hou was interested to learn about the university’s efforts to develop geosciences as a discipline, praising YNU for its achievements. 

He promised that NNSF would start to offer more support for YNU’s research, as well as practical advice on developing the subject as an academic discipline. 

After touring the campus, Hou took part in a YNU tradition for visitors –– planting a tree in the “academician forest”. 

Hou Zengqian is a respected geologist in China, with research interests in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and continental mineralization.

Hou (fifth from right) poses for a photograph with YNU representatives, Dec 23. [Photo/ynu.edu.cn]

Hou (second from left) helps plant a tree at YNU as part of a long-established tradition for visitors, Dec 23. [Photo/ynu.edu.cn]