Bulletin Autumn‧Winter 2003

he assumed the presidency at the academy, his first task was to read major specialist books on the development of science and technology, and on na t u r al ph i l osophy, so as to equip himself w i t h a thorough understanding of all the scientific disciplines being pursued at the academy, and the traditions, positioning and characteristics of each. He then proceeded to m a p o u t c o l l a b o r a t i on p l a ns w i t h t he universities, placing their collective emphasis on the development of research personnel of a h i g h s t a n d a r d. Since 1997 the Ch i ne se Academy has made great efforts to promote t h e K n o w l e d g e Innovation Programme to meet the development demands of the k n o w l e d g e - b a s e d e c o n o m y a n d globalization, so that the nation, as it opens u p and reforms, could keep itself i n step w i t h the rest of the world. As i n Zhejiang University, President L u gave priority to the building u p of an efficient and effective management system. He d ema n d ed that research results published by the academy should stand up to scrutiny by international peers, while practical inventions must meet the tests of the market. His second priority was to b u i l d u p an e n l i g h t e n ed c u l t u re f or the academy: preserving the traditional Chinese reverence f or age, b u t at the same t i me recognizing performance and achievements w i t h o u t r ega rd f or s e n i o r i t y; r espec t i ng tradition and heritage, but also encouraging i n n o v a t i o ns a n d c r e a t i v i t y. W i t h t h i s enlightened policy and President Lu's frank and open style, the academy has taken on a new look, as its material strength is closely integrated w i t h a refreshed, enlightened spirit to usher in a new era of development. A f t e r a series of s t r e a m l i n i ng a nd restructuring, obsolete research functions have been e l i m i na t ed f r om the A c a d emy wh i le many new, inter-disciplinary topics have been introduced. And, to complement the national policy on openness and reform, the principle of fair, open and reasonable competition is enshrined in the academy's policy. Since 1998, the academy has annually published important reports ('Science Development Report', ' H i gh Technology Development Report' and 'China's Sustainable Development Report') on the latest scientific developments i n both China and the wo r l d so as to provide updated i n f o rma t i on for the Government. To bring recent scientific developments to the public and to help bu i ld up an ethics of science, the academy at the turn of the cen t u ry o r gan i zed over a h u n d r ed r e p o r t i ng sessions by its academicians at various cities throughout the country; these talks enhanced popular knowledge on ethical concepts in science. Wh i le d i r ec t i ng mu ch of his attention towards the building u p of an understanding of science among the general public, President Lu is also concerned w i th the ethical issues that arise as the result of advancements in science and technology. While science and technology propel h uman progress, they could also be abused. New ethical issues come u p as new technologies are adopted. Cloning, the Internet, and gene t i c a l ly m o d i f i ed f o od all b r i ng immense benefits, but they also pose delicate issues of ethics, which must be treated w i th the greatest care. I n other words, there is still the need to balance and integrate the sciences and New ethical issues come up asnewtechnologies are adopted. Cloning ， the Internet ， and genetically modified food all bring immense benefits, but they also pose delicate issues of ethics, which must be treated with the greatest care. In other words, there is still the need to balance and integrate the sciences and the humanities, and such a need is high on the agenda of the learned Prof. Lu. Chinese University Bulletin Autumn • Winter 2003 58