ICS Holds the Symposium on "Agricultural Model and Maize Monument" to Remember Academician Li Jingxiong

On the morning of December 28, 2013, the Institute of Crop Sciences (ICS) convened the Symposium on "Agricultural Model and Maize Monument" to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the birth of Academician Li Jingxiong and deeply cherish the achievements of the renowned geneticist, maize breeder, and agricultural educator. More than 120 representatives attended the meeting, including Mr. Chen Mengshan Party Secretary of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Mr. Zhuang Qiaosheng, Academician of Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Mr. Dai Jingrui, Academician of Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE), Mr. Liu Xu, CAE Academician and CAAS Vice President, Mr. Zhang Yanqiu, Director General of Bureau of Seed Management of Ministry of Agriculture (MOA), and Mr. Shi Yanquan, Inspector of MOA Department of Science, Technology, and Education, Mr. Sun Shixian, Director of MOA Technology Promotion Center, Mr. Li Zhaohu, Vice President of China Agricultural University, as well as retired experts and relatives of Mr. Li Jingxiong, ICS leadership, and members and graduates.

ICS Director General Dr. Wan Jianmin expressed sincere thanks to leaders and experts to the meeting and distributed delicate albums. He recalled the enormous contribution and remarkable achievements of Mr. Li Jingxiong to the science in agricultural crops in the 27-year service for CAAS since 1970, and briefed on ICS’ recent research findings and development. He highlighted the determination to better the undertakings, while learning the noble morality and the spirit of respect for scientific work of the older generation of scientists represented by Mr. Li Jingxiong. Mr. Zhang Yanqiu, Mr. Shi Yanquan, and Mr. Li Zhaohu delivered speeches and recalled the outstanding contributions of Mr. Li Jingxiong to the scientific and technological development of China's maize breeding and production during the 6th-8th Five-Year Plan Periods and his lofty spirit of scientific research and education.

More than twenty experts, relatives and student representatives have also made statements. Mr. Li Jingxiong graduated from Zhejiang University College of Agriculture in 1936, won the Master and Ph.D. of Cornell University in 1945 and 1948 respectively, and was elected to the CAS in 1980. He once served as professor in Tsinghua University and Beijing Agricultural University, researcher fellow at CAAS, Chairman of the Crop Science Society of China, Chairman of the Genetics Society of China, and Executive Director of China Agricultural Association. Mr. Li put forward the approaches for maize heterosis utilization, bred China's first generation maize double cross hybrid, and presided over the maize single cross hybrid program which won the first prize in the national scientific and technological inventions. He made a huge contribution in the history of crop cultivation by opening up ways for maize quality breeding, maize improvement, and genetic male sterility. He directed the research on maize genetics and breeding, drove ahead academic progress through academic exchanges, solved production problems based on field visits, and provided careful guidance to students. He was highly praised for the pragmatic, devoted, down-to-earth attitude, indomitable spirit and magnanimity, and excellent academic attainments.