China recognises talent of Deakin University professors

Deakin University professors, Xungai Wang and Ian Chen, have received one of China's most prestigious honours – being named in the fifth list of the country's 'One Thousand Talents Program'.

Initiated in 2008 by the Chinese Government, the 'One Thousand Talents Program' nominates each year only a number of the highest talents among Chinese-born experts working overseas with the aim of improving the country's national capability by providing funding for international cooperation research.

The honour is recognition of Alfred Deakin Professor Wangand Deakin University's research partnership with the Wuhan Textile University (WTU) in central China. Professor Wang's research team at Deakin's Centre for Material and Fibre Innovation has had an on-going collaboration with researchers at WTU in the area of advanced fibrous materials.

Professor Wang has also been invited to the position of Honorary Director of WTU's Textile School.

"This is a great honour for me and for Deakin," Professor Wang said.

"It also provides great opportunities for Deakin and for WTU to continue our valuable research partnerships.

"I believe it will be the base for the future success of theInstitute for Technology Research and Innovation (ITRI) here at Deakin, and also the new and exciting Australian Future Fibre Research and Innovation Centre (AFFRIC) that was announced last year."

Professor Chen's award is for a position with the Central Iron and Steel Research Institute in Beijing, another major research institute with which ITRI is exploring partnerships.

The Director of ITRI, Professor Peter Hodgson, congratulated Professor Wang and Professor Chen on their achievement.

"Very few of these awards are made each year, so this is a fantastic result for Xungai and Ian," Professor Hodgson said.

"Xungai has been making a defining contribution to fibre research not just in Australia but around the world and this is further confirmation of his place as a world leader.

"This is basically the Chinese equivalent of an Australian Laureate Fellowship."