Peking University, Nov. 18, 2010: On Oct. 30, John B. Brady, President of Mineralogical Society of America (MSA),  sent a letter to Zhang Lifei, professor of PKU School of Earth and Space Science, to congratulate him on being elected a fellow of MSA.

In the letter, John B. Brady spoke highly of the scientific activities of Pro. Zhang. “Your ideas for improving existing programs, initiating new services, nominating potential honorees, and supporting Society activities will be greatly appreciated."

MSA is one of the most influential academic organizations of earth science, which has elected scientists from different fields, such as mineralogy, crystallography, geochemistry, and petrology, to be fellows of MSA after the nomination by the Fellow Committee and the election by the Council since 1984. The number of new fellows every year wouldn't be more than 0.5% of that of the total fellows. There are 12 scientists being elected in 2010 and Prof. Zhang is the only one from the Chinese mainland; he is currently one of the two mainland scientists who have ever won this honor.

Extended Reading:

Zhang Lifei, Changjiang chair professor and winner of National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars, is the director of the Key Laboratory of Orogenic Belts and Crustal Evolution (OBCE) of PKU. He is engaged in the research and teaching of metamorphic petrology and has not only found out that the ocean crust ultrahigh-pressure metamorphic belt of southwest Tianshan of Xinjiang is the largest one in the world but also put forward the tectonic pattern of its formation and evolution. As a leading scholar of the academic division, he is now responsible for many projects of National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC).

Attached: Invitation Letter by 2010 MSA President John B. Brady

Translated by: Chen Meng

Edited by: Jacques

Source: PKU News (Chinese)