The title of academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), China's top scientific organization, is to be bestowed on 60 people following a strict selection process.

 

The new round of academician selection was launched on January 18 and a maximum of 60 people will be selected this year, according to CAS Tuesday.

 

Candidates, if they wish to become an academician, have to win the recognition of two thirds of the voting panel which is composed of a majority of incumbent academicians.

 

The candidates are recommended by ministries, military institutions and provincial organizations or nominated by academicians.

 

A committee of at least 11 researchers and professors will develop a short list of candidates which will be voted on by CAS members in the second half of this year, said a CAS clerk.

 

To guarantee the authenticity of selected candidates the public can voice objections to the CAS before September 15. The names of candidates will be publicized on the organization's official website and in the media, said the CAS.

 

The names of the newly-elected academicians will be made public in December. Selection as a CAS academician is a lifetime honor and new academy members are selected biannually.

 

Established in 1955 the CAS currently has 691 academicians.

 

(Xinhua News Agency January 25, 2007)