The special geological structure and geographic environment of the Tibetan Plateau have always been the focus of attention of international scientific realm. It ranks among the most active platform for international scientific research as it offers a collection of lots of foreland issues in modern natural sciences.
In the past decades, scientists from all over the world have proposed all kinds of scientific hypotheses centering on the forming mechanism, evolution processes of the Tibetan Plateau and its impact upon climate and environment, and have conducted large-scale expeditions and researches, including: Sino-France Study on the Evolution and Dynamics of the Crust and the Upper Mantle of Hymalayas, Sino-France Study on the Deformed Structure and Orogenetic Process of the Songpan-Ganzi Orogenic Belt, Sino-France Study on the Tectonic Evolution and Subduction of the Lithosphere of Aerjin-Qilian Mountians, the Sino-Japan Expedition to West Kunlun Mountain Glacier, Sino-Japan Land-Atmospheric Process Study in the Tibetan Plateau, Sino-Germany Tibet Glacier Expedition, Sino-British Comprehensive Geological Investigation from Lhasa to Gomud, Joint Study on Natural Environment in the North part of Yulong Mountain, Sino-Canadian Study on “Diamond in Ultramafic Rocks of Ophiolite Zone in Tibet”, Sino-US Study on Thermo-balance in Tibet, and Sino-Norway Study on Atmosphere Environment in Qomolangma, etc. With the rapid process of internationalization of Tibetan Plateau research, major scientists involved in this field from some developed countries and areas like Europe, US and Japan have initiated a non-governmental scientific organization which holds Himalaya-Karakunlun-Tibet Workshop annually.
ITP was founded in March last year by CAS to conform to the trend of international scientific research and to promote China’s status in Tibetan Plateau research and relative research fields. Goals of the ITP are: to research the geodynamics of the Tibetan Plateau, to monitor and simulate the land surface processes, to study the biogeochemical processes and the adaptability of species, to investigate the genetic resources in an extreme environment, to establish a high quality network for monitoring earth and atmospheric conditions, and to improve the quality of life in the east Asia. The main objectives of ITP are: to integrate plans and projects related to the Plateau research, to associate and coordinate related institutes, departments, research forces, and resources to play an important role in the development of Tibetan Plateau research. ITP will strengthen the surveys and data collection systems, enhance laboratory capabilities, and organize a creative international research team. ITP will develop into an institute open to researchers worldwide, and strive to become the international center of the Tibetan Plateau research.
Since its establishment, ITP has conducted international cooperation mainly in the following aspects:
1. Visiting key scientific institutes of the European Union and seeking international cooperation of high levels.
To quicken the steps of ITP’s internationalization, as early as in the phase of preparation for
ITP’s establishment, prof. Lu, president of CAS, had come to agreement with prof. Markl,
president of MPG, and had proposed a Partner Program among CAS, MPG and DFG
concerning construction of ITP and future scientific cooperation.
In order to put in effect this intention of cooperation, to accelerate the progresses of ITP’s internationalization, and to attract more distinguished scientists into Tibetan Plateau research, ITP has suggested that a delegation formed of directors and scientists from the Bureau of International Cooperation and the Bureau of Science and Technology for Resources and the Environment, CAS, and ITP be organized by the Bureau of International Cooperation to pay an official visit to the Europe. Institutes on our planned visiting list include: MPG and DFG, Germany, National Center of Scientific Research, France, and some institutes of UK, etc. Preparations for the visits are smoothly carried on.
2. Seeking international cooperation based on construction of Field Monitoring and Research Platform.
In the past one year since its establishment, ITP has followed out the guideline set by president Lu that the construction of FMRP and the laboratories should be of high level and be internationalized. ITP has endeavored to seek international cooperation concerning platform and laboratory construction through diverse channels, thereby to start international cooperation in relative programs.
The objectives of construction FMRP are: to synthesize with international monitoring programs, to serve the yielding of first-class research achievements and the establishment of a research center for international Tibetan Plateau research, and to serve the eco-environment construction and sustainable development of the Tibetan Plateau.
ITP has submitted its scheme for “A Field Monitoring and Research Platform on the Tibetan Plateau” to the Bureau of Science and Technology for Resources and the Environment and the Bureau of Comprehensive Planning of CAS. We have had substantial conversations with some international institutes upon possibility of cooperation, and hope to come to agreement with them concerning joint construction of research stations and utilization of FMRP during the international symposium to be held in Lhasa this August. In order to produce an executable scheme before the symposium, we suggest that a Steering Group be established to coordinate and resolves related issues.
3. Selecting Foreign Academic Co-Director.
At the beginning of ITP’s establishment, president Lu Yongxiang and the predecessor of vice president Chen Yiyu had given the instruction that ITP should invite an internationally distinguished scientist to be its Academic Co-Director. We also realized that to have such an Academic Co-Director would benefit us greatly in promoting our international status and credibility, and advancing our international cooperation. Therefore, we have been actively involved in selecting foreign Academic Co-Director since ITP’s establishment. We have contacted and communicated with prof. Lonnie Thompson from Byrd Polar Research Center, the Ohio State University, prof. Paul Tapponnier from the Institute of Earth Physics of National Center of Scientific Research, France, and prof. Toshio Koike from Tokyo University, Japan, all of whom are senior scientists in Tibetan Plateau research.
In 2003, president Lu and prof. Chen Yiyu checked the resume and academic achievements of prof. Lonnie Thompson, and deemed him qualified for the position of Academic Co-Director. Therefore, we decided to invite prof. Lonnie Thompson as ITP’s first Academic Co-Director. Prof. Lonnie Thompson is a renowned expert in glaciology and global change, who has been engaged in Tibetan Plateau research for years and has made remarkable achievements in this field. He has always been concerned about the construction of ITP. He participated in “the International Symposium on the Establishment of ITP” hosted by the Bureau of International Cooperation in August 2002, and paid a visit to ITP in March 2003 right after its establishment.
From 22 to 29 February 2004, prof. Lonnie Thompson visited ITP and conducted full negotiations with director Yao Tandong with regard to cooperation in programs and platform construction. The two parties have come to multiple agreements on matters concerned in bilateral cooperation, and have started the joint construction of ITP by signing the “Understanding of an Institute Online of International Cooperation” on February 27, 2004. At the same time, the two parties have affirmed that the bilateral cooperative programs should be started within the period from August 11 to September 20, 2004.
4. Preparing for the 4th International Symposium on the Tibetan Plateau.
International research on the Tibetan Plateau is being increasingly enhanced, and it has been developed into an integrative field for scientific research. To promote its fame worldwide, ITP planned to hold an international symposium soon after its establishment. Later, with authorization from CAS and consent of the local government of the Tibet Autonomous Region, it was finally decided that “The 4th International Symposium on the Tibetan Plateau was to be held jointly by CAS and the local government of the Tibet Autonomous Region in Lhasa from 4 to 6 August 2004.
This international symposium will serve as a very good platform for domestic and oversea scientists engaged in Tibetan Plateau research. It will help enhance exchange of research results and information, and promote scientific cooperation and the level of research. To achieve these ends better, ITP plan to hold specially an international symposium on FMRP of ITP and a Sino-Germany symposium on the Partner Program, and make full use of this opportunity to discuss substantial issues in cooperation, such as cooperative construction of FMRP.
CAS leaders, the Bureau of International Cooperation, the General Office, and the local government of the Tibet Autonomous Region have offer great support to the preparation for this international symposium.
There are 4 more months to go till the deadline of registration for the symposium. Nearly 60 foreign scientists have registered. We expect the number of oversea attendants to be considerably increased.
5. Receiving visits from oversea institutes and organizations and starting international cooperative programs.
ITP had extensive contact and communication with institutes and scientists of France, US and Japan in the past year.
On 8 October 2003, professor Paul Tapponnier from the Institute of Earth Physics under the National Center of Scientific Research, France, visited ITP. The two parties exchanged views concerning joint proposal of research programs in international organizations, enhancing bilateral cooperation, composition and construction of FMRP, and graduate education, and came to agreement in many aspects, which laid a firm foundation for implementation of Sino-France or Sino-Europe international cooperative programs.
On 24 November 2003, professor Toshio Koike from Tokyo University visited ITP, introduced to us CEOP (Coordinated Enhanced Observing Period) and Data Sharing Program, and discussed matters concerned in enhancing cooperation with ITP in FMRP construction.
On 13 February 2004, professor Jonathan Aichison, dean of Geo-sciences Department of Hong Kong University, visited ITP, and exchanged views with regard to enhancing cooperative research, platform construction, and graduate education.
On 18 February 2004, professor Masayoshi Nakawo, a senior scientist of Integrative Institute of Earth and Environment Sciences, visited ITP again, and had rewarding communication with us concerning future scientific cooperation, personnel exchange, platform construction, etc. The two parties also exchanged views on details such as the setup of topics, budget, attendants, and publication of results of “The 4th International Symposium on the Tibetan Plateau”.
Professor Yao Tandong and professor Lonnie Thompson from Byrd Polar Research Center of the Ohio State University have started relative cooperative programs.
6. Future development.
In our future work, ITP will maintain the present state in international cooperation, enhance cooperation in FMRP construction, put into effect programs where intention of cooperation have been expressed, and try to participate in more international research projects. ITP will start several international cooperative programs in the near future:
(1) To start “Sino-US Research on Ice Cores of the Tibetan Plateau” in August to September 2004.
(2) To start cooperation in establishment of “Institute Online of International Cooperation”, the understanding of which already signed.
(3) To found a permanent atmospheric environment monitoring station on the north slope of Mt. Qomolangma jointly with the International Center for Integrated Mountain Development, in cooperation with the Pyramid Station on the south slope established by Italy.
(4) Professor Ding Lin of ITP is to conduct international cooperative research with Arizona State University US on the tectonic deformation and uplifting processes of the Tibetan Plateau in Cenozoic.
(5) Professor Liu Xiaohan, deputy director of ITP, is to cooperate with professor Tapponnier from the Institute of Earth Physics of CNRS in research on geodynamics and uplifting processes of the Tibetan Plateau.
(6) ITP is planning to obtain through measurement geophysical characteristics of the transect from Xinjiang, China, to the western coast of India. As it will traverse the frontier of India, we are negotiating with them upon issues concerned in bilateral cooperation.
