On June 20th, 2011, the 1st Session of the Science Committee of the
International Centre on Space Technologies for Natural and Cultural Heritage
(HIST) under the auspices of UNESCO and the Symposium on Space Technologies for
World Heritage took place at Aerospace Information Research Institute (AIR) of CAS. Xu Guanhua, CAS Academician and former Minister of Science and
Technology, and about 50 experts specializing in space technology and world
heritage research from research institutions, universities and government departments
attended the conference.
The conference was first opened by Cao Jinghua, Deputy Director of
the Bureau of International Cooperation of CAS. He pointed out in his address
that HIST’s establishment in CAS indicates UNESCO’s affirmation of the scientific
strength of CAS and HIST will actively contribute to the execution of UNESCO’s
programmes based on CAS’s strength to fulfill the Chinese Government’s
commitments to UNESCO. Jing Guifei, Deputy Director of the National Remote
Sensing Center of China, and Tian Yulong, Deputy Director of the Earth
Observation Engineering Center of the China National Space Administration,
attended the conference and made speeches to express their expectations of the
development of HIST. Cao Jinghua announced the list of participants at the
first session of the Science Committee and issued their letters of appointment.
The conference was then chaired by Tong Qingxi, CAS Academician and
Director of the Science Committee of HIST, and Guo Huadong, Director-General of
AIR and Director of HIST. They outlined HIST’s background, objectives and
proposed research activities, and gave an overview of how HIST will be
structured and administered. Hong Tianhua, Deputy Director and
Secretary-General of HIST introduced the articles of association of the Science
Committee of HIST, and Wang Xinyuan, Deputy Director of HIST outlined the
2011-2016 development strategic program.
Experts at the conference held lively discussions on issues as above
mentioned and gave useful advice and comments. CAS Academician Li Deren
centered on the function of HIST to meet the demands of world heritage
preservation and further pointed out more efforts should be made to promote
domestic heritage preservation in the aspect of heritage restoration and
digitalization. CAS Academician Yuan Daoxian put forward his expectations for
future development and international cooperation based on the experience of the
International Research Center on Karst under the Auspices of UNESCO. CAS
Academician Li Wenhua, based in his research and experiences in agricultural
heritage and UNESCO MAB Program, proposed that the development of HIST should
focus on the monitoring and preservation of the world heritage inside China,
assisting them in applying to be inscribed onto the list of the world heritage,
and then expand its work to the world.
CAS Academician Xu Guanhua made a summary speech, giving his
congratulations on the success of the conference, pointing out the significance
of space technologies of China in the world due to abundant world heritage, the
foresight of UNESCO to establish HIST in China and the opportunities for
Chinese scientists in the remote sensing sector to participate in world
heritage research. Xu affirmed the important progress made by Chinese
scientists in fields related to world heritage and made suggestions on the
development of HIST, stressing that the experts in the Science Committee should
make their best efforts to support the construction and development of HIST by
virtue of an interdisciplinary focus, close cooperation, and acceptance of
Earth observing technologies in the monitoring and preservation of world
heritage.
At the Symposium on Space Technologies for World Heritage in the
afternoon, CAS Academician Li Deren gave a talk on the application of space
technologies to digital cultural heritage, showcasing the research results from
the Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang and Chi Lin Nunnery in Hong Kong. Min Qingwen
and Zhou Kunshu gave lectures on cultural heritage in agriculture and
environmental archaeology, respectively.
This conference proved to be a great success, gathering the top
experts and scholars in domestic space technologies and fields related to world
heritage to form a high-level consulting panel, which will have far-reaching
effects on HIST’s development and strategic employment in the future.
On the conference site
CAS Academician Xu Guanhua gives an address
Jing Guifei, Deputy Director of the National Remote Sensing Center of China, gives an address
Tian Yulong, Deputy Director of the Earth Observation Engineering Center of the China National Space Administration, gives an address
Cao Jinghua, Deputy Director of the Bureau of Internation al Cooperation of CAS, issues a Letter of Appointment to CAS Academician Xu Guanhua
Cao Jinghua, Deputy Director (right), issues a Letter of Appointment to CAS Academician Tong Qingxi (left)
Cao Jinghua, Deputy Director (right), issues a Letter of Appointment to CAS Academician Li Deren (left)
Cao Jinghua, Deputy Director (right), issues a Letter of Appointment to CAS Academician Li Wenhua (left)
Cao Jinghua, Deputy Director (right), issues a Letter of Appointment to CAS Academician Yuan Daoxian (left)
Guo Huadong, Director-General of AIR and Director of HIST, gives a report
Hong Tianhua, Deputy Director and Secretary-General of HIST, introduces the articles of association of the HIST Science Committee
Wang Xinyuan, Deputy Director of HIST, outlines the 2011-2016 development strategic program
Group Photo
