The 2nd World Chinese Conference on Geological Sciences(WCCOGS)-Activity and Financial Reports 

The second World Chinese Conference on Geological Sciences was successfully held at Stanford University, August 2-4, 2000. This conference provided an opportunity for Chinese geologists from around the world to meet together on the American west coast to discuss geological sciences of interest and professional issues of concern to world Chinese geologists in this new millennium. This conference was scheduled for just before the 31st International Geological Congress in Brazil, so that many Chinese geologists from Mainland China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong could attend on their way to Rio de Janeiro. The first World Chinese Conference on Geological Sciences, organized by the Geological Society of China, was successfully held in Beijing in August 1999. In both Conferences, the enthusiastic participation of world Chinese geologists proved that it is a constructive and effective channel for exchange of geological information and promotion of fellowship.

The three-day program of the Stanford conference consisted of two days of scientific sessions with more than 140 papers and a one day field trip in scenic northern California. The formal presentations were in Chinese, except for a section on the Taiwan Chi-Chi earthquake (September 21, 1999) to provide further exchanges among earthquake scientists from USGS, Stanford, and the Bay Area. More than 140 papers were presented in 2 plenary and 12 oral sessions and one poster session. Extended abstracts were published in a 540-page volume (see http://www.geochina.org); limited copies of the abstract volume are available from Prof. Liou at Stanford. The two-day scientific sessions included 6 keynote presentations by 5 academicians and one award-wining UCLA Professor on the following topics:

XU Zhiqin: The Dabie-Sulu collision zone and the first Chinese continental scientific drilling program

REN, Jishun: New development in the study of China tectonics - from global perspective

TENG Ta-liang: The Potential Impact of the Chi-Chi Earthquake on Seismological Research

MAO Ho-kwang: High pressure experiments - A new dimension on studies of earth and planetary interiors

YIN An: Globalization of scientific research and the rise of Chinese earth sciences

LEE Typhoon: New trends in geochemistry: Past global change and extraterrestrial sample studies

Oral presentations were organized under four simultaneous scientific sessions that covered the following topics:

1. The Taiwan Chi Chi earthquake (Sept. 21, 1999) and findings in tectonics, seismology, and earthquake engineering.

2. Tectonics and geophysics of major terranes of China including the Tibetan Plateau, the Sino-Korean craton, the Altan Tagh fault and others.

3. Magmatism and mineral resources in China.

4. Evolution of sedimentary basins and mineralization.

5. Ultrahigh-P metamorphism and tectonic evolution of the Dabie-Sulu terrane.

6. Petrogeneses and evolution of crust and mantle beneath major cratons and orogenic belts.

7. Geology of Chinese energy resources.

8. Geologic mapping and stratigraphy.

9. Crustal structures and geodynamics.

10. Geochemistry and geochronology.

11. Gold deposits.

12. Sustainable development and the environment.

The one-day field trip to San Francisco and its vicinity served 3 purposes: (1) An introduction to the classic Mesozoic active continental margin of California and the Neogene San Andreas transform fault; (2) Scientific exchange and friendship among participants; and (3) Sightseeing of tourist spots in the Bay area, including the Golden Gate Bridge, Twin Peaks, and the city of San Francisco. During the trip we saw the effects of Mesozoic convergent plate and Cenozoic transform faulting, which typify California geology. We visited the Neogene San Andreas transform fault, ophiolitic serpentinite, deep-sea chert and pillow basalts, and the Franciscan mélange with tectonic blocks of eclogite, blueschist and graywacke.

Many interesting and important topics were discussed by participants at this conference. Most important concerns are globalization of scientific research and the improvement of Chinese earth science research and education. Through discussion among the participants, we proposed the following suggestions:

1. A World Chinese Geological Union (WCGU) should be formally established. This new organization could assist in promoting environmental protection and policy in China. WCGU should include overseas Chinese scientists from Europe and Australia. The next meeting site will be selected democratically via competition. A committee will be formed from WCGU to process the applications. Currently, Hong Kong and Nanjing University are two possible candidates.

2. Planetary science is an emerging field that is intimately related to geosciences. The pending WCGU should include this discipline in future World Chinese Geologic Conference. Since China is launching a manned shuttle to the Moon in a few years, training scientists in planetary sciences in China is urgently needed to prepare for the new intellectual challenge.

3. WCGU should promote environmentally friendly tourism in China, teaching the public about geologic processes and showing them some of the spectacular results of geologic phenomena. This may include promoting establishment of national parks with geology as their main themes.

4. WCGU should promote the exchange of information between mainland China and overseas Chinese geologists.

5. Development of Western China is a popular topic that is strongly supported by the Chinese government. WCGU should assist in promoting a balanced development, with long-term environmental protection in mind. It is a scientist's responsibility to provide the government sound advice. Most participants at the conference strongly endorsed the environmentally friendly development of western China. Strict laws should be enforced when exploring and developing mineral and petrochemical resources in the region.

6. Mainland Chinese scholars suggest that overseas Chinese scientists be strongly involved in academic activities in China. This would help create a healthy environment for scientific discussion, policy decisions, and presentation of scientific results in both international meetings and publications in respected international journals. A senior geologist in the audience pointed out that the Chinese geologic community was very much on track with the international geologic community in the 1930's and 1940's. Research produced in that period of time was universally accepted by western scholars. Many Chinese geologists were invited to western countries for lecture tours. We urged WCGU to provide a bridge connecting the current Chinese earth science community with the outside world.

7. Earth science education needs to be strengthened in China and emphasized via mass media like television and through lectures at primary grades and high school levels. This is the fundamental way of improving Chinese earth sciences. When discussing the current situation in China, many university professors from China thought that geology is in crisis. A steadily decreasing number of students are going into geology, and even fewer are entering graduate programs. Earth Science Education in China would be greatly improved through many new video and internet systems. Updating of geologic textbooks in China is urgently needed. WCGU could initiate a systematic effort to help filling this need.

More than 140 participants (100 from China, 12 from Taiwan, one from Hong Kong, 19 from the U.S, and companions) attended the Stanford Conference. This conference was organized by Overseas Chinese Earth Science and Technology Association (OCESTA), Geological Society of China, Chinese Natural National Science Foundation, National Taiwan University, National Central University, and University of Hong Kong, and supported by Natural National Science Foundation of China, National Youth Commission of Taiwan, and Stanford University.

This conference served the following purposes: (1) scientific exchange among Chinese geoscientists from various parts of the world through oral and poster presentations and informal discussions; (2) promotion of friendship and cooperation among Chinese geosientists; (3) recognition of the necessity for changes of the present-day practices in education, organization, and scientific research in China in order to claim leadership in the new century. It was agreed that biannual World Chinese Conference on Geological Sciences should be held in various places of the world, especially Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. The next conference could be in Nanjing in May of 2002 during the centennial celebration of the Nanjing University.

J. G. Liou1, I-Ming Chou2 & An Yin3

1Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences
Stanford University
Stanford, CA 94305
USA

2 954 National Center
U.S. Geological Survey
Reston, VA 20192
USA

3 Department of Earth and Space Sciences
University of California
Los Angeles, CA 90024
USA

A group photo of participants for the 2nd World Chinese Conference on Geological Sciences at Stanford University (August 2, 2000).

 

2nd World Chinese Conference on Geological Sciences

Stanford University

August 2 - 4, 2000

Financial Report by J.G. Liou, Zhenhao Duan, and I-Ming Chou

FUNDS

  

 

Stanford GES Department

 

$ 1,000.00

Stanford School of Earth Sciences

 

$ 1,000.00

Natural National Science Foundation of China

 

$ 10,000.00

National Youth Commission, Taiwan

 

$ 2,000.00

Registration

 

$ 16,505.00

Banquet Reimbursement

 

$ 140.00

Bus fair reimbursement

 

$ 747.00

Total Income

  

$ 31,392.00

  

   

  

EXPENSES

  

 

2 Student Help

 

$ 1,000.00

Kinko's (program printing)

 

$ 3,606.89

Peninsula Charter Lines

 

$ 3,945.40

Web site service

 

$ 300.00

Bank account transfer fee

  

$ 35.00 

  

 

Food

 

 

Chef Chu's

7920.00

 

Bon Appetit

3064.43

 

Mings

6563.05

 

Total food expenses

 

$ 17,547.48

 

 

Events & Services

 

$ 1,127.00

Facilities

 

$ 432.00

GES vehicle

 

$ 530.00

Super8 (Hayward/Lodging)

 

$ 466.32

 

 

Miscellaneous Expenses

 

 

Costco

175.04

 

Conference supplies (R Zhang)

108.20

 

Conference supplies (Jeff Pan)

27.50

 

Conference supplies (printer)

563.89

 

Ice for Field Trip

12.93

 

Stanford Univ. parking (15 @ $8)

120

 

Airport parking

22

 

Shipment-Conference volume (I-Ming & other participants)

150.00

 

Total Miscellaneous Expenses

  

$ 1,179.56

Total Expenses

 

$ 30,169.65

  

  

  

 *

GRAND TOTAL

  

$ 1,222.35

* The grand total of $1,222.35 was deposited in the OCESTA account for future activities as specified by the agreement between OCESTA and Natural National Science Foundation of China.