In Jan.8 of 1995, 20 years ago, Professor Cao Tian Qin passed away and left from us forever. In Jan 7 and 8 of 2015 the Cao Tian Qin Scholarship Fund, Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, and Shanghai Institute for Advanced Studies CSA, work together to held the commemorative symposium to memorialize Professor Cao Tian Qin, the great master, academician of CAS, former president of Shanghai Branch of CAS, former director of life sciences department of CAS, former deputy director of Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry. The 2 days symposium was simple, but quite warm.
In the morning meeting of Jan. 8 Dr. Cao Wei-Zheng, the son of Prof. Cao, introduced his parents, Prof. Cao and Prof. Xie Xi De, (Academician of CAS, Former president of Fu Dan University) how to overcome a lot of difficulties and to return back to the newborn China immediately after both of them got their doctor’s degree in USA and UK in 1952. They abandoned their original plan, to stay and to work in USA. Wei-Zheng also showed many pictures demonstrating that Prof. Cao was not only a great scientist, but also was a great husband and father in family. Prof. Gong Zu-Xun, the student of Prof. Cao and working with Cao for more than 35 years, introduced the great achievements of Prof. Cao in his research works, such as in the fields, muscle proteins, plant virology and so on. His famous paper, Fragmentation of the Myosin Molecule, published in 1953 and his series works on Tropomyosin made him very popular. He also made his efforts in the work of synthesis of bovine insulin in 1965, a remarkable achievement in life science and firstly obtained in the world. Particularly, as a great strategy scientist, Prof. Cao devoted his whole life to develop the life science in China. Prof. Gong indicated that Prof. Cao was the one of forerunners and practitioners for the China Dream among the scientists of first generation in the new China.
In the afternoon meeting four speakers gave oral presentations. Among them Prof. Yu from Fu Dan University is the daughter of law of Prof. Cao. Most of others are his former colleague and students.
Many senior and young PIs of IBCB attended meeting and several guests from Beijing were also invited. Prof. Shi Yi-Gong, dean of Life Sciences of Qing Hua University and Prof. Ke Yang, vice president of Beijing University gave their warm talks in the morning meeting.
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