Scientist born after 1970s has, for the first time, appeared in the name list of academician candidate in China.

Pan Jianwei, professor of the University of Science and Technology of China and an expert in optical physics, is the youngest candidate aged 37 after primary selection of academicians for Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS).

Academician is the highest academic title conferred on Chinese scientists and experts working in scientific and technological fields. The title of academician is a lifelong honor.

Lu Yongxiang, CAS president said "talents educated after the Culture Revolution (1966-1976) have become importance forces in China's scientific and technological fields gradually."

During the Culture Revolution, normal education for students were interrupted and the entrance exam to university, the most important exam to select Chinese talents, was suspended and resumed till 1977. One consequence of the Cultural Revolution was a 10-year break in China's intellectual lineage

"Pan selected as the academician candidate indicates the talent resources gap caused by the Culture Revolution has been gradually bridged," Lu said.

The primary election results of CAS academician for 2007 show half of the candidates are younger than 50, indicating a younger trend of Chinese academician candidates.

A total of 72 out of 145 academician candidates after primary election are under 50 years old, according to the name list posted on CAS's website.

On May 28, the CAS and the Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE) unveiled the name list of academician candidates for 2007, totaling 771 candidates.

The final result for newly elected academicians for 2007 will be released in December and at most 60 people will be selected this year for each academy.

Candidates, under 65 years old, have to win the recognition of two thirds of the voting panel, composed of a majority of incumbent academicians.

Those, above 65, should obtain the recommendation from at least six incumbent academicians, four of whom must come from the same academic fields with the candidate.

(Xinhua News Agency September 2, 2007)