The International Space Science Institute on Tuesday established its Beijing branch (ISSI-BJ) where scientists from all over the world will conduct advanced multi- and interdisciplinary studies.

Launched by the ISSI, based in Bern, Switzerland, and Beijing-based National Space Science Center of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, ISSI-BJ will contribute to a deeper understanding of the results from different space missions, ground based observations and laboratory experiments. It will also add value to results through multidisciplinary research.

As the only branch approved by ISSI's Board of Trustees to share its brand, its Science Committee and the operating tools, ISSI-BJ will advance the internationalization of space science research, as well as provide an important window on Chinese space science to the scientific community, according to a statement of the branch.

The program of ISSI-BJ covers many disciplines of space science, including solar and space physics, astronomy and astrophysics, planetary science, astrobiology and microwave gravity science, and earth sciences from space, the statement said.

This year, ISSI-BJ will support one international team and four forums on science topics, including X-ray timing and polarization, as well as solar polar orbit observation.

ISSI was established in 1995 and funded by agencies including the European Space Agency, the Swiss federal government, the Russian Academy of Sciences.

(Xinhua News Agency July 16, 2013)