CSIRO launches Mandarin Podcasts

By October 13th, 2008

A series of podcasts in Mandarin language were launched in Canberra today which highlight careers in science and in working with Australian science and industry to a potential audience of 1.2 billion people worldwide.

“CSIRO has enjoyed a very long history of collaborating with China,” CSIRO’s Deputy Chief Executive Mike Whelan said at the launch of the podcast series.

Attending the launch at CSIRO Discovery Centre on Canberra’s Black Mountain. were his Excellency Mr Zhang Junsai, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China,  and Mr Feng Xuan, the S&T Counsellor of the Chinese Embassy.

“From a staff of over 6500, Australia’s CSIRO has about 400 staff who speak a Chinese dialect, or who were born in China,” Mr Whelan said.

“The podcast series celebrates the hard work that a number of our Mandarin speaking scientists have done in bringing the two countries together.” 

“From a staff of over 6500, Australia’s CSIRO has about 400 staff who speak a Chinese dialect, or who were born in China,”

Mr Whelan said.

The first in the CSIRO Mandarin podcast series features interviews with five scientists telling their stories in their native language, describing their outstanding research, their experience of working in CSIRO and their collaboration with their Chinese counterparts.

Interviews include:

  • Dr Lu Zhang (CSIRO Land & Water) who discusses his extensive cooperation with China in the area of eco-hydrology. He mentions his research into understanding the nature of water and energy exchanges between soil, vegetation and the atmospheric systems and how a better understanding of the relationship between the water sphere and the biosphere would lead to a better management strategy for catchments.
  • Dr Harry Wu (Forestry/Plant Industry) describes his success in developing the most efficient strategy of tree breeding which is accepted by international forestry breeders as best practice.
  • Dr Yonglin Ren (CSIRO Entomology) describes his work on securing Australia from invasive species, from insects to tiny organisms, using chemicals that are environmentally friendly but deadly on these foreign invaders.
  • Dr Ming-Bo Wang (CSIRO Plant Industry) describes his work on silencing genes which earned him and his team the Prime Minister’s Science Prize in 2007.
  • Dr Xuemei Bai (CSIRO Sustainable Ecology) – describes her work on urban environment, urban and industrial ecology and sustainable urban development which involve visits to China to help design sustainable city development and planning.

CSIRO has enjoyed 32 years of collaboration with China, with the number of joint publications between CSIRO and Chinese collaborators increasing at a rate of more than 20 per cent per annum over the past three years. China is now the third largest collaborator in terms of joint publications (after USA and UK) with the CSIRO; but in terms of the number of joint activities, China is now ranked second after USA (and followed by the UK).

The CSIRO hopes the podcast series will encourage more Chinese students to study in Australia, more scientists to collaborate with Australia and CSIRO in particular.

The Mandarin podcast will be part of CSIROpod at www.csiro.au and will also be available on CD.

Download image at: CSIRO launches Mandarin Podcasts

Mandarin Translation

一系列的普通话网播(podcasts)今天在堪培拉开始启动，向全世界12亿的潜在听众强调了在科学领域及与澳大利亚科学及工业合作方面建立事业的机会。

CSIRO的副总裁麦克•韦能(Mike Whelan) 先生在普通话网播的新闻发布会上 说：“CSIRO与中国有悠久的良好合作关系。”

出席了在堪培拉黑山上的CSIRO发现中心举行的发布会的嘉宾包括中华人民共和国驻澳大使章均赛阁下，及中国大使馆的科技参赞冯萱先生。

韦能先生说：“澳大利亚CSIRO有超过6500位职员，其中约400位会说一种中国方言，或是在中国出生。”

“这个网播系列表扬了我们当中几位说普通话的科学家为了使两国能携手合作而作出的努力。”

CSIRO的普通话网播系列的第一集访问了5位科学家。他们用自己的母语述说了自己的故事，介绍了他们杰出的研究，他们在CSIRO工作的经验和他们与中国的同行合作的情况。

被访者包括:

  • 张橹博士 (CSIRO土地及水文研究所) 讨论了与中国在生态-水文学方面的广泛合 作。他提到他对了解泥土、植物及大气系统之间的水和能量交换的本质方面的研究，并指出对水领域和生物领域的关系的更深入了解会如何改善集水区的管理策略。
  • 吴夏明博士(CSIRO森林/植物工业研究所) 介绍了他在发展最有效树木育种策略方面的 成就；国际森林育种专家接受了该策略为最佳实践。
  • 任永林博士 (CSIRO昆虫学研究所) 介绍了他使用对生态无害，但可以将外来侵 袭者，从 昆虫到微生物，置于死地的化学品来保护澳大利亚免受入侵物种之害的工作。
  • 王明波博士 (CSIRO 植物工业研究所) 介绍了他在基因沉默方面的工作；这方面 的成就 使他和他的组员在2007年获得了总理科学奖。
  • 白雪梅博士 (CSIRO可持续生态研究所) –介绍了她在城市环境、城市及工业生态和可持 续城市发展方面的工作；这些工作包括访问中国，帮助设计可持续城市发展及规划。

CSIRO与中国享有32年的合作关系；过去3年，CSIRO与中国合作夥伴之间的联合出版物的数目每年增加超过百分之二十。中国现在是CSIRO在联合出版物方面的第三大合作夥伴(仅次于美国和英国) ；不过，在合作项目数目方面，中国现正排在第二位，仅在美 国之后(然后是英国) 。

CSIRO盼望这个网播系列可以鼓励更多中国学生到澳大利亚留学，更多的科学家与澳大利亚，特别是CSIRO合作。

普通话网播将会是www.csiro.au 中的CSIROpod的一部分，也有光碟版本。

要获得影像，请连接: http://www.scienceimage.csiro.au/mediarelease/mr08-185.html
进一步信息:
梁达仁(Ta-Yan Leong), CSIRO国际背景信息，请联络：
02 6276 6444, Ta-Yan.Leong@csiro.au

传媒协助:
Cris Kennedy, CSIRO科学及社区 0429 914 049; Cris.Kennedy@csiro.au

Fast facts

  • CSIRO has enjoyed a very long history of collaborating with China
  • Attending the launch at CSIRO Discovery Centre on Canberra’s Black Mountain. were his Excellency Mr Zhang Junsai, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China,  and Mr Feng Xuan, the S&T Counsellor of the Chinese Embassy
  • The podcast series celebrates the hard work that a number of our Mandarin speaking scientists have done in bringing the two countries together