Director of U.S. NSF China Office Visits TJU

On August 23-24, Dr. Emily Yaung Ashworth, Director of NSF (National Science Foundation) China Office paid a visit to Tianjin University (TJU). President Li Jiajun met with the guest. Attendees included the representatives of the Office of Science & Technology and the Office of International Cooperation.

President Li introduced to Dr. Ashworth TJU’s recent development, research and international cooperation. He said that TJU was ready to do its best to join hands with NSF for promoting the research cooperation and exchange between the two countries. Dr. Ashworth presented an overview of NSF, including its mission, operation and cooperation with China. She hoped to further push forward Sino-U.S. cooperation in terms of joint research on hot-button and frontier issues and personnel exchange.

During her stay at TJU, Dr. Ashworth visited some laboratories of the School of Chemical Engineering, the School of Environmental Science and Engineering, the School of Precision Instrument and Optoelectronics Engineering and the School of Electronic Information Engineering. Representatives from these labs talked about their collaboration with U.S. counterparts as well as their progress of fundamental research. Dr. Ashworth also met with the students participating in the International Research Experiences for Students (IRES) program funded by NSF at TJU.

The NSF is an independent federal agency set up by U.S. Congress in 1950. It aims at funding fundamental research programs to promote the development of science education and information as well as international science cooperation so as to facilitate science development in the U.S.