CUHK as the First USRA Asia Member University
In the afternoon of March 26, Professor Lin Hui, director of Institute of Space and Earth Information Science (ISEIS) of CUHK, attended the 40th anniversary of Universities Space Research Association (USRA) in the National Academy of Sciences, Washington D.C.. This makes CUHK as the first Asian university member of USRA. Professor Lin Hui was invited to attend the annual dinner of USRA Council of Institutions¡Ain which council members warmly welcomed CUHK as its first Asian member. CUHK¡¦s participation is believed as the strategic move of USRA towards its international cooperation in space programs. They hope to enhance the communication and cooperation with China in space science and technology with CUHK¡¦s USRA membership.
The keynote speakers of this annual celebration included Dr. Harrison Schmitt, Apollo 17 NASA Astronaut and former U.S. Senator, Ms. Anousheh Ansari, First female private space explorer, Mr. Paul Kaminski, former under secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Technology, Professor Jean-Jacques Dordain, Director General of the European Space Agency and Chancellor of International Space University.
Before the annual meeting, USRA made an arrangement for Professor Lin Hui to visit the Space and Earth Sciences Research Laboratory of NASA Ames Center in California. Professor Lin was invited to give a seminar talk there for ¡§The Development of Geo-Information Science and Technology in China¡¨. During this visit, the further cooperation on UAV for wild fire monitoring was explored.
USRA was founded in 1969 under the auspices of the National Academy of Sciences and sponsored by NASA. USRA focuses on space-related technical competencies with the goal of expanding knowledge and developing technology for the benefit of the academic community, space-related industries, and NASA's mission to "pioneer the future in space exploration, scientific discovery, and aeronautics research". Currently USRA members include about 100 universities such as Harvard University, Yale University, Stanford University, Princeton University, and University of Toronto.
Figure 1: USRA leaders made the formal announcement on CUHK's membership at the National Academy of Sciences in Washington DC. (from left: Dr. Peter Banks, Chair of USRA Board of Trustees, Professor Lin Hui, Director of ISEIS of CUHK and Hong Kong Base of National Remote Sensing Center of China, Professor Edward Groth, Chair of USRA Council of Institutions, and Dr. Frederick A. Tarantino, USRA CEO and President)
Professor Lin Hui (3rd right) with chief scientists and officers of the Space and Earth Sciences Research Laboratory of NASA Ames Center, after his seminar talk.