Egyptian chemist Mona Allam, a visiting scholar at the Aerospace Information Research Institute, found a transformative turning point in China that reignited her ambition. Using satellite imagery, she monitors lake water pollution to safeguard public health and aquatic life, embodying her powerful message: "Never give up on your dreams. Keep fighting until you achieve them."

Marta Nešković, a postdoc at the Institute for History of Natural Sciences (IHNS) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, has journeyed from Serbia to various parts of the world. Through the lens of anthropology, Marta navigates the complexities of human behavior and cultural practices. Her life and work exemplify how one can explore the self deeply while fostering connections across cultures.

Kevin C. Jones, Distinguished Professor at Lancaster University (LU) in the UK, received the Guangdong Science and Technology Cooperation Award earlier this year for his outstanding contributions to scientific collaboration between the UK and China's Guangdong Province, with the Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry (GIG) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) as one of his nominators.

Arshad Hussain, a student from Pakistan, recently obtained his doctoral degree from the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences under the UCAS Fellowship Program. Follow us to hear his story.

On the campus of the Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry (GIG) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, an elderly man is often seen: he is of average build, with black-rimmed glasses on his round face, a checked shirt neatly tucked into his jeans, and a black backpack over his shoulders, his stride firm and steady – all this reveals a refined and precise scholar.

Anhui provincial government presented Alain Jacques Becoulet from Hefei Institute of Physical Science (HFIPS) with Mount. Yellow Award for his outstanding contribution in the nuclear fusion energy field between China and France. Becoulet, former president of The French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission, has witnessed the deepening friendship in fusion energy field between French and China over the years.

Dr. Dambaru Ballab Kattel is an associate professor at the Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research (ITPCAS) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. His work focuses on mountain climate system as well as climate change adaptation for local communities in the Third Pole region. Just recently, Dr. Dambaru Ballab Kattel was invited to participate in the symposium held by Premier Li Keqiang for representatives of foreign experts working in China, before the Spring Festival, or the Chinese New Year.

Over the last five years, I witnessed the growth of China particularly in science and technology. Fully equipped labs and large research funds provided an opportunity to conduct cutting-edge research. I also got the chance to attend international conferences in the field. At my working unit, everyone was welcoming. I was the first CAS-PIFI candidate who joined this institute. Later, many other Asian and European people joined; some completed their work and some are still working.

I am honored to have the CAS President's International Fellowship for Special Experts, which offers unique possibilities for foreign scientists to establish and foster collaboration with their colleagues in Chinese research institutions, and in my particular case it was of central importance for establishing first contacts during short visits to finally realize long-term research collaboration.

Dr. Bharat Kumar Yerra is from the southern part of India, an astronomer solving stellar puzzles from starlight through telescopes. He is now working at NAOC and is very productive in his research work. He has been in China for six years altogether, with two years as PIFI fellow at NAOC and now a LAMOST fellow at NAOC itself. He tells about his life and work at NAOC and Beijing.

Doing my postdoctoral fellowship at CAS has made me see the greatness in the organization and how wonderful it is to work with its professional staff members. The present collaboration is very rewarding and I will continuously seek for future opportunities to work with CAS. When the situation permits, I will also be willing to invite CAS members to my university for additional collaborations. With my research, we have already created a niche in lignocellulose nanofibers. Therefore, continuous functionalization and applications are areas for future collaborations.

Being awarded as a CAS-PIFI was a great honor and I was very excited for having the chance and opportunity to work in China in an excellent, high-qualified scientific atmosphere. This award provided a great opportunity for me to extend my scientific work in a broader topic and exchange my experience and expertise with colleagues of the Institute of Subtropical Agriculture of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.