Recently, the list of winners of the 2018 Academy of Sciences for developing countries (also known as the Third World Academy of Sciences, hereinafter referred to as "Twas") award was announced in riyast, Italy. Twelve scholars from Argentina, Brazil, China, India, Kenya, Mexico, South Africa and Turkey shared awards in nine major scientific fields (agricultural science, biology, chemistry, earth science, engineering, mathematics, medicine, physics and Sociology), among which three Chinese scholars won awards.

Professor Zhang Dabing of our research office has won the Twas prize in Social Sciences for his important contribution to the molecular mechanism of inflorescence, floral organ and stamen morphogenesis in higher plants, especially in rice. The other two winners are Liu Yansui, a researcher at the Institute of Geographical Sciences and resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Zhao Guochun, a professor at the University of Hong Kong.

Zhang Dabing, Chair Professor of Shanghai Jiaotong University, winner of national million talents project and national fund for Distinguished Young Scholars, has long been committed to the research on molecular regulation mechanism of crop reproductive development and molecular characteristics of transgenic organisms, and has made outstanding achievements and important contributions in the exploration and utilization of key gene resources of rice fertility regulation. They have been selected into the list of highly cited scientists published by American Society of plant biologists from 2009 to 2013, the list of highly cited scientists published by Thomson Reuters in the field of Botany and zoology in 2016 and 2017, and the list of highly cited scientists published by Elsevier in 2016 cited Chinese researchers）。 He has won 3 first prizes of science and technology at provincial and ministerial level and 1 first prize of Natural Science Award of Ministry of education.

The Academy of Sciences for developing countries was initiated by Abdus Salam, a Pakistani physicist and Nobel laureate. It was founded in 1983 by a group of top scientists from developing countries. Twas is committed to supporting developing countries to carry out scientific research activities, promoting exchanges and cooperation among researchers and research institutions in developing countries, encouraging research on problems existing in the third world, and promoting the development of basic and Applied Sciences in the third world. The current president is academician Bai Chunli, President of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

News link: http://news.sjtu.edu.cn/info/1007/1642412.htm