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北京大学英语新闻网/Peking University News
Construction and Renovation of
KIAA-PKU Building Starts up
By Wang Yi
PKU NEWS 2007--05--26
http://ennews.pku.edu.cn/news.php?s=180112758
Peking University, Beijing, May 25th, 2007: The start-up ceremony of the
construction and renovation of Kavli Institute for Astronomy and Astrophysics
(KIAA-PKU) Building was held at the University Reception Room. Fred Kavli, founder
of the Kavli Foundation, David Auston, Executive President of the Kavli Foundation
and President from the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters Jan Fridthjof
Bernt attended the ceremony.
PKU President Xu Zhihong, Executive Vice President Chen Wenshen, head of the
Construction Department Mo Yuanbin, and Prof. Doug N. C. Lin, Director of
KIAA-PKU, were also present.
Lin first thanked President Xu for the generous grant of space and source from PKU.
He was very much impressed by the scenic campus and described it as ―Xanadu‖.
President Xu said that the campus had become a national heritage and due to the
joint efforts made by PKU and Kavli Foudation, the new KIAA-PKU building would be
integrated into the beautiful scenery of the campus.
Mr. Mo and Vice Director of China Architecture Design and Research Group Zhang
Qi introduced the renovation project around Weiming Lake and the construction of
the KIAA-PKU building.
Mr. Kavli was very satisfied with the design and planning of the construction. He said
that PKU had a long and important history of scientific research. ―I believe that this
institute will become one of the leading centers on astronomy and astrophysics,‖
Kavli said.
Later, accompanied by PKU principals, Kavli and other guests took a walk around
Weiming Lake and inspected the environment around the location of the KIAA-PKU
building, where the ground breaking ceremony was held.
The newly established KIAA is intended to be an international center of excellence in
astrophysics which promotes basic research in China with the highest international
standards. The program of KIAA will focus on studies in three major areas of
astrophysics: a) particle cosmology, first light and galaxy assemblage; b) star and
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