September 22, a world renowned scholar Professor Paul Rainey from Massey University visited the Institute of Soil science, Chinese Academy of Sciences (ISSAS).

More than 300 researchers and students witnessed the ceremony appointing Prof. Paul Rainey to the “Einstein Professorship of Chinese Academy of Sciences”. Prof. SHEN Renfang, director of ISSAS, awarded the certificate to Prof. Rainey. After that, Prof. Rainey delivered a speech entitled “The evolutionary transition from single cells to multicellularity”. Prof. Xue-Xian Zhang came to China as a company and he also delivered a speech entitled ”The molecular mechanisms of microbial diversification”. During their two weeks visit, Prof. Rainey conducted academic exchanges with ISSAS researchers, and also visited Eco-environment research center of CAS and Peking University.

About Professor Rainey

Professor Paul Rainey is regarded as one of the leading world authorities and visionaries on soil microbiology and evolutionary genetics. He is the world founder of microbial experimental evolution. He makes outstanding contributions in evolutionary of microbial ecosystem, social behaviour analysis of microbes, and evolutionary origins of multicellularity.

Pro.Rainey is distinguished professor of Massey University, principle investigator of Allan Wilson Centre for Molecular Ecology & Evolution, academician of the Academy of the Royal Society of New Zealand, academician of Max Planck Society and External Director, Germany. His publications are in excess of 110, many of which are published in world’s top journals with average citation of more than 50 for each article, including 11 articles published on ‘Nature’. The work of his group is internationally recognized, highly visible and widely cited.

Many awards were bestowed on Pro.Rainey, including Scientific Advisory Board, Evolva (2000); NERC (UK) Steering Committee on Environmental Genomics (2000); senior research fellow of St Cross College, Oxford (2002); Professor of Evolutionary Genetics, University of Oxford (2002); Vice Chair, GRC on Microbial Population Biology (USA) (2005); Council Member, Australian Society for Evolution (2007).

About the Einstein Professorship Program

The Einstein Professorship Program is initiated by the CAS in 2004. Einstein Professorships will be awarded each year to 20 distinguished international scientists actively working at the frontiers of science and technology, for conducting lecture-tours to China. It aims to strengthen science and technology links, cooperation and exchange between CAS scientists and respective Einstein Professors and their laboratories, and enhance the training of future generations of scientists in China.

Director General of ISSAS Prof. Renfang SHEN awarded the certificate to Prof. Rainey       Professor Paul Rainey