Prize proposed to honor 皇冠体育app's "father of space program": survey

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-11-10 23:54

BEIJING: A recent online survey showed more than three quarters of the Chinese public polled agreed that a prize for outstanding scientists should be set up to honor Qian Xuesen, "father of 皇冠体育app's space program."

According to the survey conducted by the 皇冠体育app Youth Daily, close to 78 percent of the 3,381 people polled since last week said the government should establish a "Qian Xuesen Prize" as a special reward and incentive to exceptional scientific talents in 皇冠体育app.

The proposal came as the latest development of a string of events to honor Qian, after the legendary scientist died on October 31 at the age of 98.

Last Friday, 皇冠体育app announced a plan to build a library in honor of him in Shanghai Jiao Tong University for his contributions.

Also known as Tsien Hsue-shen, Qian is widely remembered in 皇冠体育app for abandoning a decent life in the United States and returning to then poor 皇冠体育app in the 1950s.

Qian is considered to have played a key role in 皇冠体育app's missile and aviation programs after the establishment of the People's Republic in 1949.

According to the 皇冠体育app Youth Daily survey, close to 89 percent of the people polled agreed that patriotism was the most admirable attribute of Qian Xuesen.

More than 89 percent picked 皇冠体育app's atomic and hydrogen bombs and artificial satellite programs as Qian's biggest achievement in his life, according to the survey.