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AU'S LIU MERITS CHINESE PROVINCE'S FOREIGN EXPERT AWARD

Liu and Agriculture Associate Dean Richard Guthrie receive awards from neighboring Chinese provinces.

AUBURN — John Liu, Auburn University professor of fisheries and allied aquacultures, has been presented the Sichuan Province of China's prestigious 2003 Golden Summit Award in recognition of his significant contributions to economic development and social progress in Sichuan.

Liu's award marks the second time in less than a month that a Chinese province has recognized an AU College of Agriculture representative as its most outstanding foreign expert.

Sichuan Governor Zhang Zhongwei presented Liu the Golden Summit, or Jinding, Award in a ceremony Oct. 16 in Chengdu, Sichuan's capitol city. In making the presentation, the governor cited Liu's "enthusiastic support to economic construction and social progress in Sichuan province and prominent contributions to international exchange and friendly cooperation between Sichuan and foreign countries."

Liu, internationally recognized for his groundbreaking research in catfish genetics, serves as an adviser and international expert for Sichuan's transgenic fish program and as an adjunct professor of molecular biology at Sichuan Agricultural University. He has been instrumental in helping Sichuan researchers secure grants from the Chinese government and has presented numerous lectures and seminars on catfish genomics to scientists in Sichuan and to Sichuan delegations visiting AU.

In late September, Sichuan's neighboring province, Hubei, presented its highest award to a foreign expert to AU College of Agriculture Associate Dean Richard Guthrie.

The Golden Summit Award that Liu received is named for the famed Golden Summit Temple, which sits 3,100 meters above sea level atop Sichuan's sacred Mount Emei.

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Jamie Creamer: jcreamer@auburn.edu
334-844-4877 (PHONE) 334-844-5892 (FAX)