Prestigious award honors scientists

Using genetic science, Huang and his team eliminated the bitterness from cucumbers while preserving their nutrients. The cucumber Huang developed has been planted in more than 66,600 hectares across China and has more than 8 billion yuan of commercial value.

"Our team winning the award is testimony to how much the nation cares about using scientific research to benefit the general public," Huang said.

He Jianxing, president of Guangzhou Medical University's First Affiliated Hospital, in Guangdong province, took second prize in the State Science and Technology Progress Award for developing less invasive treatments for lung cancer.

"Lung cancer is a top killer among cancers," He said, adding that about 610,000 Chinese die from the disease each year.

He and his team developed new techniques to effectively administer anesthesia, increased the practicality of minimally invasive surgeries, improved the survival rate for late stage lung cancer and reduced the chances of complications.

The new treatments are now being used in more than 120 hospitals in China. More than 400 foreign physicians, from the United States and Europe, as well as 5,300 doctors from China, have been trained in these techniques.

Five foreign scientists won the China International Science and Technology Cooperation Award for making important contributions to China's science and technology endeavors and development.

The recipients are US metallurgical engineer Jan Miller, UK-US molecular chemist James Stoddart, US material physicist Zhu Yimei, US ocean geochemist Peter Brewer and Swedish bioengineer Sun Licheng.

Jay Siegel, dean of the School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology at Tianjin University, said cooperative scientific exchange is crucial to building an innovative society in China.

"By exposure to thinking outside your customary ways, you increase the generation of unconventional ideas, which to innovations," he added.