By Li Han

Staff Writer of the Tsinghua News Center

The Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE) announced on December 29 that Tsinghua Professor Lei Zhidong from the Department of Hydraulic Engineering had been elected to its membership.

Professor LEI Zhidong was born in Li County of Hunan Province in 1938. He graduated as an undergraduate student in 1960 and finished his graduate study in 1965 in the Department of Hydraulic Engineering at Tsinghua University. After graduation, he started his career at Tsinghua University. He served as the Dean of the Department of Hydraulic Engineering from 1994 to 1999 and was a member of the 7th and 8th Council of the Chinese Hydraulic Engineering Society.

Professor Lei focuses on the fundamental theory of and practical research on soil water, water-saving irrigation, and hydrology and water resources. His book, Soil Water Dynamics, published in 1988, was awarded an excellent science book prize by the Ministry of Water Resources and played an important role in the field of soil water study in China. His long-term, continuous and creative efforts are mainly focused on the scientific issues and practical problems in the north-western arid areas of China, including the integrated restoration and protection of the eco-environment in the Tarim River basin, an understanding of the hydrological cycle in the Yerqiang Oasis, and water consumption assessment and water resources allocation in the Yerqiang Oasis. He is the winner of two National Science and Technology Awards and many other awards.

The CAE elects new members biennially. In 2007, CAE elected a total of 33 new members.  Membership in the Chinese Academy of Engineering is the highest academic rank in engineering science and technology in China.