Prof. Zheng Guochang, the famous plant cell biologists, CAS (Chinese Academy of Sciences) senior academician, and the former dean of the Department of Biology of Lanzhou University, died of his condition at the age of 99 years old in Lanzhou at 15:06 on October 12th, 2012.
Graduated from the Department of Natural History at the former Chongqing National Central University in 1943 and attained his doctorate at the University of Wisconsin in 1950, Academician Zheng Guochang was appointed as professor by Lanzhou University in 1951, and was selected as academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in 1980. He used to be the member of the first Higher Degree Committee Subject Group of the State Council, vice-president of China Cell Biology Society, chairman of Cell Biology Teaching Committee, executive member of the council of China Plant Society, chairman of Plant Cytology Professional Committee, chairman and honorary chairman of Gansu Provincial Committee of Jiu San Society, member of the standing committee of Gansu Provincial Political Consultative Conference, and member of standing committee of Gansu Provincial People's Congress, and deputy to the National People's Congress. Academician Zheng Guochang was engaged in plant cell fusion and cell engineering research for a long time. He has published more than 140 research papers, continuously won the second prize of the state education commission scientific and technological progress in 1985 and 1986, "He Liang He Li Science and Technology Progress Award" in 2003, and "China Cell Biology Association - CST Outstanding Contribution Award" in 2011.
The death of academician Zheng Guochang is a great loss for both Lanzhou University and the science and education circles in China. Now all the teachers and students at Lanzhou University have plunged into deep grief by his death.
