Scientist

Rendong Nan

Positions: Researcher
Academic Title: Astronomer/Professor
E-mail: nrd@bao.ac.cn
Mailing Address: Rendong Nan
Education and Career History

Academic Qualifications
1963 - 1968   B. S., ultrahigh frequency and electronic technology, Tsinghua University
1978 - 1981   M.S., astronomy and astrophysics, University of Science and Technology of China
1982 - 1987   Ph.D, astronomy and astrophysics, University of Science and Technology of China

Employment
1968 -1978  Worker and technician in Tonghua Electronic Factory of Tonghua City of Jilin Province
1982 -1984  Assistant researcher, Beijing Astronomical Observatory of the Chinese Academy of Sciences
1989 -1992  Associate professor, Beijing Astronomical Observatory of the Chinese Academy of Sciences
1992 -2008  Professor, National Astronomical Observatory of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ph.D. supervisor, professor of Beijing University and professor of Graduate school of the CAS
2008-now   Professor, National Astronomical Observatory of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ph.D. supervisor, Chief Scientist and General Engineer of the megascience facility-FAST

Abroad
Since 1985, spent more than six years abroad, visiting the NFRA of the Netherlands, Bologna. Institute of Italy, Nobeyama Radio Observatory of Japan, Jodrell Bank of UK, Calgary University of Canada and the NRAO of the United States as a foreign scholar or a guest professor.

Research Fields
Radio Astrophysics,Radio Astronomical methodology and technology
Achievements
An important figure in the major telescope project, Miyun aperture Synthesis Radio Telescope. The contributions to the MSRT are Direct Fourier Transform hardware, receivers, system calibration and data analysis.
As a member of European team, studied CSS radio sources using international VLBI facilities. I have dedicated years to investigate a sample of 3CR CSSs at multi-wavelengths.
Since the SKA was proposed in 1993 in URSI GA in Kyoto, Chinese team has been formed in order to coordinate our efforts to the international SKA. We proposed Chinese concept - to build large aperture spherical antenna to realize SKA element, which has been eventually evolved to the project FAST. Leader of the national effort for the SKA and the R&D for project FAST. After 14 years feasibility studies, funds for FAST has been finally approved by the NDRC of China. Now, I serve as the Chief Scientist and General Engineer of the project.
Selected Publication
1. Five hundred meter aperture spherical radio telescope R. NAN, Science in China: Series G, Physics, Mechanics & Astronomy, 49(2), 2006,129-148
2. VLBI observations of 24 3CR CSS radio sources at 50 CM R. NAN, R. T. Schilizzi, C. Fanti, R. Fanti, A&A, 252,1991, 513-527
3. On the nature of compact steep spectrum radio sources R. Fanti, C.Fanti, R. T.Schilizzi, R. E.Spencer, R. Nan, P.Parma, W. J. M. van Breugel, T.Venturi, A&A, 231, 1990, 333-346
4. VLBI polarimetry of the high rotation measure source 3C 119 at 8.4 GHz R. Nan, D. C. Gabuzda, S. Kameno, R. T. Schilizzi, M. Inoue, A&A, 344, 1999, 402-408
5. Division X: Radio Astronomy R. Nan, Russell A. Taylor, Luis F. Rodríguez, Christopher L. Carilli, J. Chapman, Gloria M. Dubner, M. Garrett, W. Miller Goss, Richard E. Hills, H. Hirabayashi, et al, Cambridge Press,Cambridge,2008