On January 4, 2018，the Council Meeting of the Chinese Academy of Sciences South America Center for Astronomy (CASSACA) was held at the headquarter of National Astronomical Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences (NAOC). Prof. Zhongli Ding, Vice President of CAS & Chair of the Council, attended the meeting and gave important suggestions and guidance to CASSACA. There were more than 30 attendees from CAS administrative divisions and other institutes in CAS observatory system as well as universities.  

During the meeting, three presentations were given to report the progress of CASSACA in 2017. Dr. Wei Wang, Deputy Director of CASSACA, introduced China-Chile cooperation in astronomy and administrative affairs. Prof. Jiasheng Huang, Chief Scientist of CASSACA, discussed the progress in research and scientific programs. Prof. JunYan, Director of NAOC, reported the plans of developing Astronomical Observational and Scientific Bases in Chile. The Council provided practical guidance and recommendation with regard to the Center’s work and future plans.   

CASSACA has achieved remarkable progress in the year 2017, in its collaborations with Chilean institutions and scientists, in scientific research, and in other programs and projects. Especially, after the witness of Chinese President Jinping Xi and Chilean President Michelle Bachelet to the signing ceremony of the Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation for Developing Astronomical Observational Base with the Catholic University of the North of Chile (UCN), the monitoring of this Astronomical Observational Base has been undertaken as scheduled in 2017 for NAOC.

CASSACA was set up in October 2013 and has been playing an important role in international collaborations in astronomy between China and Chile and with other South America countries.

CASSACA 2017 Council Meeting

Group Photo