Recently, the Science and Technology Department of the Ministry of Education awarded the institutes and individuals who had made positive contributions to the “10000 Puzzles in Science” collection activity in the mathematics, physics and Chemistry pilot phase, among whom Professor Xu Jiarui, Zhu Xiping and Li Zhibing of SYSU were conferred upon “Outstanding Contribution Award”.

The “10000 Puzzles in Science” collection activity was a joint effort carried out by the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Chinese Academy of Science and the Chinese National Science Foundation in 2007, and is the first large-scale collection activity open to the public in the field of basic science research. To express acknowledgments to the institutes and individuals who had shown concerns and supports and made positive contributions in the pilot work, and at the recommendation of mathematics, physics and chemistry editorial committee, the ministry of education awarded 21 institutes with “Outstanding Organization Award”, 4 individuals with “Special Award”, 78 individuals with “Excellent Editor”, and 174 individuals with “Outstanding Contribution Award”.

The Puzzle collection activity of mathematics, physics and chemistry were launched in 2007 firstly, then in 2009 puzzle collection activity of astronomy, earth science, basic biology and other fields were launched. Now it has entered the stage of final approval. The Puzzle collection activity in agriculture, medical and information science will be launched in 2010.