Shizhang Bei, a renowned biologist and educator, founder and pioneer of biophysics of China, honorary director of Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences and honorary chairman of the Biophysical Society of China, died at 9:30am of October 29, 2009 at his home in Beijing.

Mr. Bei was a senior member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and an outstanding member of the Communist Party of China.  He was a member of the National People's Congress (1^st to 6^th session) and a member of the NPC Standing Committee (3^rd to 6^th session).

Mr. Bei was born on October 10, 1903. He was elected in 1948 one of the first academicians of Academia Sinica.He was elected in 1955 a member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. As a pioneer of China's modern biological research and education, Mr. Bei was the inaugurator of China’s biophysics, radiation biology and space biology. He lead a series of such important studies as " Monitoring of natural background radiation in nuclear tests ", "Monitoring of nuclear tests’ radiation and long term effects on animals", "Biological rockets" and so on, making an outstanding contribution to the development of China’s life sciences and manned space cause. As a founder of China’s experimental biology, Mr. Bei established in an interdisciplinary manner the Department of Biology, Zhejiang University, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and the Department of Biophysics, University of Science and Technology of China.

Mr. Bei always had great passion to his motherland and had dedicated all his life to scientific studies and education while indifferent to fame and fortune. The prominent contributions he had made to China's science and education cause will be immortal and will always be cherished.

Mr. Bei’s funeral service is scheduled at 9:00am in the morning of November 4, 2009 in Beijing Babaoshan Funeral Home. Mails and telegrams of condolence from organizations and private parties may be referred to:

Mr. Shizhang Bei’s Funeral Committee

Address: 15 Datun Road, Chaoyang District

Beijing 100101, China

Contacts: Changjie Chen, Ziyin Han, Suxiang Fu, Huisheng Wang, Taozhai

Tel: +86-10-64889872, +86-10-64888798, +86-10-64888440

Fax: +86-10-64871293

E-mail: office@ibp.ac.cn