Foreign experts receive 'Jiangsu Friendship Award'
(english.jsjyt.edu.cn) Updated：2020-01-14
Steve Drown, a distinguished visiting professor at several Jiangsu universities, wins the "Jiangsu Friendship Award" in Nanjing on Jan 10. [Photo/ujs.edu.cn]
A total of 22 foreign experts living and working in East China's Jiangsu province received the "Jiangsu Friendship Award" from the provincial government in Nanjing on Jan 9.
Steve Drown, a distinguished visiting professor at several Jiangsu universities, was among the award winners. The expert in landscape architecture has spent the past eight years facilitating between China and the United States in the areas of science and technology, talent, and culture. His achievements include developing an environmental art curriculum at Jiangsu University, carrying out interdisciplinary research and practices in art and sci-tech, managing the renovation program of a historical and cultural street along the ancient canal, and adding sci-tech and design elements to the province's rural revitalization strategy.
Professor Drown is an emeritus member at the University of Idaho in the US and also a high-level foreign expert recognized by the Chinese government.
Jiangsu in recent years has been focusing on attracting skilled talent. Statistics show that over 130,000 foreign experts come to work in Jiangsu every year, strengthening the province's relationship with the outside world.
Jiangsu's research expenditure now accounts for 2.72 percent of its total GDP, it is home to more than 24,000 high-tech companies, has over 310,000 patents, and is a regional leader in innovation – none of which would have been possible without the help of foreign experts.
