Professors Houchun Zhang and Fang Fang were awarded the International Union of Psychological Science’s

Professor Zhang Houchun

Professor Fang Fang

Recently, the International Union of Psychological Science (IUPsyS) recognized Professor Zhang Houchuan of Beijing Normal University with the “Achievement Against the Odds Award” and Professor Fang Fang of Peking University with the “Young Investigator Award (Basic Science).” These prestigious accolades will be presented at the 31st International Congress of Psychology (ICP2016) scheduled to take place in Yokohama, Japan, on July 25th.

IUPsyS, a member of the International Council for Science (ICSU) within the United Nations system, was established in 1889. With 82 national members and 20 branches, it serves as the foremost organization in the global psychological community. Every four years, the IUPsyS presents four prestigious awards: the "Young Investigator Award" (in both Basic and Applied Science categories), the " Achievement Against the Odds Award," and the "Lifetime Achievement Award," nominated by national members.

Professor Zhang Houchuan, born in April 1927, has dedicated over six decades to teaching and researching psychology. Recognized as a pioneer in modern psychometrics and cognitive psychology within China, Professor Zhang is celebrated as one of the founders and nurturers of psychology in the country. In March 2016, Professor Zhang was honored with the 2016 Association of Test Publishers (ATP) Global Citizenship Award for her enduring contributions to the theory and practice of educational measurement. Beyond her scholarly pursuits, Professor Zhang has been instrumental in expanding the social influence of psychology, leading initiatives to connect the CPS with the world. Serving as an executive committee member and vice president of the International Union of Psychological Science (IUPsyS), she has actively fostered international academic exchanges and spearheaded numerous collaborative research endeavors. Professor Zhang's commitment to promoting cross-cultural research in psychology is evident through her leadership in organizing various international academic conferences, marking significant strides in enhancing collaboration between Chinese psychology and the global psychology community.

Professor Fang Fang, born in September 1975, employs brain imaging techniques, psychophysics, and computational modeling to explore visual perception, consciousness, attention, and their corresponding neural mechanisms. Bridging cognitive science, neuroscience, and information science, his research has yielded 60 publications in prestigious international academic journals, with 42 as first and/or corresponding author. Among these, 15 articles were highlighted in esteemed journals such as Nature Neuroscience, Neuron, Current Biology, PNAS, Journal of Neuroscience, and Science China, moreover, Professor Fang was featured in the Cell sub-journal Current Biology in 2011. Fang has spearheaded over ten national research projects, serves as an editorial board member for several esteemed international academic journals and holds esteemed positions including Head of the Department of Psychology at Peking University, Director of the Beijing Key Laboratory of Behavior and Mental Health, Executive Deputy Director of the McGovern Institute of Brain Research, Executive Director of the Chinese Society of Neuroscience, Deputy Director of the International Academic Exchange Committee of the CPS, and Deputy Editor of the Psychology Volume of the Encyclopedia of China (3rd edition).

The concurrent presentation of these awards to Chinese professors Zhang Houchuan and Fang Fang’s marks an inaugural occasion in the annals of the IUPsyS. Their recognition not only underscores the significant achievements and contributions of these two professors within the international psychology community but also serves as a testament to the dedication and commitment to talent cultivation and academic advancement in psychology within China. It stands as a proud moment for Chinese psychology. With the ongoing trend of increasing openness both domestically and internationally, Chinese psychology is positioned to leverage this momentum, sustain its developmental trajectory, nurture a cadre of talented individuals, and propel China's psychological science to the world.