Han Ximin

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LIU XINYUAN, a chair professor from the Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech), is among 48 young scientists who have won the Fifth Xplorer Prize, according to a list released by the award’s executive committee Monday.

Liu won the prize for his contribution to new materials chemistry.

Liu received his Ph.D. at the University of Hong Kong in 2010 and joined SUSTech’s Department of Chemistry in 2012, where he set up an independent organic chemistry research group.

His research interests focus on transition-metal and organocatalyst-catalyzed organic chemistry, homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis, organofluorine chemistry, and the application of chemistry in biological and medicinal chemistry, according to an introduction at the university’s official website.

Liu is the third expert from SUSTech who has won the prize, following Liu Weishu, an associate professor from the material sciences and engineering department in 2019, and Zhang Liyuan, a professor from the physics department in 2020.

Xplorer Prize, a nongovernmental and nonprofit award, was set up in 2018 with an initial donation of 1 billion yuan (US$139.4 million) from Tencent Foundation in a bid to encourage and support young scientists under the age of 45 to engage in life sciences, advanced manufacturing and other key science and technology fields.

Xplorer Prize gives awards to 50 outstanding scientists each year, and each of the prize winners receives a total of 3 million yuan over the next five years from Tencent Foundation.

In the span of five years, 248 young scientists from 90 research institutes and universities in 26 cities received the awards. The awardees are 41 years old on average and 75% of the winners have working and education experiences at leading universities or research institutes overseas.