05/09/91

CONTACT: Stanford University News Service (650) 723-2558

Chinese dissident astrophysicist Fang Lizhi to speak at Stanford

STANFORD -- Fang Lizhi, a leading Chinese astrophysicist and human rights advocate, will speak on "Science, Cosmology and Democracy in China," Wednesday, May 15, at Stanford University.

The talk is scheduled for 8 p.m. in the Physics Lecture Hall, Varian.

Fang was one of the Chinese intellectuals whose teachings inspired pro-democracy student demonstrations in Tiananmen Square two years ago. He took refuge in the American Embassy in Beijing and is now a visiting professor with the Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton, N.J.

Open to the public, his speech will mark the 10th annual Bunyan Lecture, sponsored by an astronomy program endowment that supports research into the nature of the universe and the destiny of man.

He also will give a technical lecture, "Topology of the Universe," at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, May 14, in Varian Physics 101.

Fang has received numerous scientific awards, including the Chinese Academy of Sciences Award, First Award of the International Gravity Research Foundation and the New York Academy of Sciences Award. His efforts on human rights have been recognized with the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award, the George Meany Human Rights Award, and a joint Danish and Swedish Peace Prize.

Among his books is the recently published collection of writings on science, culture and democracy in China, Bringing Down the Great Wall.

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