Prof. HE Shunping from IHB received the Science and Technology Progress Award of the 2024 Ho Leung Ho Lee Foundation Award for his significant contributions to the field of fish taxonomy and evolutionary biology. (Credit: IHB)

The 2024 Ho Leung Ho Lee Foundation award ceremony took place in Beijing on December 3, 2024. Member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Premier of the State Council Ding Xuexiang attended the event. HE Shunping, vice president of the Chinese Society of Zoology and a researcher at the Institute of Hydrobiology (IHB) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, received the Science and Technology Progress Award for his significant contributions to the field of fish taxonomy and evolutionary biology.

Since joining the Institute of Hydrobiology in 1997 after completing his studies at the French Museum of Natural History, Prof. He has focused on fish systematics and evolutionary research. His work has taken him from the Himalayan Plateau to the Mariana Trench. He has led efforts to reconstruct the evolutionary relationships within Cypriniformes and Siluriformes using molecular data, proposing a new phylogenetic model for the Cyprinidae family. This groundbreaking research has placed China at the forefront of international studies on Cypriniformes and revealed new evolutionary patterns in the family. He was also the first to apply molecular systematics to Asian catfish and related species, advancing the fields of molecular systematics and biogeography. 

Prof. He has made pioneering contributions to deep-sea research, participating in two expeditions aboard the "Deep Sea Warrior" submersible, collecting deep-sea fish specimens, and conducting the first-ever studies on the adaptations of deep-sea and abyssal fish. His work has filled a significant gap in China’s research on deep-sea fish evolution. In addition, he led efforts to decode the full genomes of several species, including lungfish, paddlefish, and alligator gar, shedding light on the genetic innovations that drive the transition of vertebrates from aquatic to terrestrial environments. 

Prof. He also initiated the "Fish10K" Genome Project, aimed at mapping the genetic diversity of fish species worldwide and understanding the mechanisms behind their biodiversity.

His work has not only advanced fish systematics but also elevated the study of biological evolution to new heights. His research has been published in top international journals and recognized as one of China’s "Top Ten Life Science Advances." He has made a lasting impact on the field of ichthyology.

The Ho Leung Ho Lee Foundation was established in Hong Kong in 1994 by a group of patriotic financiers with the goal of promoting scientific and technological advancements in China. The foundation offers three major awards: the "Science and Technology Achievement Award," the "Science and Technology Progress Award," and the "Science and Technology Innovation Award." The Science and Technology Progress Award is given to individuals who have made outstanding contributions in their respective fields of research, particularly in recent years.