What's more, they had already discussed and planned to award this year's Association of Societies Annual Award to Professor Kolhart of Stanford University in recognition of his outstanding contributions in the field of corrosion electrochemistry research in complex systems.
"If we reject so many nomination letters, it will definitely cause dissatisfaction from other societies," Secretary-General Merifinch thought for a while and then said, "Why don't we be more generous and recognize his research."
"This is impossible!" Chairman Swift said without hesitation, "It would be fine if it were anyone else, but it is Lu Zhou... Not to mention Stanford University and Professor Kohlhart, Congress must Wouldn't be happy with our choice."
"It seems that our European friends are beginning to feel dissatisfied with our little actions."
"Haha, it's not a big deal—"
"The people have gradually grown tired of this fruitless confrontation, and the White House also knows that it will be difficult to rely on staged victories in the confrontation to gain support for itself in the short term. Successive defeats will gradually make voters lose "Confidence," Secretary-General Merifinch said seriously, looking at Chairman Swift, "If Lu Zhou can visit North America, perhaps this can be an opportunity to repair relations between the two countries."
"You go out first."
"so what?"
This is nothing.
"Another one."
He actually changed the topic.
Is your phone out of battery?…
However, at this moment, there was a knock on the door outside the office, and then a young assistant walked in quickly with an unopened letter in his hand.
The call was quickly connected.
In fact, it was nothing.
Under normal circumstances, the candidates they recommend are not weak, but if they are of the same level, or not far behind other candidates, they will be more inclined to choose scholars who are native to North America or who intend to stay and work in North America. .
"What do we do now?"
"Is there any point in talking about this now? Don't forget who is supporting our funding." Secretary-General Merifinch shrugged. "Besides, this is not bringing political matters into the academic world. What do you think? With that paper of his, that quasi-Nobel Prize-level achievement, isn’t it worthy of an annual award from the Alliance of Societies?”
Requirements to complete the Mars manned landing plan within the year.
Lu Zhou has always had a good relationship with the Max Planck Society. Not only did he receive a Hoffmann Medal awarded by the German Chemical Society, but he also collaborated with those Germans on the stellarator project.
Xiao Ai: [...Master, I just got a call. (☆-v-)]
Not to mention the technical difficulties, risks, and accompanying humanitarian issues, even if so many people can be sent up at once, the system may not be able to earn more than 10 million experience points.
"Ah... I accidentally pressed the hang up button."
The trickiness of the Association of Societies' annual awards is not an open secret. Whether it is acquiescence or no method, other societies have no good way to manipulate the selection of this award.
"In short, just find a way to send people to Mars as soon as possible... In that case, this task should be quite simple."
Putting down the pen in his hand, Chairman Swift cast his tired eyes on him and asked feebly.
"Okay, okay..." Seeing Chairman Swift wave to him, the assistant standing at the door hesitated for a moment, left the opened letter in his hand on the cabinet next to him, and then Exited the office.
Under such circumstances, even if they should seriously consider Lu Zhou's research results, they still have to consider the diplomatic stance of their own authorities.
…
Seemingly convinced, Chairman Swift remained silent for a long time this time.
"The letter is from Professor Gerhard Ettel, director of the Fritz Haber Institute." The assistant opened the envelope on the spot, and after a quick glance, he said with some hesitation, "He is here. I send you my best wishes in this letter and at the same time... hope to nominate Lu Zhou as a candidate for the annual society award."
Facing this strange reward standard, Lu Zhou couldn't help but fell silent.
The door of the office meeting was closed, and Secretary-General Merifinch, who had been standing next to him silently, spoke thoughtfully.
After about five minutes, he finally spoke.
If you throw a hundred people at it at once, how can you gain tens of millions of experience points
Not long ago, the Space Launch Center sent a spacecraft to cruise around Mars orbit. Now it just needs to find a way to bring the life-support device there and drop the volunteers and the landing module together.
"Hello? Academician Lu, you're still up so late."
"Anyone with a clear eye can see that the United States has lost the space race and has chosen to compromise with China on a series of historical issues because of controllable fusion technology. Even though NASA is still using the air and space across the Pacific as a cliché. The weapons-as-threat argument is asking Congress for funding, but haven’t you noticed? The official opposition is actually getting quieter.”
But for Chairman Swift, it is a headache.
You can't blame him for thinking too much. The nomination proposed by Professor Ertel does feel a bit like putting pressure on them.
"Go to the White House and ask for their opinion."
Looking at the hung up call, Lu Zhou muttered to himself, turned off the phone and threw it aside, then turned over and went to sleep.
"I see."
"beep-"
Without making him wait for a long time, Secretary-General Merifinch paused for a moment before explaining.
Although the International Alliance of Materials Research Societies is nominally a joint organization of national materials science societies, because the center of the world's materials science community is in Boston, this organization is actually somewhat similar in nature to the IMCRC. They are both nominally international, but in fact It is still a cooperative organization that is more influenced by a single country.
Chairman Swift cast a questioning look at Secretary-General Merifinch who said this, waiting for his explanation.
"What's the matter? Tell me."
"Any questions?"
"Have you ever heard of a space elevator—"
Why did you hang up suddenly
Just when Lu Zhou turned over and fell asleep, the headquarters of the International Federation of Materials Research Societies far across the Pacific Ocean was a busy scene.
“I don’t want to bring politics into academia.”
But thinking that he wasn't asleep anyway, he didn't care anymore, leaned his head back on the pillow, and asked casually.
In this way, it is a bit worth pondering that Professor Ertel nominated Lu Zhou in the name of the Max Planck Society.
He raised his watch and looked at the time. He saw that it was already past ten o'clock in the evening. Lu Zhou was about to close his eyes and go to sleep, but he found that the drone controlled by Xiao Ai was lying on the bedside table next to him, watching him eagerly.
After all, this kind of partiality within a limited scope is really hard to define and hard to find evidence for.
After all, for regional research institutions like the Max Planck Society, even if they nominate scholars from other countries, they usually nominate scholars working in Germany.
Of course, he just thought about it this way.
"I believe Professor Kolhart will understand our situation."
“…”
Apparently thinking of this, Chairman Swift looked at him standing next to him for help, and asked with a headache on his face.
"Maybe it's an illusion..."
Manned landing on the Mars is originally one of China's space plans this year, and it is also a precursor project of the Mars scientific research station.
"As for Stanford University and Professor Kolhart, if you really care about their feelings... I don't think it is a shame to lose to Professor Lu."
Hearing these words, Lu Zhou couldn't help but complain in his heart.
"not necessarily."
After all, the reward bonus may increase with the number of people, but it may not increase linearly.
Chairman Swift frowned.
"Then tell me?"
Looking at the task panel that exuded a light golden European aura, Lu Zhou shook his head vigorously to drive the strange feeling away from his mind and focus on the task itself again.
The moment he heard this, Chairman Swift put his index finger and thumb on his eyebrows with a headache, and muttered a curse.
Sitting in his office, Chairman Swift was chatting with Secretary-General Professor Meri Finch about the selection of the annual society awards, while dealing with a mountain of troublesome work.
The busy tone of the phone suddenly rang, cutting off the voice on the other end of the phone.
With so many calls bombarding me, I'm afraid I'll be woken up even if I'm asleep.
"What does it say?"
"Chairman, here is a letter from the Max Planck Society."
Even if the past friendship is not considered, in terms of the academic value of that paper, it is indeed worthy of the German Chemical Society.
If Lu Zhou were allowed to come in at this time, the entire selection would become a matter of no suspense.
At this moment, Director Li, who was far away at home in Shangjing City, was listening to the busy signal from his mobile phone with a confused look on his face.
During this period of time, they have received at least ten nomination letters from top experts or academic organizations in the field of materials science, hoping that they can include Lu Zhou's name in the selection list for this year's Society Alliance Award.
However, it’s still important to get down to business.
Although the feeling of uneasiness still lingered, it was not his style to worry about unknown and clueless things, so he just frowned and struggled for a while, and then put the matter aside for the time being.
In fact, there is really nothing to be surprised about.
"If they plan to use this opportunity to repair relations with China..."
After exiting the system space, the sky outside the window has completely darkened.
With this thought in his mind, Lu Zhou closed the holographic panel.
Professor Merifinch, who was standing next to him, shrugged his shoulders, with an expression on his face that didn't seem to be at all surprised by the contents of the letter.
As for the reward, it is determined by the number of people logged in and the remaining mission time...
"Then I'll hang up now and talk about it tomorrow."
Not too unexpectedly, Director Li's voice appeared on the other end of the phone.
"Hey, wait, wait, don't hang up right now, I just want to... consult you on something. It won't waste a lot of your time!"
After yawning, Lu Zhou reached out and picked up his phone. He looked at the dozen missed calls and thought about who could be so bored and called more than a dozen times at night, so he dialed the number back.
But no wonder.
After hesitating for a moment, Lu Zhou asked.