Collaboration takes aim at troublesome mosquitoes

Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) signed a cooperation agreement via video link to establish the IAEA Collaboration Center at the university on June 1.

Both sides will expand cooperation in the field of mosquito control. Luo Jun, the university's president, said cooperation with the IAEA will help Sun Yat-sen University explore and expand achievements in the peaceful and scientific use of nuclear technology, especially to provide more solutions for developing countries to control mosquito-borne infectious diseases. International public health challenges will also be addressed.

The agreement was jointly signed by Luo in Beijing and Najact Mokhtar, deputy director-general of the IAEA, in Vienna, Austria.

Mokhtar awarded the plaque of the IAEA Collaboration Center for insect sterility after the signing ceremony.

Li Sen, head of China's permanent mission to the IAEA, accepted the plaque on behalf of Sun Yat-sen University. It was the third IAEA collaboration center to be established in the country.

Wu Zhongdao, director of the CAEA Center for Excellence on Nuclear Technology Applications for Insect Control at the Zhongshan School of Medicine at the university, said that after the IAEA Collaboration Center is officially established, it will carry out research on insect sterility technology, organize regional or cross-regional international conferences and host seminars and workshops.

It will also provide training and expert support for other IAEA member states on insect sterility technology, Wu said.