On November 7, the opening ceremony of the 8th University GIS Forum 2020 was held in Guangzhou. At the forum, the winners of China GIS Education Lifetime Achievement Award, GIS Innovator, GIS New Talent and GIS Rising Star were awarded. Among them, Academician WANG Jiayao from Henan University and Professor WU Xincai from China University of Geosciences (Wuhan) won "China GIS Education Lifetime Achievement Award". SONG Chaozhi, chairman of the Chinese Society of Surveying and Mapping, presented them with awards.

Subsequently, Academician WANG delivered a keynote report titled 60 Years of GIS Development in China. Combining with personal research experience, He described the development of GIS.

The organizing committee of University Geographic Information System (GIS) Forum dedicate to explore the standardized development of GIS education in  Chinese universities, share educational achievements, and provide a platform for GIS talents training and discipline construction of Chinese universities. At the 8th University GIS Forum, through the evaluation of the expert group, 2 China GIS Education Lifetime Achievement Award, 10 GIS New Talents and 10 GIS Rising Stars are selected and awarded.

Translated by WANG Xianzhou