The Year's High-profile CAST Awards Are Announced

The Year's High-profile CAST Awards Are Announced

Irvine CA, USA, Oct 19, 2023 - Last week, the 31st Anniversary Annual Meeting and Global Innovation Summit of the CAST-USA was successfully held at the University of California, Irvine. The event attracted over 200 experts and scholars in person and thousands of online attendees. Participants from the United States, China, Canada, and other countries around the world celebrate the 31 years of outstanding contributions, collaboration, and innovation of Chinese in the United States in academic and professional fields.

The high-profile and important awards were announced at the awards ceremony. After multiple rounds of nominations and deliberation, the final winners of the major awards are Outstanding Scientist Award winners Dr. Joseph Beavo and Dr. Jason Cong, Outstanding Science & Innovation Award winner Dr. Yun Hang Hu, Outstanding Innovative Enterprise Award winner LittleMoochi , Outstanding Community Service Award winner Ms. Hongbin “Sunny” Wang J.D. Esq.

Outstanding Scientist Award 2023

Dr. Joseph Beavo

Dr. Joseph Beavo, a distinguished member of the National Academy of Sciences and a prestigious professor at the University of Washington, has been awarded the CAST-USA 2023 Outstanding Scientist Award. This award recognizes Dr. Beavo's exemplary contributions to the scientific community, particularly in the field of pharmacology and experimental therapeutics. Dr. Beavo's illustrious career has left an indelible mark on the world of science, and his leadership as the former President of the American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics (ASPET) has shaped the society and fostered a deeper understanding of the fundamental principles of pharmacology. Dr. Beavo's research focuses on cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases (PDEs), enzymes that regulate the amplitude and duration of second messenger molecules cAMP and cGMP. His work has led to a better understanding of how hormones, drugs, and other agents modify physiological processes by causing changes in cAMP and cGMP. Dr. Beavo's contributions to pharmacology have earned him numerous awards, including being named an Established Investigator by the American Heart Association and being elected to the National Academy of Sciences. Dr. Beavo’s dedication to Drug Discovery and Precision Medicine cements his place as a luminary in the field and a deserving recipient of the CAST-USA 2023 Outstanding Scientist Award.

Outstanding Scientist Award 2023

Dr. Jason Cong

Dr. Jason Cong, the Director of both the Center for Customizable Domain-Specific Computing and the VLSI Architecture, Synthesis, and Technology (VAST) Laboratory at UCLA's Computer Science Department, has been awarded the CAST-USA 2023 Outstanding Scientist Award. This award recognizes Dr. Cong's exceptional contributions to the field of computer science and electronic design automation. Dr. Cong is a member of the National Academy of Engineering and a Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors. Dr. Cong's groundbreaking research in electronic design automation, customized computing for machine learning and big-data applications, quantum computing, and highly scalable algorithms has laid the groundwork for a career marked by transformative contributions. For example, his pioneering work on FPGA technology mapping, known as FlowMap, received the 2011 ACM/IEEE A. Richard Newton Technical Impact Award in Electric Design Automation. He was elected to an IEEE Fellow in 2000 for "seminal contributions in computer-aided design of integrated circuits, especially in physical design automation, interconnect optimization, and synthesis of FPGAs," and ACM Fellow in 2008 "for contributions to electronic design automation". Dr. Cong's dedication continues to inspire and shape the future of computer science and electronic design automation, making him a deserving recipient of the CAST-USA 2023 Outstanding Scientist Award.

Outstanding Science & Innovation Award 2023

Dr. Yun Hang Hu

Dr. Yun Hang Hu, the Charles and Carroll McArthur Endowed Chair Professor in Materials Science and Engineering at Michigan Technological University, has been awarded the CAST-USA 2023 Outstanding Science & Innovation Award. This award recognizes his groundbreaking contributions to advanced materials and clean energy with global impacts. Dr. Hu is a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering (CAE), Fellows of 6 major societies (AAAS, ACS, APS, AIChE, ASM international, and RSC), and the winner of the Rudolph A. Erren Award of the International Association for Hydrogen Energy (IAHE). Dr. Hu's exceptional career is distinguished by his pioneering contributions to advanced catalysts, novel materials, and innovative processes for clean energy and renewable energy as well as sustainable environment. His groundbreaking work has led to several brand-new materials and processes that will innovate a number of applied technologies—from supercapacitors to solar cells to computer data storage to making hydrogen fuel from water and sunlight. Dr. Hu's dedication to propelling the frontiers of energy and materials research makes him a highly deserving recipient of the CAST-USA 2023 Outstanding Science & Innovation Award.

Outstanding Innovative Enterprise Award 2023

LittleMoochi

(Represented By LittleMoochi CTO Mr. Xu Yi)

LittleMoochi, a trailblazing company dedicated to combating the pressing issue of childhood obesity, has been honored with the prestigious CAST-USA 2023 Outstanding Innovative Enterprise Award. The accolade recognizes LittleMoochi's remarkable contributions in addressing a critical societal problem – the alarming rates of childhood obesity and the associated health risks driven by unhealthy food choices and unbalanced nutrition. In the United States, where approximately one-third of children suffer from obesity or being overweight, the need for effective solutions is paramount. LittleMoochi's groundbreaking approach has shone through as they tackle this multifaceted challenge, impacting the lives of millions of young individuals and their families. By addressing the critical issue of childhood obesity through innovative means, LittleMoochi's outstanding commitment to enhancing the health and well-being of our youngest generation has earned them the Outstanding Innovative Enterprise Award 2023.

Outstanding Community Service Award 2023

Attorney Hongbin “Sunny” Wang, J.D. Esq.

Attorney Hongbin “Sunny” Wang, an exceptional Chinese-American former prosecutor in California, has been honored with the CAST-USA 2023 Outstanding Community Service Award. Attorney Wang's journey is a testament to her unwavering commitment to social justice and the pursuit of fairness. Upon graduating from law school, many prestigious law firms sought to secure her talents with lucrative offers, but Attorney Wang made a different choice. She opted for a low-paid and demanding role as a prosecutor in California. Her decision was rooted in a lifelong passion for taking on challenges and a deep-seated desire to champion social equity and justice. Attorney Wang consistently incorporates the latest advancements in science and technology into her investigations and evidence collection projects. By leveraging emerging technologies, she has demonstrated her commitment to staying at the forefront of legal practice. In her pursuit of justice, Attorney Wang has not been deterred by the challenges she faces. She has bravely set aside personal comfort, weathered the slander directed at her by the families of criminals, and even confronted threats to her life from criminal organizations. Her unwavering conviction is summed up in her own words: "People may live for a short time or a long time, but what truly matters is living a meaningful life."