Recently, the Chinese Society of Mineralogy, Petrology and Geochemistry announced the winners of the 18th Hou Defeng Young Scientist Award for Mineral, Petrology and Geochemistry. Prof. Ling Zongcheng of the School of Space Science and Physics and the Institute of Space Science, Shandong University, Weihai won the award.

Prof. Ling Zongcheng is the leader of the "Planetary Science" research group of the "Solar Burst and its Impact on the Planetary Space Environment" Climbing Project innovation team. Since 2008, he has been responsible for establishing the direction and research team of planetary science in Shandong University to carry out scientific research and innovative talent cultivation in this field. His research focuses on spectral remote sensing and experimental studies of planetary materials and has made a series of innovative achievements.

The Hou Defeng Young Scientist Award for Minerals, Petrology and Geochemistry was established in 1986, to commemorate academician Hou Defeng, the pioneer and founder of Chinese Geochemistry, Uranium Geology, and Quaternary Geology, with the aim to encourage and commend those scientific and technological workers under the age of 40 who have made outstanding contributions in the research of mineralogy, petrology, and geochemistry (including sedimentology).