This book is the first monograph to study the processes of establishing and reconstructing the academician system, and the landmark events in the history of science and technology in 20th century China. It also provides new insights to help us understand the process of scientific institutionalization in modern China. Drawing on detailed archive records, it discusses the process of the establishment of the Academia Sinica's academician system in the Republic of China, as well as the unique and tortuous transformation process from members of the Academic Divisions( )to academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences( )in the People's Republic of China. These play an important part of China's modernization process, and reflect scientific institutionalization in China. The book also highlights the fact that under the leadership of the government, the academic elite became participants in the construction of national academic systemafter the founding of the People's Republic of China.

Autorentext
Guo Jinhai, professor in the Institute for the History of Natural Sciences of Chinese Academy of Sciences. His areas of work are in the history of modern Science and Technology in China, history of Chinese Academy of Sciences. His book the Oral Autobiography of Xi Zezong () was elected into the fourth "Three Hundred" Original Books Project in November 2013. 

Inhalt
Chapter I  The Chinese Academic Circle in The Era of Academician System Prevailing in the West.- Chapter II Establishment of the Council of Academia Sinica and Election of Elected Council Members.- Chapter III  The Council Structured the Academician . and Any Relevant RChapter VIII  The Expansion of the Members of Academic Divisions of the Chinese Academy of Sciences Before and After the Cultural Revolutionegulations.- Chapter IV How the First Batch of Academician Candidates were Nominated and Their Examination Qualifications.- Chapter V From the Response to the Official List of Academician Candidates to the Official Election.- Chapter VI The First Convocation of the Academicians of Academia Sinica.- Chapter VII From the Abolition of Academician System to tChapter VIII  The Expansion of the Members of Academic Divisions of the Chinese Academy of Sciences Before and After the Cultural Revolutionhe Establishment of the System of Academic Division Members.- Chapter IX  Preparation and Suspension of Academician System Between 1980 and 1981.- Chapter X  The Establishment of the Membership System in New China.