Thoughts on the passing of Dr. Tsung-Dao Lee, the founding director of the RIKEN BNL Research Center

On behalf of everyone at RIKEN, I would like to express our deep sadness upon hearing of the passing of Dr. Tsung-Dao Lee, the first director of the RIKEN BNL Research Center.

In 1997, the RIKEN BNL Research Center (RBRC) was established at Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) in the United States as a research base for the Spin Physics Project that was carried out as part of the Japan -U.S. Science and Technology Cooperation. As the first director of the RBRC, Dr. Lee made a significant contribution to the development of science and technology in Japan and the United States and to the international expansion of RIKEN.

Notably, Dr. Lee introduced a joint appointment system between leading American universities and the RBRC to nurture outstanding researchers in the field of nuclear physics. He also established the RHIC Physics Fellowship, a fellowship for training young researchers, and took strong leadership in the development of talent and international brain circulation in this field.

Dr. Lee was very fond of holding discussions with young researchers and providing them with friendly guidance. Today, 28 years after the establishment of the RBRC, alumni of the center who received his guidance are active in various parts of the world.

At RIKEN, Dr. Lee served as Honorary Director and RIKEN Science Advisor from 2003. In the autumn of 2006, he was awarded the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star for his contributions to promoting academic exchange between Japan and the United States.

The RIKEN community is committed to further developing science and technology and fostering young talent, in the spirit of expanding upon the foundation that Dr. Lee has built.

I would like to express our gratitude for his many years of leadership and our sadness upon his passing and offer my sincere condolences.

August 9, 2024
Makoto Gonokami
President
RIKEN