In 1979 we established the East Asian History of Science Trust in Hong Kong as a branch of the UK Trust, two years after a similar USA Trust was incorporated in New York.  The objective of the Hong Kong Trust was to raise funds for the construction of a building for Dr. Joseph Needham’s East Asian History of Science Library in Cambridge, whereas the New York Branch was mainly to seek funding for sustaining the UK operations so that Dr. Needham could continue to focus in his monumental Science and Civilisation in China series.

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The success of our Foundation and the contributions to the UK Trust in the 90s were made possible by many dedicated fellow directors.  I would be remiss in not singling out the late Dr. Philip Mao, the founding Chairman with whom I served from the early 80s until his retirement in the mid-90s, and my predecessor Dr. K.P. Li, whom I succeeded in 2014. I am truly indebted to them for building up a network of benefactors and their common commitment to sustaining the Needham legacy.

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Today, 40 years on, the Joseph Needham Foundation for Science & Civilisation (JNFSC) is embarking on several new initiatives outlined separately under our Mission and Objectives (As presented above).  My fellow directors and I are confident that our initiatives will attract future leadership to continue to sustain the Needham scholarly legacy, and the universality of science.

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I am indebted to my colleagues at the NRI, particularly to Mr. John Moffett for valuable input and photos of the Needhams from the pre/post WW2 period through to 1995.

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I sincerely hope that the revamped website will serve as a dynamic platform for academic exchange and dissemination of new initiatives.

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Thank you.

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Peter L. Lee, PhD

Chairman