A University of Arizona physics professor has won the American Physical Society's 1996 Nicholson Medal for Humanitarian Service.

A part of the UA since 1991, Li-Zhi Fang has fought for the free exchange of ideas and information among scientists in China.

"I first began demanding freedom for research. Science needs free thinking, free circulation of ideas. I got concerned not only for freedom of science, but freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom to assemble," Fang said in a press release.

Fang's fight began in the 1950s, when he spoke against those who proposed to constrain scientific thought within China. As a result, Fang has been at odds with the Chinese government for more than 45 years.

Although Fang's relations with the Chinese government were strained, he still was able to publish more than 130 research papers. He also managed to become the vice president of the Keda, the University of Science and Technology in Anhui Province.

Following student uprisings in 1986 and 1987, Fang lost his title and was moved to the Beijing Observatory.

Fang sought sanctuary in the United States in 1989, after the incident at Tiananmen Square.

Donna Kent, administrative associate in the physics department, said Fang is in Sicily, Italy, presenting a seminar, titled "Large-scale structure revealed by Wavelet Decomposition." She said he will return to Tucson Sept. 15.

Fang is set to receive his medal and give a lecture in April.

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