Cheng Guodong,, male, was born in Shanghai City in July 1943. graduated from Department of Hydrogeology & Engineering Geology, Beijing Geology College (current China Geology University) in 1965.Professor, Cold & Arid Regions Environmental & Engineering Research Institute, the Chinese Academy of sciences. President, Lanzhou Branch of CAS. Academician of CAS. Published more than 200 papers on engineering, geocryology and alpine permafrost, water resources, and the changing environments of western China. E-mail: gdcheng@ lzb. ac. cn