At the Shanghai International Convention and Exhibition Center.
Two days had passed since the end of the Century of Physics Conference. Most of the posters in the exhibition area were removed. Some ILHCRC staff and physicists were still at the venue.
As well as the reporters who came here for interviews.
“This is Fox News. We are now in front of the Shanghai International Convention and Exhibition Center. The physicists from the Century of Physics conference have already left, but there are still some scholars who are not willing to leave. Let us interview them… Hello, sir.” The reporter found a tall and skinny man nearby. The reporter handed out the microphone and said, “Hello sir, are you a staff member of the ILHCRC?”
Professor Pierce pushed the glasses up the bridge of his nose. He looked at the reporter and said, “No, I am a professor of particle physics from Oxford University… What’s the matter?”
Reporter: “May I ask what happened here? The Century of Physics conference was over two days ago, why are so many people unwilling to leave?”
“I’m here because there are still some issues that have not been dealt with by the scientific research institutes at Stockholm University. I probably have to stay in Shanghai for about two days.” Professor Pierce immediately knew what the reporter wanted to know. He said, “Of course, some people stay here because… They hope Professor Lu can stay.”
Reporter: “I heard that many people in the physics circle were surprised by Professor Lu’s resignation from the ILHCRC?”
Professor Pierce: “That’s true.”
Reporter: “In your opinion, what impact might this have on the ILHCRC?”
Professor Pierce thought for a while and said, “Hard to say… But many people are gathered here because of him. Now that he has chosen to leave… At least, in my opinion, the ILHCRC has lost half or even more than half of its appeal.
“I have to say, this is tragic.”
Professor Pierce’s opinion was only one of the many voices in academia.
In fact, it wasn’t just Fox News. The answers that most media received when interviewing well-known physics scholars were more or less pessimistic.
Almost everyone was surprised by Lu Zhou’s choice.
Only a few people thought that he did the right thing, and very few people thought that his departure would not have any impact on the progress of physics.
The ILHCRC committee was undoubtedly the most stressed.
In addition to the annoying reporters, there was also pressure from within the academic community. Over the past few days, the ILHCRC was spammed with email.
The news that Lu Zhou quit the ILHCRC board of directors also occupied the headlines of major newspapers.
The BBC even made a documentary from the perspective of five physicists engaged in research in different fields. They talked about the electrostrong interaction, the void theory, the theory of hyperspace, and the reward of 100 million yuan to the physics community. As well as how his departure would affect the future journey of the physics community.
During an interview with a BBC reporter, the discoverer of the Higgs particle, old man Higgs, who was almost a hundred years old, said, “I am not optimistic about the future of the ILHCRC.”
“The ILHCRC hasn’t been on a smooth sailing journey since its establishment. As far as I know, there have been at least two crises that came close to dissolving this international cooperation organization.
“However, the reason why the ILHCRC was able to avoid the crisis steadily was not because of its cooperation mechanism, nor was it because of its deep foundation. It was only because Lu Zhou was able to unite people together using his academic reputation. Many North American research institutions have withdrawn from the ILHCRC, and even the representatives of the United States withdrew. However, many North American scholars have stayed as ILHCRC employees and worked on the Z particle and the discovery of a series of physical phenomena, such as the law of movement in high-dimensional particles.
“The ILHCRC losing Lu Zhou is like a building losing a support column… Who do you think can replace the chairman of the board?”
Old man Higgs smiled and joked, “Even if I were fifty years younger, I might not be able to do it.”
Professor Higgs spoke of the concerns of many top scholars in physics.
In fact, most people hoped that this international scientific research organization could continue to operate for a long time.
However, this was just a wish. Wishes were not enough to support ILHCRC’s continued prosperity. Many people were worried that once Lu Zhou left, no one would be able to take on the heavy responsibility as the leader of physics. They could only watch the huge ship slowly drown in the dangerous sea.
The academic world had a pessimistic opinion.
The general public was also not optimistic about the future of the ILHCRC.
But suddenly, the situation changed.
ILHCRC, who was at the center of attention, suddenly held a press conference.
And the speaker of this press conference was Lu Zhou himself!
After the news was released, it immediately caused a huge sensation in the physics community and even the entire academic community.
Professor Lu was going to hold a press conference!
Did he finally hear the voice of the people and plan to stay as chairman?!
Even though this was unlikely, many people who were worried about the future of ILHCRC couldn’t help but look forward to seeing him as chairman again.
On the day the ILHCRC announced the date of the press conference, the world’s media outlets all began to gather in Shanghai. They waited until the day of the press conference.
At the ILHCRC headquarters.
In the first conference hall of the annex building.
Lu Zhou was facing the cameras at the press conference site. He walked on the podium, cleared his throat, and spoke in a steady voice.
“I have noticed that the academic community is concerned about the upcoming board meeting of the ILHCRC. Many discussions can be seen on the internet.
“We heard worrying voices from the public. Considering this, we have also discussed this internally.
“And, as a result of the discussion, I will give an important announcement here.”
The press conference site was surprisingly quiet; there wasn’t a trace of noise.
However, even though Lu Zhou could not hear any voices, he could clearly see and feel the tension brewing in their eyes. The reporters all held their breaths.
He turned a page from the speech in his hand and spoke.
“According to the results of the closed-door meeting of the ILHCRC board of directors, the ILHCRC will establish an independent Advisory Committee body based on the original board system.
“As the supervisory body of the board of directors, the Advisory Committee will not directly participate in the specific affairs of the ILHCRC, except when necessary.
“When and only when the ILHCRC is facing a controversial issue or is facing a serious crisis, the Advisory Committee can exercise its special rights to initiate emergency plans, including but not limited to veto power on board decisions, as well as power over the directors and other personnel, such as retirement, dismissal, and appointment of temporary directors.
“Any emergency plan will be discussed and voted on at the emergency meeting. It will be implemented if the number of votes exceeds two-thirds of the total votes.
“All retired chairmen will automatically serve for life as consultants.”
Lu Zhou announced in a calm and clear voice.
“After the board meeting and the appointment of the new chairman…
“I will become the first consultant of the ILHCRC!”
