Gene E. Likens, distinguished research professor in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, has been named an “Einstein professor” by the Chinese Academy of Sciences in recognition of his work as a pioneering ecologist.

Likens, who co-discovered acid rain, went to China to receive the award. He will also receive an honorary degree from Jinan University.

He will give a plenary lecture at the International Society of Limnology in Nanjing and lectures at Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology, Jinan University, and the South China Botanical Garden.

Each year the China Academy of Sciences awards Einstein professorships to 15-20 international scientists who are actively working at the frontiers of science and technology.

Likens, who also is the founding director and president emeritus of the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, an environmental research and education institute in Millbrook, N.Y. He spends several weeks each year in Storrs working with students and faculty in ecology and evolutionary biology. He will be on campus this year from Nov. 12 to Dec. 19.

Likens won the National Medal of Science in 2001. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and has been awarded several honorary doctorates, including one from UConn in 2004.