Progress of Glaciology and Geocryology Incubation Program of the National Natural Science Foundation of China

The 10~(th)5-year Plan for National Natural Sci- ence Foundation of China(NSFC)for fostering com- petent research teams and highly qualified scholars in fundamental research in glaciology and geocryolo- gy was based on the strategy of incubating "com- petitive, problem-solving oriented and motivated fledgling scientists,who can effectively lead and greatly advance the aimed subjects and conduct the cutting edge research".This principle has been playing crucial roles in restructuring the team aiming at world-first-class research projects and at solving critical problems in national key projects.It was un- der the guidance of this strategy that the key re- search team for mitigating the challenging and differ- ential frost and thaw hazards along the Qinghai-Tibet Railway(QTR)had been formed,that a strong group focused on the cryosphere (snow, ice and permafrost)000research was re-established and en- hanced.These accomplishments have facilitated the formation and growth of highly motivated com- petitive research teams on comprehensive and inte- grated fundamental research,which promoted,in- tensified,and expanded the research programs in glaciology and geocryology.