On September 22, Mr. Yang Zhenning, Nobel Laureate in Physics, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Honorary Dean of the Institute for Advanced Study of Tsinghua University, and Honorary Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Westlake University, celebrated his 100th birthday. On the same day, Mr. Yang Zhenning's Academic Thought Seminar was held at Tsinghua University. Chen Zhili, former state councilor and vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the 11th National People's Congress, Qiu Yong, president of Tsinghua University, Zhang Jie, chairman of the Chinese Physical Society, Duan Chongzhi, president of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Gu Binglin, former president of Tsinghua University and dean of the Institute for Advanced Study, and Shi Yigong, president of Westlake University, delivered speeches at the meeting.
Born on September 22, 1922 in Hefei, Anhui Province, Yang Zhenning went to the United States to study and teach in the 1940s. In 1957, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics together with Lee Jung-do for proposing the principle of non-conservation of cosmology in weak interactions. His "Jan-Mills gauge field" theory is one of the most important achievements of physics in the 20th century. Since 2003, Yang Zhenning has returned to China to settle down and teach, and has made important contributions in cultivating and recruiting talents and promoting academic exchanges between China and foreign countries. In 2018, Mr. Yang Zhenning was appointed Honorary Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Westlake University.
Principal Shi Yigong and Mr. Yang Zhenning met in 2007. On the occasion of Mr. Yang's 100th birthday, President Shi Yigong wrote an article reviewing the nearly 15 years of interaction with Mr. Yang. He said: "Mr. Yang's most important contribution to China is not only to help the Chinese people change their concept of feeling inferior to others, greatly enhance the self-confidence of the Chinese people, and has been rationally and pragmatically involved in promoting the development of Chinese science." To this day, he is still using his nearly a century of experience and experience to guide the future of China's scientific community. ”
Teachers and friends are also the same way
——Mr. Yang Zhenning in my eyes
Mr. Yang Zhenning has always been a legendary scientific hero in my mind, which is out of reach. In 1957, he and Mr. Lee Jeong-do won the Nobel Prize in Physics for discovering the non-conservation of cosmology in weak interactions, which was also the first time Chinese won the Nobel Prize, which made Chinese people all over the world excited. Their academic achievements have inspired generations of Chinese youth to advocate science and strive to be angry, and a large number of scientists who have made important contributions in the field of basic research have been produced. I am also one of them, and in this sense, I have long been an admirer and follower of Mr. Yang.
In 1997, I completed my postdoctoral research and am about to begin an independent research career at Princeton University. In 2004, I was thrilled to learn from the news that Mr. Yang had returned to my alma mater, Tsinghua University, and had taught a big class in physics for undergraduates. On the one hand, I envy the students of Tsinghua University who have the opportunity to get close to Mr. Yang and have the honor to listen to his personal lectures, on the other hand, I also look forward to meeting Mr. Yang in Tsinghua Garden in the future.
In 2007, I returned to Tsinghua University from the United States, and the opportunity of my dream soon came. One summer day, I received an email from cnyang, opened it, and was very surprised, it was actually from Mr. Yang! Since then, my interaction with Mr. Yang has gradually become closer. Because he doesn't use a cell phone, we keep in touch via email. A few days ago, I sorted out my e-mail address and found that there had been more than 200 email exchanges with Mr. Yang, many of which were discussed on scientifically sensitive topics. Over the past 14 years, from working together on the Advisory Board of the Qiushi Foundation to daily gatherings and discussions, I have had the privilege of appreciating Mr. Yang's wise insight and frank character many times. For me, Mr. Yang is also a teacher and a friend!
Teacher Yang Zhenning
In 2008, domestic scientific research has begun to make great progress, but the academic atmosphere still has a lot of room for improvement, and there is still a lack of a scientific and cultural atmosphere with a strong foundation. Mr. Yang should have a more profound feeling about this, so he proposed that he organize a small science and art forum on behalf of Tsinghua and Rao Yi on behalf of Peking University.
In his first lecture on September 12, 2009, he gave a wonderful lecture entitled "The Beauty of Physics" for about an hour. Mr. Yang made careful preparations, old photos on the slides, classic comments... Using famous physicists as a clue, he sketched out a number of major historical breakthroughs in the golden age of great development of physics from the end of the 19th century to the middle of the 20th century. Einstein, Planck, Dirac, Bohr, Heisenberg, Feynman, Schrödinger... Mr. Yang vividly described each person's unique personality and style of governance, and the vivid image of a scholar jumped between words. He admired Einstein so much that he introduced Einstein's remarkable contributions in an almost adoring tone, as well as his brief but memorable intersection with Einstein at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton.
At the end, Mr. Yang sighed: Physics is really a very exquisite and beautiful science in the world. There is no doubt that Mr. Yang's 60-minute lecture, which combines science, history, art and impressions, "looking at the ancient and modern in a flash, touching the four seas in a moment", is the most shocking and enjoyable spiritual and thinking journey in my scientific career of more than 30 years! He is like a museum, through the interpretation of the narration across time and space, the contribution of each physics master and the profound insight into the entire history of physics are vividly expressed.
This was the only time I listened to Mr. Yang systematically introduce the history of modern physics, and it was also the longest lecture I had ever heard mr. Yang. Since then, I have listened to Mr. Yang's speeches and sharing on different occasions many times, and participated in many important activities related to him. I especially like to listen to Mr. Yang tell about history and people, his thinking is clear, his reaction is quick, and his memory is particularly amazing, even if it is decades ago, the details are clearly remembered, not inferior to young people. Since I was invited to serve as an advisor to the Qiushi Science and Technology Foundation in 2012, I have discussed issues with him every year at the Advisory Board meeting and the annual meeting awards ceremony, and I am delighted and excited that many of my views with Mr. Yang often coincide. His speeches are plain, profound and insightful, and it is his consistent style to seek truth from facts and be unyielding, to cite two examples.
As a first example, in 2015, in order to celebrate Mr. Tu Youyou's award for the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, the Qiushi Foundation held a unique Qiushi Home Seminar at the China Association for Science and Technology, inviting past Qiushi young scholars and Qiushi Prize winners to participate.
Mr. Yang made a speech on the theme of "salvation", expounding his worries and suggestions on the development of Science and Technology in China, to the effect that in the past 37 years of reform and opening up, China's science and technology has made great progress, but its current situation is not enough to support the scientific and technological security of a big country, and hopes that scientific workers will not wait for me with the attitude of "saving the dead" and make every effort to forge ahead, so as to help China achieve all-round scientific and technological self-reliance as soon as possible.
At that time, Mr. Yang's speech was extremely shocking and inspirational! And now look back, think about the trade friction and technology confrontation between China and the United States since 2018, I have to admire Mr. Yang's foresight!
In the second example, since 2012, the debate in domestic academic circles about whether a super-large collider should be built has been triggered. Mr. Yang expressed his opinion on this plan, stating the reasons for disapproval from various aspects such as the lessons learned in the United States, the investment and return of funds, the history and prospects of the development of high-energy physics, and the possible achievements of the Large Collider. Mr. Yang knows that this is likely to cause a lot of controversy, but he still chooses to insist on his judgment based on historical facts and logic, upholding publicity and being blunt.
In his public and private speeches, Mr. Yang's vision has often been not limited to the physics community, but to the actual needs and future development of the entire scientific and technological community, as well as the entire country and nation. It should be said that he has been rationally and pragmatically offering suggestions and suggestions for the country. This kind of true and pure character, selfless and fearless feelings, is admirable.
Mr. Yang is also very concerned about my personal academic progress. In his daily conversations, he repeatedly asked me what I thought of structural biology and biophysics and shared his insights. In August 2015, I led the team to capture the high-resolution structure of the splicing body for the first time, and he sent an email in early September inviting me to the Tsinghua Institute for Advanced Research to share a special topic, which he personally hosted. After more than an hour of lecture sharing, Mr. Yang also asked a lot of questions seriously. I often lament how fortunate I am to be able to receive the love and help of such a master scientist; perhaps, his support for me so diligently is not only to promote a descendant who has high hopes for himself, but also to embody a hope for the spiritual inheritance of scientists.
Mr. Yang is particularly concerned about young people. In 2012, tsinghua university school of life sciences first class graduates academic annual meeting, students especially hope to invite Mr. Yang, he gladly agreed, attended the whole morning of the event, shared his scientific taste to the students, answered the questions enthusiastically raised by the students, took a group photo with everyone, after the end of the activity should also be invited by the students to leave a message "Today is a big era, young people should seize the opportunity." "Another time, in 2017, Mr. Yang attended a summit forum for Tsinghua teachers and students hosted by me. The keynote speaker is James Watson, one of the discoverers of the DNA double helix, and I have invited Mr. Yang as a guest to have a conversation with Watson; it can be said that this is a pinnacle dialogue between the two giants of biology and physics in the history of modern science. Mr. Yang, who is 95 years old, asked sharp and profound questions, and the 89-year-old Watson answered them directly, and the wonderful dialogue made Tsinghua teachers and students reminisce endlessly.
Friend Yang Zhenning
In my daily interactions, Mr. Yang also took great care of me and benefited me a lot.
At the end of June 2012, Tsinghua University held a 90th birthday banquet for Mr. Yang Zhenning, mr. Yang and his wife Weng Fan attended, and the birthday banquet was attended by President Chen Jining, Secretary Hu Heping, some old leaders of Tsinghua, Ms. Xu Luxi, widow of Deng Jiaxian, and Mr. Yang's relatives, close friends and students. To my surprise and pride, I was placed at the relatives and friends table, sitting with Weng Fan's parents, Mr. Yang's cousin, relatives and long-time friends. At the birthday banquet, a documentary organized and filmed by Mr. Yang's disciple Zhang Shousheng was played, starting from Mr. Yang's first return trip to China in 1971, including some precious historical video materials received by Chairman Mao, Premier Zhou and other national leaders, which truly recorded Mr. Yang's life course of running for the motherland and making silent dedication over the years, which left a deep impression on me. During this period, Deng Jiaxian's wife Xu Luxi also told about the brotherhood between Yang and Deng. On his first trip home, Mr. Yang wrote a list of people he wanted to meet and presented it to Premier Zhou, the first of whom was Mr. Deng Jiaxian; under the mediation of Premier Zhou, Deng Jiaxian returned to Beijing from a labor base in the northwest desert with extremely bad conditions, and was able to continue to contribute to the national nuclear weapons cause. Speaking of the emotional place, Xu Luxi choked up several times and burst into tears, and everyone present was moved.
In 2016, Mr. and Mrs. Yang invited my wife Renbin and I to a dinner party held at Quanjude Restaurant in Tsinghua Science Park to welcome Mr. and Mrs. James Simons. Introduced to him, I became acquainted with Simmons, a famous mathematician and hedge fund legend. He and Mr. Chen Shengshen jointly proposed the Chen-Simmons normative theory, which is well-known in the American scientific and educational circles and financial circles, and is known as "the greatest investor on Wall Street". In particular, it is worth mentioning that Mr. Yang knew that the establishment of Westlake University needed to raise social donations, and specially told me that Simmons was enthusiastic about public welfare donations, so I also highlighted the founding concept of Westlake University to him at dinner.
Mr. Yang is a full of optimists, he has a wide range of interests, loves art, likes food, especially has a special love for Xiaolongbao, when he has time, he likes to go to Ding Taifeng in Zhongguancun Contemporary Mall to taste crab powder Xiaolongbao, and Renbin and I are also fortunate to be invited to have lunch there; another time, the school leaders entertained Mr. yang and his wife and some returnee professors at Tsinghua C, and soon after the dinner began, the waiter said that Ding Taifeng's Xiaolongbao arrived... Everyone laughed in unison.
Fellow Yang Zhenning
Since 2015, I have founded Westlake University in Hangzhou with a group of like-minded friends. In a very early visit, I reported to Mr. Yang Zhenning on our educational goals and philosophy. He expressed support, suggested that we fully anticipate the difficulties and encouraged us to move forward in unity towards our goals. On the eve of the official establishment of the university in early 2018, Qian Yingyi and I made a special trip to Mr. Yang's home and invited him to serve as a member of the school's advisory committee and honorary chairman of the board of directors, and he immediately gladly agreed, and tirelessly attended the inaugural meeting of Westlake University held in Hangzhou on October 20 of that year to inaugurate the new Westlake University. In particular, it is worth mentioning that Mr. Yang very seriously signed the 60 first day covers we prepared, leaving a precious historical memorial.
I vividly remember the day of the inaugural meeting, the 96-year-old Mr. Yang came to the venue early, he was dressed in a dark blue striped suit, wearing a light blue shirt and a red tie, the whole person was full of energy. At the ceremony, I unveiled the plaque with Mr. Yang, Mr. Han Qide, then Governor Yuan Jiajun and Vice Minister Du Yubo, who represented the Ministry of Education. But Wanwan did not expect that just after the unveiling, Mr. Yang accidentally tripped over the red silk cloth under his feet and fell on the rostrum! At that time, I was in a cold sweat, hurriedly stepped forward to help him up, and slowly walked to his seat, he insisted on not returning to the room until the end of the ceremony. In the afternoon, Weng Fan told me that Mr. Yang was no big trouble, and that he could recuperate and recover. I was worried all night, and I did not expect that the next day's advisory committee meeting, he attended the whole process as usual, discussed the problem with everyone, and put forward pertinent suggestions for the school's academic evaluation standards, which made me very moved.
For me, Mr. Yang Zhenning is also a teacher, a friend, and a fellow teacher. As a teacher, he has been carefully helping me for more than ten years, his academic achievements, home and country feelings, scientific research taste, especially the pursuit of the ultimate beauty of science, are all examples I look up to; as a friend, he promised me trust and friendship, expressed his opinions directly to me, this trust and friendship is a warm current that will always exist in my heart; as a colleague, he pays special attention to, pays attention to and supports Westlake University, provides suggestions for the school, and unites the strength of all parties. He once told me, "If I were thirty years younger, I would join Westlake University too!" "This is really the best encouragement for us! I look forward to 2028, and I look back with Mr. Yang on the ten-year process of the official establishment of Westlake University, and hope that he will feel sincerely gratified and proud at that time.
On the occasion of Mr. Yang's centenary birthday, looking back on the interaction with Mr. Yang, I would like to express my admiration for this article, and wish Mr. Yang happiness and health, pine cypress evergreen!
Shi Yigong
August 31, 2021 at Westlake University Yunqi Campus
Author: Shi Yigong
Editor: Wu Jinjiao