Qian Weichang (October 9, 1912 – July 30, 2010) was one of the founders of modern mechanics in China, as well as a well-known scientist, educator and social activist. Born in Wuxi, Jiangsu Province, he studied at Tsinghua University from 1931 to 1937 and later went to the University of Toronto in Canada to obtain a doctorate in science. During his tenure as a research engineer at the Jet Propulsion Institute of the California Institute of Technology, Qian Weichang worked with Qian Xuesen and others in the field of aerospace research under the guidance of von Kármán and made remarkable achievements.
After returning to China in 1946, Qian Weichang served as a professor at Tsinghua University, and after the founding of the People's Republic of China, he held a number of important positions, including professor, vice provost, provost, and vice president of Tsinghua University, and a member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. He also served as the president of Shanghai University of Technology and made important contributions to the field of education. Qian Weichang has made important contributions in the fields of mechanics, applied mathematics, and Chinese informatics, especially in the study of plate-shell nonlinear intrinsic unified theory and shallow shell nonlinear differential equations.
Qian Weichang was a staunch patriot who closely linked his future with the destiny of the country and the nation, regardless of personal gains and losses, and put the interests of the country first in everything. His scientific achievements and educational philosophy have had a profound impact on later scientists and educators. Qian Weichang was elected vice chairman of the Sixth National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference in 1983 and was later re-elected vice chairman of the seventh National Committee. His life is full of legends and is a valuable asset to the Chinese scientific community and society.
Qian Weichang participated in aerospace construction, and during the Jet Propulsion Institute of the California Institute of Technology, he worked with Qian Xuesen and others in the field of aerospace research under the guidance of the world-famous scientist von Kármán. Qian Weichang participated in rocket and missile experiments and published the world's first paper on the theory of singular perturbations. In 1946, he collaborated with von Kármán to publish Torsion with Variable Torsion, which became a classic work of international elastic mechanics theory.
Qian Weichang's contributions in the field of aerospace are not limited to theoretical research, but also include practical applications and technology development. His research results had a profound impact on aerospace science and technology. Qian Weichang's research work and contributions to the aerospace industry have demonstrated his profound patriotic feelings and outstanding scientific research ability. His scientific research achievements and contributions to the national aerospace industry are an important chapter in the history of China's aerospace science and technology development.
Qian Weichang was an outstanding scientist and patriot, and his story of returning to China reflects his deep affection for the motherland and his patriotic spirit regardless of personal gains and losses. Here are some stories about Qian Weichang's return to China:
1. **The Transformation of Abandoning Literature and Science**: Qian Weichang originally studied history at Tsinghua University, but after the 918 Incident, he witnessed the national crisis and was determined to contribute to national defense construction, so he resolutely decided to abandon literature and science and transfer to the Department of Physics.
2. **Rejection of favorable conditions abroad**: During his work at the Jet Propulsion Institute of the California Institute of Technology in the United States, Qian Weichang had the opportunity to stay abroad and enjoy favorable working and living conditions, but he decided to return to China after learning the news of the victory of the Anti-Japanese War at home. He refused von Kármán's retention, and on the grounds of "being away from home for a long time and missing his relatives", he broke through the resistance and returned to China alone.
3. **Firm determination to return to China**: When Qian Weichang was about to return to China in 1946, he went to the U.S. Consulate to fill out an application form, and there was a column on the form that asked, "If China and the United States go to war, will you serve the United States?" Qian Weichang resolutely filled in "NO" to show that he was loyal to his motherland.
4. **Perseverance in the face of financial difficulties**: After returning to China, Qian Weichang encountered financial difficulties due to his low salary, but he never regretted his decision to return to China. He once recalled: "I am Chinese, I want to go back." Although my first month's salary was only enough to buy a hot water bottle after returning to China, I never regretted it, let alone lost confidence in the country. ”
5. **Ambition to save the country through science**: After returning to China, Qian Weichang actively participated in the country's scientific education and research work, and his professional plans included atomic energy, missile and aerospace, automation, computer and automatic control, etc., showing his ambition to save the country through science.
6. **Contribution to Education**: Qian Weichang's contribution to the field of education is also significant, during his tenure as president of Shanghai University of Technology (the predecessor of Shanghai University), he advocated the demolition of the wall between the school and society, and promoted the close integration of education and national construction.
Qian Weichang's story has inspired generations of Chinese, and his patriotism, scientific spirit and contribution to education have become valuable spiritual wealth in the process of China's modernization.
During his tenure as president of Shanghai University of Technology (the predecessor of Shanghai University), Qian Weichang proposed a series of educational concepts, the core of which was to tear down the four walls, including:
1. **The wall between school and society**: Qian Weichang advocated that school education should be closely integrated with social needs, and opposed the disconnection between school and society. He believes that schools should cultivate talents who can adapt to social development and serve national construction.
2. **Wall between departments, majors and departments in the university**: He advocates interdisciplinary education and research, and encourages exchanges and cooperation between different disciplines and majors to promote the synthesis and innovation of knowledge.
3. **The wall between teaching and scientific research**: Qian Weichang believes that teaching and scientific research are complementary to each other, teachers should constantly update their knowledge and improve the quality of teaching in scientific research practice, and at the same time, students should also participate in scientific research activities and improve their abilities through practice.
4. **The Wall Between Teaching and Learning**: He emphasizes the interaction and communication between teachers and students, advocates active learning for students, and encourages teachers to guide students to explore and solve problems, rather than one-way knowledge transfer.
Qian Weichang's educational ideas were very forward-looking at the time, and a series of educational reform measures he implemented at Shanghai University had a profound impact on the development of China's higher education later. By dismantling these "walls", Qian Weichang hopes to break the limitations of traditional education, establish an open, interactive and innovative educational environment, and better cultivate talents in line with the development needs of the times.