Zhou Peiyuan: One of the founders of modern mechanics and theoretical physics in China

Source: Xinhua News Agency

Zhou Peiyuan is a well-known fluid mechanics, theoretical physicist, educator and social activist. He is a member of the Communist Party of China. Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, one of the founders of modern mechanics and theoretical physics in China.

Born in August 1902 in Yixing, Jiangsu Province. He graduated from Tsinghua University (the predecessor of tsinghua university) in 1924, then went to the United States to study, and received a doctorate in science from the California Institute of Technology in 1928. In 1928, he went to the University of Leipzig in Germany, where he studied at the University of Leipzig. Under the direction of Professor K. Heisenberg, he conducted research on quantum mechanics. In 1929, he began his research under the guidance of Professor W. Pauli of the Higher Technical School in Zurich, Switzerland. After returning to China in 1929, he successively served as a professor at Tsinghua University, Southwest United University, and Peking University. During this period, he participated in a seminar on general relativity chaired by Albert Einstein from 1936 to 1937 at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, USA. After liberation, he served as provost and vice chairman of the Academic Council of Tsinghua University, provost, vice president and president of Peking University, vice president of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, chairman and honorary chairman of the Chinese Association for Science and Technology, vice chairman of the World Association for Science and Technology, president of the China Association for the Promotion of International Science and Technology, vice chairman and honorary chairman of the Chinese Mechanics Society, chairman and honorary chairman of the Chinese Physical Society, honorary president of the European and American Returned Scholars Association, vice president of the Chinese-people Diplomacy Society, president of the Chinese Association for Peace and Disarmament, chairman of the Jiusan Society, the first, second, third, He is a deputy to the Fourth People's Congress, a member of the Standing Committee of the Fifth National People's Congress, a member of the Standing Committee of the Third and Fourth CPPCC National Committees, and a vice chairman of the Fifth, Sixth and Seventh CPPCC National Committees. He received an honorary J.D. from Princeton University in 1980 and the California Institute of Technology's "Alumni with Outstanding Contributions" award twice in 1980 and 1985.

Zhou Peiyuan's academic achievements are mainly related to the two important aspects of the basic theory of physics, namely the gravitational theory in Einstein's general theory of relativity and the study of turbulence theory in fluid mechanics.

Zhou Peiyuan engaged in higher education work for more than 60 years, students all over the world, early students in Wang Zhuxi, Peng Huanwu, Lin Jiaqiao, Hu Ning, etc. have become famous scientists, he has accumulated rich experience in teaching and running schools in the teaching process, formed his own teaching and education style and school running ideas, school philosophy, the most prominent of which is his own knowledge, insights and governance, the way of life and other personality charm, known as "a generation of grandmasters of Tao Li ManYuan".

As an outstanding social activist, Zhou Peiyuan actively carried out international scientific and technological exchanges, fought for disarmament and world peace, worked tirelessly and tirelessly for the prosperity of China's scientific and technological education, won the admiration of the vast number of scientific and technological workers at home and abroad, and was praised by people as a model and model for scientists, "the old man of peace", and "an outstanding non-governmental diplomat".