Today, "Zou Chenglu Star" shines in the starry sky

Today, there is an asteroid named after Chinese scientists in the vast expanse of the universe, "Zou Chenglu Star".

On November 2, the naming ceremony of "Zou Chenglu Asteroid" was held in Beijing, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Zou Chenglu is an internationally renowned biochemist and one of the founders of modern Chinese biochemistry. He is an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Academy of Sciences for Developing Countries (Third World Academy of Sciences). It has made important contributions to the artificial synthesis of insulin in China, and elucidated the mechanism of correct folding of insulin molecules, created the "Zou formula" and "Zou's drawing method", established the theoretical system of irreversible inhibition kinetics of enzyme activity, and proposed the theory of flexibility of enzyme active sites.

Throughout his life, Zou Chenglu loved the party, the motherland, and the scientific cause; he was rigorous in his studies, indifferent to fame and fortune, knowledgeable, far-sighted, safeguarding the dignity of science, opposing unhealthy trends, and making outstanding contributions to China's scientific cause and education.

In order to commemorate Mr. Zou Chenglu's outstanding contribution, on January 9, 2020, approved by the International Asteroid Naming Committee and issued an international communiqué, the international number discovered by the Purple Mountain Observatory of the Chinese Academy of Sciences on January 3, 2008 was officially named "Zou Chenglu Star" as the asteroid 325812. Since then, an asteroid shining with the lofty demeanor and outstanding contributions of China's outstanding biochemists has entered the universe, shining in space, and will forever be recorded in history.

The naming of asteroids is international and historical, and is a lofty international honor. The name reflects the international community's high praise for Zou Chenglu's outstanding achievements and lofty demeanor. Most of the early discoveries of asteroids are named after gods and immortals in Greek mythology, and asteroids are named after people, aiming to highlight the contributions made by the named people in five fields such as science, education and culture, and to express the respect of society for them.

Xu Ruiming, director of the Institute of Biophysics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, introduced that Zou Chenglu was the director of the Department of Biology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the chairman of the Chinese Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, the deputy director and researcher of the Institute of Biophysics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and the director of the State Key Laboratory of Biological Macromolecules. Mr. Zou Chenglu not only made outstanding achievements in scientific research, but also cultivated a large number of talents for biochemical research in China, and he is famous in the academic circles for his strict requirements for students. Many of his students have become well-known scientists at home and abroad, including 4 academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

In 2020, the "Zou Chenglu Elite Class" jointly built by the Institute of Biophysics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Nankai University officially began to enroll, and the "Zou Chenglu Elite Class" aims to cultivate the basic knowledge and basic skills of Nankai University students, combine it with the famous teachers of the Institute of Biophysics, cutting-edge academic ideas and national scientific research platforms, further improve the scientific quality and innovation ability of undergraduates, and create an innovative model of combining science and education between universities and research institutes to jointly cultivate first-class talents.

Zhou Qi, vice president of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, attended the naming ceremony and delivered a speech. He pointed out that this year marks the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China and the 72nd anniversary of the founding of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Over the past 72 years, several generations of scientists of the Chinese Academy of Sciences have adhered to the concept of "scientific and technological innovation, serving the country and the people", and written a brilliant chapter of scientific and technological innovation in New China, and the "spirit of scientists" created by the older generation of scientists, including Mr. Zou Chenglu, has also been formally incorporated into the spiritual genealogy of Chinese communists. A generation has a generation of struggle, and an era has an era of responsibility. It is hoped that the vast number of scientific and technological workers will deeply study the touching deeds and excellent qualities of Mr. Zou Chenglu and other scientists of the older generation, consciously practice and vigorously carry forward the spirit of scientists in the new era, integrate scientific pursuits into the cause of strengthening the country, bravely stand at the head of the tide, forge ahead, and contribute wisdom and strength to accelerating the realization of high-level scientific and technological self-reliance and self-improvement.

At the naming ceremony, Zhu Lilan, chairman of the Trust Committee of Ho Leung Ho Lee Foundation, family members of Academician Zou Chenglu, student representatives, leaders of relevant colleges and universities, members of the leadership team of the Institute of Biophysics and representatives of scientists attended the naming ceremony and delivered speeches successively. Wang Zhizhen, vice chairman of the Eleventh National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, made a wonderful report on carrying forward the spirit of scientists. (Han Yangmei)

Site of the naming ceremony (courtesy of biophysical institute)

Source: China Science Daily