Where is the "food" for super-hard "nuclear" technology? Travel all over the mountains and rivers to add "uranium" to China!

▲Cover figure of "Scientific Chinese": Sun Zhanxue

At 3 p.m. on October 16, 1964, a huge "mushroom cloud" rose into the sky in the Lop Nur area of ​​Xinjiang - China's first atomic bomb exploded successfully - it solemnly declared to the world: The Chinese people, relying on their own strength, have mastered the atomic bomb technology, broken the nuclear monopoly of the superpowers, and become the world's fifth country to possess nuclear weapons after the United States, the Soviet Union, Britain and France.

In order to manufacture atomic bombs, develop the nuclear industry, and improve my country's international status, since the founding of the People's Republic of China, batches of scientists have come forward one after another, regardless of fame and fortune, and have devoted their life's efforts to this great cause. The core material necessary for making atomic bombs is "uranium", which is known as the "food" of the nuclear industry. However, the content of uranium on the surface is extremely low, and it is often associated with other minerals. It is extremely difficult to find uranium mines with industrial grade and mining value. In addition, Western countries have long adopted a technical blockade against my country's uranium exploration and mining and smelting fields. Therefore, in the 1950s and 1960s, China was regarded as a uranium-poor country in the international community. For a long time, it was controlled by others and even "stuck by the neck".

In order to change the dilemma of "a good cook cannot cook without rice", the country has made great efforts to develop the nuclear industry and cultivate professionals in uranium exploration and mining. In 1956, East China Institute of Technology (then known as "Taigu Geological School") was officially established as the first higher education institution in China's nuclear industry. In the following 60 years, although the school moved three times and changed its name seven times, its original aspirations remained unchanged, and eventually formed the current school model of three campuses in Nanchang and Fuzhou.

Born in the 1960s, Sun Zhanxue has a deep sense of mission and responsibility of "hard work and dedication to the country" that was unique to that era. At the age of 16, he was admitted to East China University of Technology (then known as "Fuzhou Institute of Geology"). From a freshman to the first batch of master's students in the school, from a young teacher who stayed in school to the position of vice president and president, he took root in this fertile soil for Chinese nuclear and geological talents, and firmly became a pioneer and fighter who forged ahead on this road of "traveling all over the mountains and rivers and adding uranium to China".

With more than 40 years of scientific and educational experience, more than 40 important national and provincial scientific research projects, and more than 10,000 days and nights of hard work, Sun Zhanxue has devoted himself to the development of China's nuclear geoscience research and teaching on the platform of East China University of Technology. He has achieved a number of innovative results in deep uranium prospecting and complex and difficult uranium resource development, and has trained a batch of nuclear geoscience researchers who are competent, innovative, and have a sense of responsibility for the country. They have worked together to meet the major needs of ensuring the safe and reliable supply of uranium raw materials, written articles in every corner of the mining area, and applied scientific and technological achievements in the construction of "strengthening the nuclear industry to serve the country", painting a magnificent picture of the development of China's nuclear industry.

Rooted in the core

——Each generation has its own “Long March” and each generation has its own responsibilities.

In 1978, the spring breeze of science blew across China, and Sun Zhanxue grew up to be a 16-year-old ambitious young man. Unlike other children who grew up in rural areas at that time, he was extremely eager to change his destiny with knowledge while struggling with poverty, hunger, and a backward living environment. His father, a township cadre, also encouraged Sun Zhanxue to work hard and make progress - "Think about it, if something as difficult as making an atomic bomb has been achieved, what else can we not do as long as we work hard!"

▲Sun Zhanxue is conducting a geological survey in the field

In order to go to school, with the support of his parents, Sun Zhanxue went through untold hardships and learned knowledge from dawn to dusk. When he was in middle school, he had to walk more than 20 miles of mountain roads to go back and forth between home and school, but he never felt tired. Hard work pays off. In the second year after the resumption of the college entrance examination, Sun Zhanxue was admitted to the radioactive hydrogeology major of East China University of Technology.

The reason why he chose geology was because he thought that "people in the city would not apply for such a tough major, and his greatest strength was that he was not afraid of hardship"; the reason why he chose radioactivity, a major that seemed dangerous to outsiders, was because among the few great scientists he knew, "Marie Curie studied radioactive substances." Many years later, Sun Zhanxue simply expressed his thoughts when he chose his major.

As a rural child, it was not easy to walk from the mountains of his hometown to the outside world. Although his hometown Xiushui is less than 300 kilometers away from Fuzhou, and it only takes 3 hours to drive there now, under the traffic conditions at that time, Sun Zhanxue had to go from his home to the county seat, then from the county seat to Nanchang, and then from Nanchang to Fuzhou. After several transfers, it took a full 3 days to arrive.

Opportunities are hard to come by, so we should cherish them even more. From the moment he entered the gate of Donghua University of Technology, young Sun Zhanxue secretly determined to make a name for himself and contribute to the country's nuclear industry! In the eyes of others, studying is a chore, but he treats studying and scientific research as a pleasure, and tirelessly explores new technologies and methods for uranium prospecting and mining, often forgetting to eat and sleep for this, and never gets tired of it: "I have never felt that the conditions are difficult, nor have I felt tired. For the goals I set, I naturally have to go all out every minute and every second!"

After graduating from undergraduate studies, Sun Zhanxue became one of the only two students in that class who stayed on to teach at the school with his outstanding performance. After working for three years, he successfully passed the first master's degree examination at East China University of Technology (then known as "East China Institute of Geology") and officially became a student of Professor Li Xueli, a famous radioactive hydrogeologist. In 1961, as a scholar who returned from studying in the Soviet Union, the 25-year-old Li Xueli gave up the opportunity to stay in a big city and took the initiative to request to be assigned to Fuzhou Geological College, the predecessor of East China University of Technology, which had just been established and was located in a remote corner of Fuzhou. He brought back the advanced concepts and scientific research methods learned in the Soviet Union to China, aiming to contribute to the scientific research revitalization and talent training in the field of nuclear geology in China.

"When we were studying, there were no ready-made textbooks at the undergraduate level. Teacher Li wrote them himself and mimeographed them for us." From Teacher Li Xueli, Sun Zhanxue was influenced by the patriotism of a responsible and visionary scientist. "He is very rigorous in his work. Whether it is indoor theoretical research or field geological surveys, he is always meticulous and strives for perfection. He has a unique vision and is good at discovering important problems from details. He can quickly figure out solutions to the problems. He has greatly inspired me and has had a profound impact on my later scientific research career."

At that time, under the guidance of Li Xueli, Shi Weijun and other older scientists, Sun Zhanxue devoted himself to the study of uranium mineralization theory in ancient hydrothermal systems. He took Xiangshan, Jiangxi as the research object and studied the formation mechanism, mineralization potential and the next prospecting direction of Xiangshan uranium mine from the perspectives of water source, heat source and mineral source. In his eyes, uranium mines are puzzles set by nature that require ingenious ideas to solve. As a nuclear geosciences worker, he must use the tenacity of water dripping through stones and the pioneering spirit of innovation to break through the "blockades" and crack the "underground codes" one after another.

Sun Zhanxue often has to go to the field to investigate and collect information. He endures wind and rain, eats dry food, drinks stream water, and sometimes has to climb to the top of a peak thousands of meters above sea level, and sometimes has to go down to a mine tens or even hundreds of meters deep to collect samples. Liu Jinhui, the colleague who has worked with Sun Zhanxue the longest in the team, often went out to the field with him in the past, and still remembers it vividly. The mine was pitch black, and he had to use a flashlight in one hand and hold the wall of the mine with the other hand to move slowly. "You have to go uphill and downhill in the mine, and even crawl through it. The soil in some places is loose, and if you are not careful, you may be buried in it if you step on it. Even though it is so dangerous, Teacher Sun, this 'workaholic', always walks in the front."

Young people are not afraid of hardships and do not avoid dangerous paths. They grow rapidly in the tempering. Relying on the research on the relationship between Xiangshan ancient hydrothermal system and uranium mineralization, Sun Zhanxue completed his doctoral dissertation at the Institute of Geology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (later merged with the Institute of Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences to become the Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences) in 1995. His research results were highly praised by his doctoral supervisor, Academician Wang Jiyang, and many senior scholars in the field of geosciences.

Research institutes in Beijing, Guangzhou and other places have extended olive branches to this young and promising doctor, giving Sun Zhanxue more choices in life. "It would be a lie to say that I am not tempted, especially if I stay in Beijing, the platform for personal development will be higher and wider, and the problem of my family members coming to Beijing can be solved. It may be an opportunity for a turning point in my whole life." Sun Zhanxue frankly described his state of mind at the time. But his mentor Li Xueli asked him to stay. The teacher who was not good at speaking did not say much, but sincerely expressed three meanings: his alma mater needs him, his hometown needs him, and the scientific research and education development of China's nuclear industry needs him.

Carefully pondering Li Xueli's instructions, Sun Zhanxue's impetuous heart gradually calmed down. "Comparing myself with Teacher Li, he is from Jinan, Shandong, and his wife is a graduate student at East China Normal University in Shanghai. They are considered to be the earliest group of people studying computers in China. If they develop in big cities, it will definitely be more promising for individuals and small families, but he chose to stay in Jiangxi for his whole life for the more urgent needs of the country. I am a native of Jiangxi, and I learned skills and completed my studies at East China University of Technology. Just like Teacher Li said, if everyone goes to big cities, how can grassroots units develop, and who will complete the basic work that the country needs most?" Li Xueli's words moistened Sun Zhanxue's heart. He firmly believed that as long as he closely combined his work with the needs of the country and took root in a down-to-earth manner, he would be able to achieve great things wherever he went. For this reason, Sun Zhanxue returned to his hometown and his alma mater without hesitation, working day and night for the scientific research and teaching of China's nuclear geosciences, and this persistence lasted for 40 years.

Battles in the South and North

——The needs of the country are the clarion call. The more difficult the mountain is to conquer, the more we must demonstrate our responsibility and action.

In 1997, Li Xueli was the dean of East China Institute of Geology (the predecessor of East China University of Technology). Despite numerous administrative affairs, he did not forget the mission of finding and mining uranium for the country at the beginning of the school. He used the little scientific research funds saved to start from scratch and create a uranium resource exploration and development teaching team in order to better serve the country's strategic needs for nuclear energy development. Four years later, Sun Zhanxue, a proud student, took over the baton of adding "uranium" to the country from Li Xueli and became the leader of this team.

▲Group photo of the uranium resource exploration and development teacher team

Under the leadership of Sun Zhanxue, the team has always aimed at the country's major strategic needs, focused on uranium exploration and green mining, pursued a "top-notch" scientific research style, and firmly believed in "doing something to make it look good", and continued to grow and develop. As the general person in charge, he led everyone to successfully apply for the National Defense Science and Technology Innovation Team of the State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense, and successively applied for a number of national "973 Program", "863 Program" and nuclear energy development projects and topics, and worked hard to solve important theoretical and practical problems in the development of the nuclear industry. The team's outstanding performance also laid a solid foundation for the subsequent application and construction of the National Key Laboratory and Doctoral Authorization Unit of East China University of Technology.

In 2002, the development of a uranium mine in Xinjiang encountered difficulties due to the high salinity of the groundwater in the mineral-bearing aquifer, and serious chemical blockage occurred during the in-situ leaching process. Unlike traditional mining, in-situ leaching of uranium mines does not require mining of ore, but injects reagent solution into the ore layer through injection drilling. During the seepage process of the solution, uranium is dissolved from the ore, and then the uranium-containing solution is lifted to the surface through the extraction drilling... However, in this process, the ore layer and process pipelines are prone to serious chemical blockage, resulting in process interruption. If there is no solution, the underground resources will become "idle mines."

At that time, the above-mentioned uranium mine had almost become a "dead mine". Seeing that the precious uranium resources buried under their feet were difficult to extract, managers and professional technicians were all anxious. Over the past few years, many groups of domestic and foreign mining and metallurgical technology personnel, even top international experts, have entered this Gobi Desert, but they have never found a thorough and effective solution to this world-class problem.

"He who does not seek easy things will succeed, and he who does not avoid difficulties will make progress." The more difficult the problem is, the more it can inspire Sun Zhanxue's fighting spirit and ambition. When experts at home and abroad were not optimistic about the outcome, he led his team to challenge the Gobi Desert, and he would never let the treasure lie dormant underground.

Gao Bo is Sun Zhanxue's oldest student, with only a 2-year age difference between them. Gao Bo, who loves martial arts novels, recalled the first time he went to Xinjiang with his teacher, and described it proudly as "Seven Swordsmen Going to Tianshan Mountain". "Teacher Sun and I, along with a group of seven people, were the first members of the team to conduct a field survey of uranium mines in the Gobi Desert." Gao Bo's memories still carry the excitement of his first arrival in the frontier. "The Gobi Desert was very shocking. There was no grass growing for dozens of kilometers. It was like being on an alien planet. It was an eye-opener for those of us living in the south!"

However, less than a day later, the cruel reality shattered this excitement without a trace. A mining area in the southwest of the Turpan-Hami Basin in Xinjiang is located in a barren land known as China's No. 1 furnace, No. 1 wind reservoir, and No. 1 sand and dust. There is no electricity in the mining area, so it needs to generate electricity by itself; there is no food and daily necessities, so it has to go to a town more than 30 kilometers away to buy them. The most difficult thing is that there is no surface water on the Gobi Desert, and the groundwater is salty and cannot be drunk. Every day, a water truck has to go to a water station more than 20 kilometers away to draw water. This truck of water is used for a series of things such as drinking, washing, and experiments for this group of people every day. It is the most precious resource. As for accommodation, there are no houses on the Gobi Desert. A group of people squeezed into an old iron sleeping car of only a few square meters. The sleeping car was ventilated everywhere and could only be sealed with paper shells and tape. Once the wind and sand hit, the car was filled with sand and dust. Even if you wear a mask when you sleep, you will wake up with a mouth full of dust.

High temperatures are another challenge for the team. "In the summer in the Gobi Desert, 43 to 45 degrees Celsius is normal, and the surface temperature of the ore deposit can reach nearly 90 degrees Celsius, which is like walking in an oven," Gao Bo recalled. "If the temperature is only 38 or 39 degrees Celsius one day, we will be very happy and feel that it is so cool today."

After a hard field investigation, the team brought the samples collected at the mine site back to Jiangxi, and Sun Zhanxue led the team members to conduct a series of experiments in the laboratory. The study found that one of the important reasons for the chemical blockage of the mine was the excessive calcium ions in the water. How to reduce the mineralization of the water under natural conditions became a major issue on Sun Zhanxue's desk. During that period, the team's laboratory was brightly lit every night, and everyone often discussed problems until two or three in the morning, constantly exploring and optimizing the mining process.

"A technology needs to go through many links before it can be truly applied in production. Just because it is successful in the laboratory does not mean it will be successful," Sun Zhanxue emphasized, "because you have to go from the laboratory to the field to implement it, and there are still many links that need to be opened up."

In order to achieve the goal of going from "paper" to "ground", Sun Zhanxue led his team to travel back and forth to Xinjiang many times to solve the global problem of in-situ leaching of sandstone uranium mines in areas with high mineralization, living in iron houses and "earth caves" in the Gobi desert, overcoming the difficulties of high temperatures, ice forming when water is poured, raging sandstorms, lack of water and electricity, and working with front-line scientific and technological personnel of China National Nuclear Tianshan Uranium Industry to carry out experiments day and night. After three years of hard work, they pioneered the desalination and low-reagent in-situ leaching uranium process, successfully providing an important solution for in-situ leaching of sandstone uranium mines in areas with high mineralization. In the following dozen years, in order to solve more complex uranium mining and smelting problems, Sun Zhanxue led his team to move from north to south of the Tianshan Mountains, living in each mine, and successively carried out nuclear energy development research from the Gobi of the Tuha Basin adjacent to the "Sea of ​​Death" Lop Nur to the foot of the Wusun Mountains in the hinterland of Yili, making important contributions to the green and efficient development of my country's uranium resources.

While the team was working hard in the north to tackle the green and efficient mining and smelting of sandstone uranium mines, Sun Zhanxue was also faced with the mining and smelting problems of high-fluorine and high-titanium hard rock uranium mines in southern China. "Hard rock uranium mines are an important type of uranium resource in my country, mainly distributed in provinces such as Jiangxi and Guangdong," said Sun Zhanxue. "But the uranium resources in the south are poor, and most of them are complex and difficult to process uranium mines with high fluorine and low sulfur, high titanium, and extremely low grade. Conventional chemical treatment has high costs, low efficiency, and high environmental pollution risks. Its green and efficient extraction is also a global problem that needs to be overcome urgently."

As an important national strategic resource, uranium is regarded as a "priceless treasure". It is not only used in nuclear weapons, but also widely used in many industries such as nuclear power, medicine and agriculture. Sun Zhanxue knows that if our mining and smelting technology is not advanced enough, uranium products will not be competitive. The worse the independent supply capacity and the higher the external dependence, the greater the risk of being "choked". This is a major issue related to my country's national defense and energy security. As a nuclear geological and mining science and technology worker, facing the major needs of the country, he must do something.

As early as the early 1990s, under the guidance of Li Xueli, Shi Weijun and other senior experts, Sun Zhanxue had already begun to lead the team to conduct theoretical research and indoor experiments, exploring the use of biotechnology instead of chemical methods to solve this bottleneck. "We found that microbial technology is a very good technical approach to solving the problem of complex and difficult to handle low-grade uranium resource development." Because there is little information available for reference on biological leaching of uranium ore, various thorny difficulties were encountered during the research process, such as breeding uranium smelting microorganisms, that is, cultivating various special bacteria that have strong oxidizing properties for iron and uranium, which is by no means easy. The concentration of various ions in the uranium ore leachate is very high, and uranium is a highly radioactive element. In this extremely harsh environment, microorganisms must not only be able to survive, but also be in a highly active state. Sun Zhanxue said: "This is a difficulty that must be overcome in microbial leaching of uranium. Many people fail because of this problem."

"What kind of microorganisms can react efficiently with uranium ore? What factors affect them? What is their mechanism of action? These are basic questions. Only by clarifying these mechanisms can we develop truly advanced technologies." In order to overcome the difficulties of microbial heap leaching technology, Sun Zhanxue's team integrated multidisciplinary talents, including those who study chemistry, geology, hydrology, environment, and microbiology experts. The multidisciplinary cross-cutting and collaborative research laid a solid foundation for success.

After more than ten years of continuous efforts, Sun Zhanxue's team finally pioneered a new method for breeding fluorine-resistant and radiation-resistant high-efficiency leaching bacteria, breaking through the key technical bottleneck of breeding highly resistant uranium leaching bacteria, and established the world's most complete library of microbial strains suitable for uranium leaching environments, which can be combined and used according to the different characteristics of different mines; the team created the uranium ore bio-enhanced leaching theory of "strong correlation between organisms, minerals and leaching solutions"; and developed a new technology for efficient and green bio-heap leaching of complex and difficult-to-treat uranium ores, overcoming this major global technical problem.

"Compared with traditional chemical heap leaching, we have reached the world's leading or advanced level in key technical, economic and environmental indicators such as uranium leaching rate, leaching time, acid consumption, production cost and waste liquid discharge." The series of results achieved by Sun Zhanxue and his team on "Key Technologies and Applications of Green and Efficient Biological Heap Leaching of Complex and Refractory Uranium Minerals" have produced huge economic, social and environmental benefits, greatly improved the mining and smelting level of this type of uranium mines, significantly expanded the economically recoverable uranium resource reserves, and strongly promoted my country's scientific and technological progress in this field. It has deservedly won important awards such as the First Prize of Jiangxi Science and Technology Progress Award, the First Prize of China Nonferrous Metals Industry Science and Technology Award, and the Second Prize of National Defense Science and Technology Invention Award.

In Sun Zhanxue's view, scientific research results must be implemented and eventually transformed into productivity, which is the important significance of scientific research work. "Scientific research is not just talk on paper, but to solve real scientific problems and break through real technical bottlenecks through joint efforts of industry, academia and research to meet the major needs of the country." Over the years, Sun Zhanxue has been working hard at home and abroad for the research and development and market promotion and application of microbial uranium leaching technology. In his view, this is a technical field that can lead the world, and he wants to deeply engrave the mark of "Made in China" on it. The research results of the team have not only been applied in many large enterprises at home and abroad, generating significant economic benefits, and the potential economic value is as high as hundreds of billions of yuan, but also trained a large number of professional and technical talents at home and abroad, and promoted the social and economic development of Jiangxi, Guangdong, Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia and other regions, promoted the construction of the "Belt and Road Initiative", and provided a "Chinese solution" for the economic and environmental development of uranium mines, making my country an international leader in this field.

Passing on the Torch

——The nuclear military industry culture of "hard work, strengthening nuclear power to serve the country, innovation and dedication" has always been flowing in the blood of teachers and students of Donghua University of Science and Technology.

Every success in increasing production and efficiency of a complex and difficult-to-process uranium mine means that many world-class problems have been overcome. After making a breakthrough, Sun Zhanxue never stopped moving forward. He always led the team to summarize experience, deepen research, and move towards the next goal.

▲Sun Zhanxue (fourth from right) at the biological leaching uranium demonstration base of East China University of Technology

The development history of a successful team must be the struggle history of a group of like-minded people. From the earliest 6-person research group to the subsequent development and growth from generation to generation, this multidisciplinary team of uranium geology, uranium mining and metallurgy, geophysics, geochemistry, etc., and a combination of old, middle-aged and young people, finally came together into a strong collective with close cooperation. In 2022, they stood out from the second batch of Huang Danian-style teacher teams in national colleges and universities selected by the Ministry of Education.

"The foundation for a team to survive and develop is common ideals and beliefs!" In Sun Zhanxue's eyes, this is a creative process from nothing to something, from small to big, from weak to strong, and from gathering sand into a tower. It is also a process of unity and struggle for the entire team to promote each other, change and develop themselves.

The reason why a first-class discipline becomes first-class is that it often requires the inheritance and accumulation of several generations. "In the past 20 years of hard work, it is precisely because of the continuous struggle of these predecessors and everyone that the uranium resource exploration and development teaching team has become what it is today. And this inheritance is not only the accumulation of knowledge, but also a sentiment of serving the country through scientific research and a belief in national defense!" Every member of the team is determined to pass on this heavy responsibility and mission through their own words and deeds.

"The team atmosphere is very good. We don't compete for fame or money, but only want to solve problems." Sun Zhanxue is very pleased that he has a team that is "united and dedicated". The more difficult the situation is, the less we should consider personal gains and losses, and the more we should be willing to put aside some personal things in order to devote ourselves wholeheartedly. This has become a consensus engraved deep in the hearts of this team.

Because of this spirit, when the nuclear industry development fell into a trough in the 1990s and a wave of professional mergers, project cancellations and laboratory disbanding occurred across the country, Li Xueli still chose not to give up. Even in the most difficult year, when the uranium geology major only recruited 8 undergraduates, he still stayed at his post as if preserving a fire.

Because of this spirit, even though they were already leaders of the colleges and universities, in order to save project funds, Sun Zhanxue, Liu Jinhui and others still insisted on sitting on the hard seat train for several days and nights to Urumqi when they went on business trips to Xinjiang, and then changing to cars to go to the mining area.

Because of this spirit, Gao Bo and Zhou Yipeng were able to leave their parents, wives and children without hesitation and rush to the desert Gobi and deep mountains and forests to carry out uranium mine prospecting work, writing heroic poems of "strengthening the nuclear power to serve the country, innovating and dedicating".

Because of this spirit, after Professor Shi Weijun was diagnosed with a suspected lung tumor at the age of 84, he still stayed in the laboratory despite the opposition of his family and colleagues, guiding students, designing plans, analyzing data, and compiling reports. Until his deathbed, he was still talking about scientific research data.

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"As a scientific and technological worker, you must first be a firm patriot, then a pioneer and a fighter." In the past nearly 30 years of scientific research and teaching experience, the team has encountered countless difficulties and experienced the ups and downs of "extremely difficult times, but the responsibility and mission of adding "uranium" to the country made them persevere through all difficulties. The team has grown and developed through repeated tests and tempering, becoming a strong force in the development of my country's nuclear industry. At the same time, it has also cultivated batches of young talents in the field of nuclear geology in my country.

Sun Zhanxue always advocates to focus on scientific research with his left hand and teaching with his right hand. He understands the power of the team and the importance of building a talent echelon. Therefore, he has always paid attention to the training of younger talents and is willing to be a stepping stone and leader for the younger generation. "Today's young people are smart, lively, and knowledgeable, but at the same time they are not calm enough, do not endure hardships enough, and cannot withstand setbacks." Sun Zhanxue treats them as his own children, uses his own experience to guide them to take fewer detours, and encourages them to have the courage to break the rules, think independently, and dare to practice their personal ideas. Even in the past few years as the principal, he still insisted on teaching at the front line of teaching, bringing more young people into the vast mountains and rivers of deep uranium mines.

"Principal Sun is very busy at work, but sometimes when we encounter problems that cannot be solved, we go to him for advice and he will put everything aside and set aside an afternoon or evening to answer our questions until we figure out the problem." Ma Wenjie is a post-85s member of the team. As a young teacher, in her eyes, Sun Zhanxue, as a mentor, is strict and rigorous, but gentle, never loses his temper, and has the overall situation in mind. "Principal Sun also pays special attention to creating opportunities for international cooperation and exchanges for young people. Generally, he gives priority to sending us young people to study abroad or attend meetings, so that we can broaden our horizons and increase our knowledge."

Under the influence of Sun Zhanxue, all the professors in the team teach undergraduate and graduate students, and actively serve as counselors, class teachers and other management positions close to students. They are deeply rooted in the front line of student education management, and tirelessly cultivate high-quality uranium mining and metallurgy research talents for the country.

Not long ago, 61-year-old Sun Zhanxue officially resigned as president of East China University of Technology. He said that he finally had more time to focus on teaching and scientific research. "Uranium mines are a melting pot, and also a big stage for strivers to realize their life values." He said: "Scientific research is inherited. Only through the unremitting efforts of one generation after another can the level of scientific research be continuously raised to a new height."

Forty years, the country and the land have been three thousand miles long. Sun Zhanxue and his team have condensed the original intention of nuclear geologists to "serve the country with uranium mines". They have drawn a long picture of struggle on the land of the motherland and sang a song of striving for strength in the era. In the development of China's nuclear industry, there are always many people, like Sun Zhanxue and his team members, who have neglected the service of their parents, neglected the care of their lovers and families, and missed the company of their children's studies and life for the sake of the country's strength. They have invested everything they have in the struggle to add "uranium" to the country, and worked hard for every subtle technological progress and capacity increase in the nuclear industry, and made 200% efforts. There is no smooth road on the road of scientific research, but as they said: No one is born to endure hardships, but under the precepts and deeds of the older generation for many years, they are willing to choose to endure hardships, willing to take the initiative to take this responsibility, and hope to pass on this feeling of home and country from generation to generation without stopping.

Expert Profile

Sun Zhanxue is a second-level professor and doctoral supervisor at East China University of Technology. He is a national outstanding teacher, director of the National Experimental Teaching Demonstration Center for Radioactive Geology, and leader of the National Defense Science and Technology Innovation Team of "Uranium Resource Exploration and Uranium Mineral Product Extraction Technology" of the State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense. He has served as vice president and president of East China University of Technology, director of the National Key Laboratory of Nuclear Resources and Environment jointly built by the province and the ministry, and other positions. He has long been committed to the research in the fields of uranium hydrogeochemistry, geothermal science, and uranium leaching mining, and has been engaged in undergraduate and graduate teaching for a long time. He has won 1 second prize in the National Science and Technology Progress Award, 1 special prize and 2 first prizes in the provincial and ministerial science and technology progress awards, 5 second and third prizes in the Natural Science Award, and 1 special prize and 3 first prizes in provincial teaching achievements. In 2022, he led the "Uranium Resource Exploration and Development Teacher Team" to be selected into the second batch of "National Huang Danian-style Teacher Teams in Colleges and Universities".