Weekly Achievements “Awards”丨“Confessions” of Scientific Climbers (Part 2)

Since the reform of the science and technology award system in 1999, a total of 35 scientists have won the country's highest science and technology award. From Wu Wenjun, Yuan Longping to Gu Songfen and Wang Dazhong, these scientists who have won the highest honor have created world-renowned scientific and technological achievements and contributed precious spiritual wealth to the world. A history of science is a history of the spirit of scientists. Let us listen to the "confessions" of these scientific climbers.

【Knowledge Points】

The National Highest Science and Technology Award was established in 2000. No more than two winners are awarded each year. It is the highest honor in China's science and technology community. The award is given to scientific and technological workers who have made major breakthroughs in the forefront of contemporary science and technology and created huge economic or social benefits in scientific and technological innovation, transformation of scientific and technological achievements, and industrialization of high-tech achievements.

"Five thousand years ago, there were only three disciplines in the world: language, totem, and craftsmanship; in 2000, the number had increased to 5,000; it is estimated that by the middle of this century, there should be 20,000 disciplines, of which 15,000 are waiting to be created. The Chinese must create at least one-fifth of them. You young people must take on the mission of creating these 3,000 new disciplines before 2050, and consider which fields can be innovated. I believe that innovation will be in the field of interdisciplinary fields. I have great confidence in our young people.

——Xu Guangxian (November 1920-April 2015), winner of the 2008 National Highest Science and Technology Award, a famous chemist and educator in my country.

"I know how harmful it is, but I'm willing to take the risk! If foreigners can do it, we must find a way to research it too."

—— Wang Zhongcheng (December 1925-September 2012), winner of the 2008 National Highest Science and Technology Award, was the first generation of neurosurgery experts trained in New China and one of the pioneers of neurosurgery in my country.

"When we were poor and blank, we had no experts to rely on and no technology to learn from. We could only rely on ourselves and innovate independently. Today, young people working in aerospace must have the concept of independent innovation and have the right to speak on core technologies."

—— Sun Jiadong (April 1929-), winner of the 2009 National Highest Science and Technology Award, is a famous aerospace technology expert in my country and one of the pioneers of my country's artificial satellite technology and deep space exploration technology.

“I hope that more talented and ambitious young people will devote themselves to mathematics, a career that is extremely useful for national construction!”

—— Gu Chaohao (May 1926-June 2012), winner of the 2009 National Highest Science and Technology Award and a famous mathematician in my country.

"I have a request for everyone, which is to plant the seeds of 'great doctor' in your heart and put the needs of patients first. As for myself, I just hope to do something more in the rest of my life. 50 years have passed, and we have only conquered one type of leukemia. There are more than 20 types of leukemia that we need to conquer. We still have a lot of work to do!"

—— Wang Zhenyi (1924.11-), winner of the 2010 National Highest Science and Technology Award, and a famous hematology expert in my country.

“As a person, you should make contributions to humanity; as a Chinese, you should make contributions to the Chinese people.”

—— Shi Changxu (November 1920-November 2014), winner of the 2010 National Highest Science and Technology Award and a famous materials scientist in my country.

“Everything in the city is for the people. Our environment exists because of people, and all changes in the environment are for the people.”

—— Wu Liangyong (May 1922-), winner of the 2011 National Highest Science and Technology Award, is a famous Chinese architect, urban and rural planner and educator, and the founder of human settlement environment science.

"You should aspire to be an upright person, a decent person, and a person with good qualities, and then make great contributions in the field of science and technology and promote the development of our society. In this way, you will be happy, others will be happy because of your existence, and society will be better because of your knowledge."

—— Xie Jialin (August 1920-February 2016), winner of the 2011 National Highest Science and Technology Award, internationally renowned physicist, pioneer and founder of my country's particle accelerator industry.

"Looking back on my life now, I realize that the purpose of life is nothing more than understanding some truths. For example, only after experiencing real hardship can one understand what sweetness is; for example, when encountering setbacks, one must persist and persist; for example, being able to do what one likes for a lifetime and connect this with contributing to the Party and the country is a great happiness."

—— Wang Xiaomo (1938.11-), winner of the 2012 National Highest Science and Technology Award, is a famous radar expert in my country and a pioneer and founder of the modern early warning aircraft industry.

"My idea is very simple. I just want to do something practical for the country."

—— Zheng Zhemin (October 1924-August 2021), winner of the 2012 National Highest Science and Technology Award, internationally renowned mechanic, one of the founders and pioneers of explosion mechanics in my country, and one of the organizers and leaders in the construction and development of China's mechanics discipline.

“Scientific research requires meticulousness. Your work must stand the test of time and you can look back on it with no embarrassment after many years.”

—— Zhang Cunhao (February 1928-), winner of the 2013 National Highest Science and Technology Award, a famous physical chemist in my country, the founder of my country's high-energy chemical laser and one of the founders of molecular reaction dynamics.

"I think our tradition of hard work is not just about enduring hardships, fighting against wind and sand, and enduring hardships in life and work, but more importantly, it is the spirit of hard work, studying hard, tackling difficulties tenaciously, and climbing to the top, the proposal and implementation of new viewpoints and new ideas, and the enterprising spirit of continuous exploration and innovation."

——Cheng Kaijia (August 1918-November 2018), winner of the 2013 National Highest Science and Technology Award, is a famous Chinese physicist and the founder and leader of my country's nuclear test science and technology.

China Association for Science and Technology Department of Science Popularization

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