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She was born into a prominent family, but lived a life of poverty; she gave up her glory and resolutely returned to China to participate in the construction of the motherland; as a woman, she broke the shackles of society on women time and time again, striving to be the "first" in the field of scientific research; she was the first female academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the first generation of nuclear physicists in China, and was also known as China's "Marie Curie". She is He Zehui.

Source | Senior Scientists Academic Growth Data Collection Project

He Zehui had the ideal of saving the country through science since middle school. When the Japanese invaders landed in Shanghai in 1931, He Zehui wrote in the school magazine: "Quietly finding ways to save the country and compatriots is the attitude that Chinese people should have now."

In 1932, He Zehui was admitted to the Department of Physics at Tsinghua University. When she was advised that girls were not suitable for studying physics, she said: "The ancients said that women are as good as men. Our country is always bullied because of its backward technology. No matter how difficult physics is, I will study it."

In 1936, the eighth grade graduation photo of the Department of Physics of Tsinghua University (He Zehui, fourth from the left in the front row) Source | Academic Growth Data Collection Project for Senior Scientists

In 1936, He Zehui went to the Department of Technical Physics at the Technical University of Berlin to pursue a doctorate in ballistics, becoming the school's first foreign student and the first girl in the major.

When asked why she studied ballistics, He Zehui wrote to her sister He Yizhen in 1937: "I am studying ballistics. Perhaps the Ordnance Department will ask me to return to serve. Isn't it true that Chinese soldiers can't fire their artillery or rifles accurately? In fact, as long as I calculate, I will hit the target every time! If they hadn't asked me earlier, the Japanese soldiers would have returned the three islands long ago."

Sources of Scientists' Manuscripts | Old Scientists' Academic Growth Data Collection Project

In 1946, introduced by Qian Sanqiang, He Zehui entered the Nuclear Chemistry Laboratory of the French Academy led by the Joliot-Curies to engage in nuclear physics work. The couple devoted themselves to the laboratory, using nuclear latex as a detector, and carried out a large number of fission experiments.

After several months of hard work, He Zehui's meticulousness and patience paid off. She not only found a special case of tri-fission, but also discovered the first case of quad-fission. This discovery caused a great response in the international scientific community, and newspapers in Western countries called He Zehui and Qian Sanqiang "the Curies of China."

Qian Sanqiang and He Zehui used the cloud chamber equipment to conduct tri-fission and quad-fission experiments at the French Academy Source | Academic Growth Data Collection Project for Senior Scientists

The first uranium nucleus fission track source discovered by He Zehui | Data collection project for the academic growth of senior scientists

Even though she had made great scientific achievements and honors abroad, she always cared about the construction of her motherland. In 1948, He Zehui and her husband returned to their motherland after many years of absence. Since then, He Zehui has made important contributions in leading the construction of neutron physics laboratories, high-mountain cosmic ray observatories, and conducting research in high-altitude balloons, high-energy astrophysics and other fields.

Facing the very simple equipment in the early days of the founding of the People's Republic of China, He Zehui said: "We knew the situation in China long ago. We came back not to enjoy but to endure hardships. We hope to lead the young people of our country to do something and create some jobs in the environment of our own country."

He Zehui was simple and unpretentious, worked rigorously, and kept in mind the mission of serving the country through science and technology throughout her life. Under her leadership and influence, a group of backbone forces in nuclear science and space science were trained. She often encouraged researchers to carry forward the spirit of self-reliance and hard work, to have "sharp eyes and a down-to-earth, meticulous work attitude, to be based on routine and focus on novelty."

In 1984, He Zehui wrote an inscription for middle school students in mathematics, physics and chemistry: "What I hope for you is to lay a solid foundation in mathematics, physics and chemistry, learn Marxism-Leninism and Mao Zedong Thought, exercise, cultivate interests in literature, music and art, and become young people with lively thoughts, enthusiasm and innovative spirit. For female students, I would like to say a few words: Don't be afraid of the habitual forces in society. As long as you persist in struggle and make continuous efforts, you will definitely contribute to the prosperity and scientific development of the motherland."

In December 1984, He Zehui wrote an inscription for middle school students on mathematics, physics and chemistry. Source: Old Scientists Academic Growth Data Collection Project

He Zehui

(1914-2011)

Nuclear physicist

Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences

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