He used science to guide the development of Daqing Oilfield and was the person who understood China's underground conditions best.

I feel that the current policy of the Party and the country on intellectuals is a great call to intellectuals across the country. In the face of this great call, I should also actively respond and do my best to use the meager strength of the rest of my life to strive for the vigorous development of the four modernizations under the direct leadership of the Communist Party of China.

——Excerpt from Gu Zhiwei’s “Application for Party Membership” in June 1984

Gu Zhiwei's Party Membership Application Form Hand-filled Page

September 26, 1959

A few days before the 10th anniversary of the founding of New China

On the vast Songnen Plain

A stream of brown oil gushed out

That Moment

The history of China's petroleum industry has been rewritten

Academician Gu Zhiwei. Image source: Chinese Academy of Sciences official website

Behind the Discovery of Daqing Oilfield

Can't leave this person

It's him

Submitted a critical report

Explanation of the relationship between Cretaceous age division and oil generation in Songliao Basin

For the exploration and development of Daqing Oilfield

Provides important scientific basis

He is

Stratigraphic paleontologist

One of the main discoverers of Daqing Oilfield

Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences

Gu Zhiwei

Gu Zhiwei in his youth (first from left)

Gu Zhiwei has a clear patriotic heart

73 years

He works in the research areas and regions of the country where they are most needed.

Because he firmly believed

Scientific research must serve economic development and people's well-being

Field scientific investigation in 1958 (Gu Zhiwei on the right)

After graduating from the Geology Department of Southwest Associated University

New China has a lot of industries to develop

He quietly put down his already accomplished

Triassic Stratigraphic Paleontology

Turning to geological and mineral survey and exploration

Heading to Yiluo Coalfield, Huabei Coalfield and Shiguaizi Coalfield

Five years

The prospective reserves of these coal fields have been preliminarily confirmed.

Made important contributions to the development of the coal industry in New China

In 1958, he accompanied Soviet experts to the Lingyuan fish fossil site in western Liaoning.

Where does the motherland need

Where does scientific research go?

Summer 1955

He changed direction again

Turning to the development of energy and mineral resources such as coal and oil

Mesozoic non-marine strata and bivalves

Wear out a few pairs of rubber shoes

His footprints are all over the Songliao Plain and the deep mountains of Sichuan and Yunnan.

Conduct field surveys and collect fossils

Direct access to the outcropping site of Jurassic and Cretaceous strata

Gu Zhiwei working in the office

Working hard for decades

He wrote the book "The Jurassic and Cretaceous Systems of China"

Created the continental Jurassic and

A comprehensive study of various fossils from the Cretaceous

Corrected the classification criteria established by American scientists

He is also the one who named the Jehol Biota.

A world-class fossil treasure trove

The Jehol Biota is known as the 20th century

One of the most important paleontological discoveries in the world

A group photo taken while writing a coalfield investigation report in Inner Mongolia in the winter of 1954 (Gu Zhiwei, third from left)

1982

For participating in "Earth science work during the discovery of the Daqing Oilfield"

Gu Zhiwei, Li Siguang and others

Won the first prize of the National Natural Science Award

Gu Zhiwei (right) at the Emei Bivalve Subject Group Meeting in November 1983

Gu Zhiwei said

Only when science is combined with productive labor

Mingle with the masses

Serve for their happiness in life

Science will not become a decorative vase

And the towers rising into the sky

Gu Zhiwei (first from right) and visiting paleontologist Hoffman took a photo at the Nanjing Institute of Paleontology in 1980

He is a brilliant stratigraphic paleontologist.

His life was a life of hard work and exploration.

A life of tireless devotion to science

Love for the motherland and dedicate your life to it

He is

Gu Zhiwei, academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences

Joined the Communist Party of China in June 1984

◎ Science and Technology Daily reporter Tang Fang

Source: Science and Technology Daily Unless otherwise noted, all other images in this article are provided by the Party Committee of the Chinese Academy of Sciences

Editor: Zhang Qiqi

Review: Julie

Final review: Liu Haiying