In the Afternoon of September 10th, Teachers’ Day, the hall on the ground floor of the Students’ Centre on our North Zhongshan Road Campus was full of vigorous people who were waiting for the dialogues of the couple academician – Min Enzhe and Lu Wanzhen, and for Professor Zong Baoning. They were expecting the legendary stories of President Yu Lizhong and each scientist.
Creation: Exploring Imaginatively
Professor Min Enzhe, an scholar in his 80s, is an academician of Chinese Academy of Sciences andChinese Academy of Engineering, founding father of our application science of oil refining catalysis, pioneer of our self-renovation of petro-chemical technology, and avant-garde of green chemistry.Talking about the years on creative and scientific researches on oil, Academician Min said to us humorously, “I just study what our nation needs. Our nation needs catalysis, and then I study it.” Though catalysis was not the main area Academician Min had studied in, due to the Soviet Union’s suspension of catalysis to our country in 1960, he went into this strange area patriotically. Through arduous exploration and instant frustrations for more than 10 years, he finally made many kinds of catalysis, and filled up our blank in the field of oil-refining catalysis.
Academician Min thought that scientific research and exploration ask for team work. He said, “A team is just like Sanzang and his disciples in The Journey to the West, in which someone was porter, and someone was coachman.” In a scientific research team, the work is divided into many parts. “Tang’s team had overcome many difficulties, depending on their successful team work.”
Academician Lu Wanzhen, life companion of Academician Min Enzhe over 60 years, expressed that besides team work, Academician Min was more cautious and responsible for his work. She said, “Whatever happens, as if he had promised to do, he cannot help to doing it well, whether it is difficult or not.” It is just such responsibility that enables him to do work perfect. Since the late 1990s, Academician Min Enzhe had begun to investigate Green Chemistry, which could solve pollution at the original chain. It gave our or even the next generation endless confidence and determination. In fact, this creative project not only originated from imagination, erudite knowledge and collective wisdom, but also asked for kind of spirit to support its growth. As for Academician Min Enzhe, this spiritual power came from the responsibility of our country, our nation and even all human beings.
Genius: Persisting Diligently
“If he hadn’t worked diligently, he could not seize the opportunity. Although diligence can not guarantee a good chance, it has direct relations with chance,” said Academician Lu Wanzhen frankly. She thought that the biggest merit of Academician Min Enzhe and the most important element in his growth was diligence.
The generation of Min Enzhe had experienced wars, poverty, turbulence and disaster. Existing objectivity can not be changed, but we can change the world through our subjective will. Therefore, they studied and worked industriously, striving for any possible change. Up to now though his health is not so good, he also studies and works assiduously. “Even when I wake up or take medicine in the early morning, I write down every inspiration if anyone strikes me.” Every person present was quite respecting Academician Min’s diligence. Thanks to his persistence, he made great contribution to the prosperity of our country and the development of our nation.
In the flames of war times, Min Enzhe studies diligently; in the years when motherland needed them most, Min Enzhe, together with his wife Lu Wanzhen, came back to China resolutely, and then contributed his youth and wisdom to China. On his mind, “A person without a spirit of contribution and diligence can never do work well.” He thought that Success of an individual is closely related to the destiny of one’s country and nation. “I love my country, my Party and my people, for I had experienced too much”. He wished the the younger generation could cherish this hard-earned times to learn as much as possible, seize the opportunity and be brave in creation in today’s peaceful and fine days.
Mission: Educating People as Well as Imparting Book Knowledge
In the eyes of He Mingyuan (Director of Shanghai Key Laboratory of Green Chemstry and Green Chemical Processes in our university) and Zong Baoning (Assistant Chief Engineer of China Petrochemical Scientific Research Institute), Academician Min is strict teacher as well as good friend. Min’s behaviour and speeches gives much influence on everyone around him.
“The very right choice I have made in my life is to be post-graduate and doctor of Mr. Min”, said Zong Baoning, who are following Academician Min since he was his post-graduate. “Mr. Min is very strict. My dissertation had been required to alter for 9 times.” Academician Min’s strict and serious academic attitude has left great impressions on Zong Baoning. However, as he said, “The atmosphere is quite free when you are doing research with him, for he is glad to see students’ who dare to say No to him. As long as your concept is right and decision is reasonable, Mr. Min will listen to you sincerely.” As he said, Academician Min attracts many young people around him not only by his personal charm, but also his academic attitude.
In the eyes of Professor He Mingyuan, Academician Min and Academician Lu are both noble in their lives. And he has learnt how to be noble and how to do work from them, in which has influenced him most is that they teach by setting an example themselves. He said, “In particular, after coming to ECNU, he has more personal concern of the profession as a teacher”.
Academician Min, though over the age of 80, is hale and healthy now. He wants to do 2 things at present. One is to write down the cases of self-renovation during the past 50 years, which will put scientific theories more close to practice and enlighten more researchers; the other is to investigate bio-fuel to solve the oil shortage.
In conclusion, President Yu Lizhong said to us with deep love, “Academician Min has been exploring and practicing all through his life. It firmly supports our conception of training talents. Foster creative people and improve creative capacity, so that we can adapt to the changes and challenges in the future society.
