(China Geo University, Beijing)
Mr Wang Hongzhen is 90 years old this year. He still has a clear mind and a wide range of interests. In recent years, he has published monographs and excellent poems from time to time. We can often get his teachings and feel his deep concern for current affairs, school affairs, academic circles, friends and disciples. He is a healthy, wise and respected elder. On the occasion of his 90th birthday, we express our heartfelt and sincere wishes to him.
Mr. Wang is a famous representative of geologists. If we get together to review his achievements and learn from him, we will certainly get many lessons.
I. Mr. Wang's Resume and Contribution
Mr. Wang is from Cangshan County, Shandong Province. 1939 graduated from the Department of Geology of Peking University (National Southwest Associated University), and 1947 received his doctorate from Cambridge University, England. He has served as Professor and Secretary-General of Peking University, Vice President of Beijing Institute of Geology, Dean of Wuhan Institute of Geology, Secretary-General and Vice Chairman of geological society of china, President of Geological History Research Association, Secretary-General and Chairman of Chinese Paleontological Society, and Vice Chairman of Geological Science History Committee of International Geoscience Union. 1980 was elected as an academician of China Academy of Sciences.
Mr. Wang is knowledgeable, rigorous and realistic, ambitious, studious, pioneering and innovative, and has achieved remarkable results. He is an outstanding geologist, who has made in-depth research in paleontology, stratigraphy, paleogeography, Precambrian geology, geotectonics, geological history and other aspects and has achieved systematic and pioneering results, enjoying a high reputation at home and abroad. In stratigraphic paleontology and paleogeography, he opened up a new field of research on four corals, established the systematic classification and evolution stages of four corals, and reached a high academic level; He put forward the viewpoint of stratigraphic division based on chronostratigraphy and lithostratigraphy, combined sedimentary facies with tectonic background, and edited the Paleogeographic Atlas of China, which was widely valued and praised at home and abroad. He established the hierarchical system of sequence stratigraphy and put forward the universal significance of pan-continental accumulation and dispersion period and earth rhythm. In terms of geotectonics and global tectonics, he put forward a system of structural terms, which divided the structural units and stages of China and the world. A comprehensive and systematic study was made on the reconstruction of the ancient continent, from which the global tectonic activity theory and the historical development stage theory were formed. These basic, overall and strategic theoretical viewpoints have important guiding significance and far-reaching influence on related disciplines.
In the history of geology, Mr. Wang advocated "taking history as a mirror and carrying forward the past". He actively carried out international exchanges and cooperation, correctly evaluated geological historical figures, advocated taking the history of disciplines and academic thoughts as the main research content, and organized many experts and scholars to make a preliminary summary of the development of geological science in China in the past 50 years. Under his example, the research society has maintained a simple academic style and won the praise of the majority of peers. Mr Wang Hongzhen is knowledgeable and diligent in writing. He published 250 papers and 27 books. Its pioneering research achievements have won the first prize of National Natural Science 1 item, the second prize of National Natural Science, the special prize of college textbooks of State Education Commission, the scientific and technological progress prize of He Liang Heli Fund and the special prize of Li Siguang Geological Science Award.
Mr. Wang is an enthusiastic educator. It has gone through several stages: The National SouthWest Associated University, Peking University, Beijing Institute of Geology, Wuhan Institute of Geology and China Geo University. He has been teaching for 67 years in his life, and it is extremely difficult to prepare for the exam. He not only presided over school affairs, but also insisted on teaching and educating people and trained several generations of earth scientists. He has taught various courses. Our "Geography History" class is taught by Mr. Wang. The content is novel and rich, with prominent focus, clear thinking and strong logic. Listening to his class is a pleasure, not only learning professional knowledge and thinking methods, but also cultivating interest in geological science. The course "Geological History" written by him has been widely used in geological colleges and won the first special prize of college textbooks. He emphasized the importance of basic geological education, advocated broadening the foundation, paying attention to the mutual integration of disciplines, and advocated the close combination of teaching and scientific research. He is good at organizing large-scale scientific research projects, concentrating young and middle-aged talents from multiple disciplines, and cultivating and improving them in research practice, thus creating a group of outstanding experts and scholars.
Mr. Wang is the founder of Beijing Institute of Geology. He is a member of the "North Land" School Building Committee 10 and the first director of the Department of Geology and Mineral Exploration. Under the leadership of the Party Committee, he has presided over the department and school affairs for a long time, and invested a lot of efforts in the construction of teaching staff and scientific research from the aspects of school-running concept, specialty setting, teaching plan, teaching materials, practice base and laboratory, and achieved remarkable results. Together with his predecessors, he passed on the fine traditions and scientific demeanor of The National SouthWest Associated University, Peking University, Tsinghua and Beiyang to Beijing Institute of Geology and China Geo University, and set an example to teach our young teachers, which made us deeply educated. In such a university with profound scientific and cultural background, a batch of geological talents with excellent moral character, solid foundation, extensive knowledge and profound professionalism have been trained. The historical contribution of Mr. Wang and his generation is enormous and far-reaching.
As an outstanding figure, Mr. Wang occupies an important position in China's geological science and education because of his experience and contribution. He played an outstanding role in connecting the past and the future. He is a respected generation of geologists and is deeply respected and loved by geologists.
It is worth mentioning that, as an older generation of scientists, Mr. Wang also actively participated in social activities and worked hard for the prosperity and reunification of the motherland. He was a member of the Sixth Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, a member of the Standing Committee of the Seventh and Eighth Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, a vice chairman of the Central Committee of China Association for the Promotion of Democracy, and a consultant of China Association for the Promotion of Democracy. He made suggestions and dutifully fulfilled his historical responsibilities. As far as I know, I talked about some stories about Mr. Wang in the above aspects.
Second, my study experience.
I am a student of Mr. Wang. Since 1948 entered the Geology Department of Peking University, he has been my beloved teacher for a long time as one of my first teachers. In my contact with Mr. Wang, what impressed me most was his strong dedication, sense of responsibility and pragmatic scientific style. He has been down-to-earth all his life, not seeking fame, doing things seriously, not being surprised by honor or disgrace, making silent contributions when making mistakes, being strict with himself when succeeding, and devoting himself wholeheartedly to his work and career. From his painstaking arrangement and identification of a large number of fossil specimens in the dilapidated tin room of National Southwest Associated University, to his appointment as the president of Wuhan Institute of Geology during the difficult relocation period, to his 80-year-old personal guidance of students' investigation and practice, all of them showed his spirit of being highly responsible for geological education and science and technology. He has maintained a rigorous and realistic style for decades. His speeches and articles are thoughtful, well-founded, accurate and innovative. Many of his works are regarded as masterpieces by his peers. Once I drafted an expert's suggestion with him. He carefully chose words, deliberated and revised them several times before finalizing it. See the spirit for details. I think it is this professionalism and pragmatic style that has helped Mr. Wang achieve extraordinary achievements.
Mr. Wang's outstanding contribution comes not only from his personal talent, family education and school education, but also from his hard work all his life. He lived in the period of great social change, and experienced the hardship and rise of the motherland, setbacks and development, closure and opening up. The needs of the times have strengthened his belief in dedicating himself to the geological cause for the prosperity of the motherland. The tempering of life has forged his strong will and perseverance. For decades, he devoted himself to delving into the mysteries of the earth and exploring the laws of education. "Be more ambitious in educating people and dare to show your mind to the physical evidence" (the middle sentence in Eighty Shu Huai) just reflects his mind. He not only inherited the excellent cultural tradition of the Chinese nation, but also experienced modern scientific training in the West. Not only can I be familiar with science and technology education, but also have the literacy of literature and history, which has reached a high degree of compatibility and intersection between ancient and modern China and foreign countries. He respected teachers and valued friends, cherished unity, inherited and carried forward the academic contributions and excellent style of study of his predecessors, was willing to be a ladder, enthusiastically promoted young people, and carefully taught advanced scientific achievements and ideological style. He is a scholar who is well versed in China and the West. He is far-sighted and respected. He devoted his life to the motherland and the people who raised him. He is an example for the vast number of science and education workers to learn.
Times have created characters, and the activities of characters have enriched the content of the times and promoted the development of the times and society in one or several aspects. Mr. Wang's experience and deeds are an example.
Today, our country is in the best era, and the strategy of rejuvenating the country through science and education has been implemented. Building a harmonious society and an innovative country has a long way to go. Talent and people are urgently needed. We and the younger generation of students should learn from and inherit the noble moral character and outstanding achievements of Mr. Wang Hongzhen and his predecessors, and continue to push forward and carry forward the science education they have worked hard to create.
(Note: This article is quoted from Geological Education in China,No. 1 2007).