Shi Yigong: running universities, doing scientific research and educating talents, only seeking innovation and breakthrough
[Guangming visits famous experts and focuses on 25 science and technology workers who write letters to the general secretary]
Shi Yigong, a member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, has shown that he has run more than 1,100 kilometers since 2020. The 53-year-old ran the next day and kept his training volume between 150 and 200 kilometers per month.
Running is his life habit and the law of life. In these years, he resigned from his tenure at Princeton University and returned to Tsinghua University. He has taught and educated for many years, from the dean of the start-up college to the vice president of Tsinghua University, and has become the first new social organization in New China and supported by the state. The first president of West Lake University. At the same time, outstanding young scientists stand out from his laboratory, and world-class scientific research results are produced accordingly.
"In a sense, modern science is not a competition of quantity, but a competition of top talents." With a running attitude, he is working toward "top" time and time again. "In his reply, the General Secretary hopes that national science and technology workers will carry forward their fine traditions, strengthen innovation and self-confidence, strive to overcome key core technologies, and promote the in-depth integration of production, education, and research. To take on this mission, it is fundamental to rely on talent, and the ultimate competition is the top Can a group of scientists make the top scientific research and cultivate the top talents." Shi Yigong said.
In order to realize such a vision, Shi Yigong willingly used the second half of his life to shoulder the important task of creating a top university.
In his more than two years as a principal, he said he is mainly doing two things: "One is the recruitment of top talents. West Lake University is facing the world. Now there are 125 doctoral tutors, and more than 90% of the talents are imported from overseas. The second is facing the society. Fundraising, because we are a new type of university, one of the most important supporting forces is the donation from society to universities."
At the same time, he always remembers that he is a scientist. Due to the increase in school affairs, he made a lot of adjustments to the focus of scientific research-do not do optional topics, do the most cutting-edge and top scientific research.
"I gave up or greatly reduced some of the relatively common scientific research topics, and now I am doing some unique topics." Shi Yigong told reporters that he has also opened up the "second battlefield" of quantum biology. "This is an extremely exploratory research topic. It is the direction I have been brewing and laying out 10 years ago. Since the founding of West Lake University, I have been working synchronously and I hope that there will be a breakthrough in the next two years."
Over the years, he has trained the top students and infiltrated his 100% life. "There is only one way to train students, and that is to be greedy, and there must be a lot of communication." No matter how busy Shi Yigong is, he will hold meetings with students, analyze problems, and even teach them how to express them. In his view, a student who did not have hundreds of hours of such communication and training with his instructor during his Ph.D. cannot get out.
He values the hard work and hard work of students because "this is a necessary condition for success." But what he valued more was the ability of students to think independently, hoping to "smoke" students through this kind of "master with apprenticeship" training: "Critical thinking is what most Chinese students lack most. Do this If you are good, students can become scientists with independent analytical skills."
In all these years of running, how to coordinate the relationship between family and work? Shi Rengong's wife, Zhao Renbin, was the top champion in the Harbin College Entrance Examination. He also graduated from Tsinghua University with an undergraduate degree and obtained a doctorate degree from Hopkins University. Shi Yigong admitted: "Without his wife's full support and dedication, there will be no me today." In May 2006, Shi Yigong returned to Tsinghua to give lectures. Tsinghua invited him back to preside over the development of life sciences. 'S opinions are immediately understood and supported by the other party. In 2018, Shi Yigong participated in the founding of West Lake University, and Zhao Renbin took on almost all the family responsibilities. "In recent years, she has been doing her best to take care of the elderly and raise children. In fact, she also has a wonderful career, often working until 12 midnight." Shi Yigong is grateful. "She gave me a warm Home, so that I can go all out to realize my dream."
He specifically mentioned his relationship with Guangming Daily: "I have been reading since 1980. For so many years, Guangming Daily has reported many things about intellectuals and reflected their opinions. Some articles I wrote It is often preferred to publish it in Guangming Daily. I hope that Guangming Daily will always be a good friend of intellectuals, and continue to reflect the voices of intellectuals and the common problems facing intellectuals."
Shi Yigong said his ideal is: "Here, we will have the most outstanding scientists in the world, cultivate the best young talents, engage in the most cutting-edge basic and applied research, and explore scientific research and education systems and mechanisms suitable for China's national conditions. Provide a powerful engine and support for China's high-tech sustainable development, and make a contribution worthy of the Chinese nation for world civilization!"
Shi Yigong told reporters that in the past 12 years, all of these efforts toward the "top" were for the same goal: "The original intention has not changed, the mission has not changed."
(Reporter Deng Hui)