China has a large number of academicians, and we decided to choose our interviewees at random. We did not choose academicians from the perspective of authority. To us, all academicians are authorities in their fields. But to enrich the contents of the book we took into consideration factors such as discipline and age as well as region, ethnic group and profession.

This book contains the records of interviews made by reporters with 100 academicians in their homes. We hope to open a window for readers to get to know academicians' lives and personal charm. Therefore weavoided an overall, concrete description of academicians' experiences and achievements. Through the interviews we hope to display the academicians' values, attitudes to life and personalities. The 100 academicians interviewed are engaged in differentfields of research, and their characters are all different. Nevertheless, we found that their values and attitudes to life are the same.

Preface

Lu Ke: Competitive Young Academician

Yuan Longping: Rejoicing in Boundless Rice Fields

Han Jisheng: Devoted to Healing People

Yang Le: A Cheerful Mathematician

Deng Jingfa: A "Catalytic" Smile

Li Lemin: Have You Got Broadband?

Li Xingxue: Academics Should Keep Aloof from the Material World

Lei Xiaolin: My Greatest Ambition Was to Become an Academician

Wang Yousheng: Explore the Academic World

Gao Congjie: Drinking-water from the Ocean

Cao Chu'nan: Hardships Temper a Man

Ma Zaitian: I Only Till My Own Land

Yin Wenying: Opening the Chinese Book of /nsects

Shen Yungang: Love for Light and Life

Ren Mei'e: Reed Stalk with Thoughts

Lin Xiangdi: The Busier, the Happier

Jin Qinghua: Finding Oil for the Motherland

Hou Renzhi: The One That Never Fades away

Xu Xi: 20 Years Saved by Mere Chance

Duan Xuefu: A Life Brightened by Calculations

Wang Ren: Picking up Shells in the Ocean of Science

Wang Renxiang: Gazing at the Milky Way

Liu Baojun: Stones from Other Hills May Polish the Jade

Wang Xuan: Man behind the Founder Group

Bei Shizhang: Devoted to the Research of Life

Wang Zhenyi: Reformer of Cancer Cells

Wang Shouguan: An Asteroid Is Named after Him

Wang Debao: Add Flavor to Life

Lu Yaoru: Fifty Years with Karst

Ye Lianjun: Looking into the Earth

Bai Chunli: Dance with Nanotechnology

Kuang Dingbo: Eyes of Meteorological Satellite Fengyun I

Sun Yisui: A Happy and Joyful Life

Sun Youxian: A Busy but Happy Man

Sun Jun: Tunnel Traveler

Zhu Zhaoliang: Scientist in Dilemma

Tang Dingyuan: Infrared Ray Lights up My Life

Xu Xueyan: A Life of Shipbuilding Dreams

Xu Genjun: Searching for the Most Profound Truths in the Most

Common Things

Xing Qiyi: The Meaning of Life

Qi Kang: Patriotism of an Architect

Yan Luguang: Outstanding Scientist of Distinguished Parentage

Yan Kai: A Life on Rivers and Lakes

He Zuoxiu: Carrying It through Whatever the Consequences

Wu Quande: Developing the Right Side of the Brain

Wu Rukang: Winning Recognition for China

Wu Ziliang: Founding Father of Bombs and Satellites

Wu Haoqing: Lifetime Devoted to Teaching

Wu Xinzhi: Archaeology Is Not a Stock Market

Song Jian: A Leading Scientist

Cen Kefa: Live Life to the Fullest

Zhang Guangxue: Travel Thousands of Miles for Study

Zhang Xiangtong: Becoming Smarter and More Dexterous through Practice

Zhang Pang: Live with Dignity and Pride

Li Chaoyi: The Simplest Is the Most Complex

Yang Shizhong: A Satellite Put My Life in Orbit

Yang You: A Sagacious River

Wang Chengwei: Breathing the Air of Information

Wang Geng: Enlivening Physics with Chemistry

Shen Zhiyun: An Accelerated Life

Su Jilan: Loyalty of a Compatriot

Hu Hesheng, Gu Chaohao: Life of Geometry

Chen Ziyuan: Ensuring Vegetables Are Safe

Chen Zhongwei: Father of Transplant Surgery

Chen Qingyun: Expert on Fluorine

Chen Yizhang: Outstanding Scientist Returns to His Alma Mater

Chen Zhu: From School Leaver to Academician

Chen Xingbi: Science Is Exciting and Puzzling as Well

Chen Qingquan: Academician Made in Hong Kong

Zhou Tonghui: Fun Is the Fountain of Innovation

Zhou Weishan: I Am not the Father of Contraceptives in China

Lin Weigan: Refusing to Be Wheelchair-bound

Lin Haoran: A Life with Fish

Hou Yujun: No Regrets

Jiang Wenhan: Three Changes of Profession

Zhao Bolin: A Man of Wind and Cloud

Zhong Shizhen: Life Is Like a Chess Game

Yin Zhiwen: Let Thoughts Dance

Yuan Chengye: Crystallized in Minerals

Tan Jiazhen: The Chinese Morgan

Jia Lanpo: Zhoukoudian Is My Home

Qian Weichanq: Grandfather of Science

Qian Zhonghan: I Wish to Leave a Series of Question Marks

Gu Zhiwei: To Know the Truth

Sheng Jinzhang: Absolute Sincerity Conquers All

Ji Ruyun: Living for Research

Chen Tianmin: Dancing with the Nuclear Devil

Dong Shenbao: A Journey of a Thousand Miles

Jiang Xikui: Going back to Jiangzhuang Village in a Dream

Xie Yuyuan: I Have a Pair of "Happy" Hands

Han Zhenxiang: It Is Always Right to Do More and to Say Less

Dou Guoren: A Scientist in Silt

Lu Yongxiang: Working Is Beautiful

Que Duanlin: Along the Road of Science

Pan Yunhe: Busy in Administration and Scientific Research

Wei Fusheng: The Earth Belongs to Mankind

Wang Shoujue: SemiconduCtor Pacesetter

Mao Jiangsen: Battling with Devils

Ma Shengming: A Clear Understanding of Oneself Is the Motor of Improvement

Postscript