China News Service, Lanzhou, November 10 (Reporter Wang Muyu) It gets late in Lanzhou in early winter. In the early morning, the experimental building of Lanzhou University was still shrouded in mist, and a light at the end of the corridor turned on first. The spectrometer was running quietly, and Wang Yuhua leaned over and stared at the screen, with a layer of white powder on his fingertips—a luminescent material that he had studied for more than thirty years.
Wang Yuhua is China’s first Tibetan doctorate in engineering studying abroad and a recipient of the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars. Looking back on his journey, this herdsman who walked out of the grassland of Zhuoni County, Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Gansu, said with emotion: "My life has been illuminated by beams of light. First it was the light of national policies, the light of teachers, and then the light of knowledge and science."
The picture shows Professor Wang Yuhua leading students to conduct experiments. (Information picture) Photo provided by interviewee
Borrowing light: Someone lit a lamp for him along the way
In 1965, Wang Yuhua was born in Shegaicang Village, Zhuoni County. The Tao River bypasses the village and the grassland extends to the roots of the mountains. His family was in dire straits, so he dropped out of elementary school and went home. The teacher came to him again and again to persuade him to return to class.
In high school, he was admitted to the ethnic class of Hehe No. 1 Middle School in Hehe City, Gannan Prefecture. Later, he entered Shaanxi Normal University and transferred from the ethnic preparatory course to the chemistry department. After graduating from the undergraduate program, he was admitted to Lanzhou University to study for a postgraduate degree in inorganic materials chemistry, all the way from the grassland to the laboratory.
In 1997, he was sent by the government to study for a doctoral degree at Tohoku University in Japan. "It was already past 10 o'clock in the evening when we arrived in Sendai. Unexpectedly, I was taken directly to the laboratory that night. It was already early in the morning when I saw Professor Endo Chu, and the laboratory was still brightly lit." He still remembers: "The theoretical level of Chinese students is not much different from that of their international counterparts, but there is still a big gap in their practical ability."
When studying for a Ph.D., the instructor gave three directions. Japanese, British, and German scholars in the same class chose familiar traditional topics; Wang Yuhua chose the research on luminescent materials for plasma displays that has just started in the world - it is difficult and difficult to graduate if you don't do it well. This choice made Endochu "brightened".
"Professor Endo Tada is very supportive of me returning to work at Lanzhou University." Wang Yuhua said that after his retirement, the tutor sent all his professional reference books to Lanzhou, and also brought Mitsubishi Chemical together with Lanzhou University to develop new materials. Later, he introduced Japanese materials science experts to teach at Lanzhou University full-time, and also established a joint research center with Tohoku University in Japan. The friendship between teachers and students continued into a long-term cooperation.
The picture shows Professor Wang Yuhua leading students to conduct experiments. (Information picture) Photo provided by interviewee
Chasing Light: Start with 20 square meters
"The country sent me to study. After I complete my studies, I will definitely come back." After graduating with a doctorate in 2001, he declined the high salary offered by a university in Tianjin and a listed company and returned to Lanzhou University. His entire scientific research "property" is a 20-square-meter cabin and 10,000 yuan in start-up funding.
Inorganic luminescent materials are the key basic materials that make lights light up and screens appear. Many core systems have been controlled by others for a long time. While others followed the familiar path, Wang Yuhua chose the most difficult ones: luminous stability, resistance to extreme high and low temperatures, and high light efficiency.
"When doing materials research, you can't be anxious or afraid of failure. Ninety-nine times out of a hundred tests, it may be invalid data. As long as you get through it once, you will take a step forward." He said.
In the winter, the heating was insufficient, so the students wrapped themselves in down jackets and stood by the instruments to record spectra. In the midsummer, the machines dissipated heat and the laboratory was as stuffy as a steamer. As usual, he was the first to arrive and the last to leave. In this small room, the team has successively made original achievements such as vacuum ultraviolet luminescent materials, multi-color long afterglow luminescent materials, plant growth and solar cell luminescent materials, paving the way for new domestic light sources. He has presided over the National 863 Program, national major basic research preliminary research projects and other projects, applied for more than 30 invention patents, and many achievements have been implemented.
The picture shows Professor Wang Yuhua teaching students. (Information picture) Photo provided by interviewee
Glow: Learn to be the light
Today, the hut has been expanded into a laboratory of more than 900 square meters, and 6 provincial and ministerial-level platforms have been built with a team of more than 120 people. Wang Yuhua said that rather than winning awards, he was more gratified that his students had received outstanding doctoral and master's theses in Gansu Province for consecutive years. He also raised more than 1 million yuan to establish scholarships and bursaries to help students further their studies.
"The teacher often said that he was illuminated by a lot of light back then, and now we must also learn to be lights." A doctoral student who has followed Wang Yuhua for many years remembers that he not only taught experimental techniques, but also always asked: "What problem does your research want to solve?"
He pays special attention to students from relatively underdeveloped areas and advises young people to stay and work in places that are suitable for their own development and where they can make achievements. “I have walked a long and groping road, and I want to try my best to pave the way for the young people behind me.” Under his influence, many graduates have stayed in Gansu, entered universities, scientific research institutes, and front-line industries, and grown into teaching and research backbones and national-level talents—the children who were promoted back then have now become the ones who support others.
From a grassland boy to a scientist, he passed on the light that illuminated him one after another. (over)
