Nanjing University - Notable Alumni

Notable Alumni

• In sciences, there are 877 leading scientists with major contributions to modern sciences in China, as listed in an article on history of Chinese modern sciences by Li Peishan published on CAS journal, and among them 115 are graduates of Nanjing University during R.O.C. in mainland period, ranking No.1.
• Of 53 first-time elected members of Academia Sinica in natural science (including mathematics), 28 were Nanjing University faculty members or graduates.
• All four founding scientific leaders (president or vice president in natural science) of Chinese Academy of Sciences taught or studied at Nanjing University: Zhu Kezhen (faculty member), Wu Youxun (graduate), Yan Jici (graduate), Tong Dizhou (faculty member).
• Nanjing University faculty members also included scholars from abroad such as Matsumoto Kouzirou, Hans Driesch, and Charles W. Woodworth, as well as China native Pearl S. Buck.
• In recent years Nanjing University is in third place in the number of academicians of Chinese Academy of Sciences and/or Chinese Academy of Engineering among faculty members, behind Peking University and Tsinghua University.
• Among 1107 members of Chinese Academy of Sciences elected till 2007, 210 are Nanjing University people.
• Nanjing University ranks No.1 in the number of alumnus elected as academicians of Chinese Academy of Sciences and/or Chinese Academy of Engineering graduated in recent more than 30 years since college admission entrance examination system was recovered in 1977 after Cultural Revolution.
• Among 30 First Class Prizes of National Natural Science Awards since 1956, which is the highest level prize in natural science in China, 6 major winners (sole or first listed winner) studied at Nanjing University: Feng Kang (馮康), Liu Dongsheng (劉東生), Wang Debao (王德寶), Qin Renchang (秦仁昌), Hou Xianguang (侯先光), Min Naiben (閔乃本); in addition, another 2 were faculty members: Li Siguang (李四光), Qian Chongshu (錢崇澍); and Nanda people were in the list of winners of about half of the prizes.
• Among 20 winners of National Preeminent Science and Technology Award since 2000, 3 are alumi of Nanjing University: Liu Dongsheng (劉東生), Min Enze (閔恩澤), Wu Liangyong (吳良鏞), ranking top 3 along with Tsinghua University and Peking University, and besides, Yuan Longping (袁隆平), another winner，is a graduate of the then middle school affiliated to Nanjing University (now the High School Affiliated to Nanjing Normal University).
• A statistic in 2006 indicated that among about 120 directors (or presidents) of institutes of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 15 are graduates of Nanjing University, ranking No. 1, while the number of the university (Peking University) ranking No.2 is 10, and a recent statistic in 2010 shows that 14 holds bachelor‘s from Nanda which is the double of the number of the university (Beida) which ranks No.2.
• Among winners of the National Science Foundation for Distinguished Young Scholars from 1994 to 2008, 108 are graduates of Nanda, ranking No. 1, 96 are of Beida, 76 are of University of Science and Technology of China, and 64 are of Tsinghua University which is listed in top 4.
• Among 78 winners of Prizes for Young Scientists of China since 1992, 5 are Nanda graduates, both Beida and Tsinghua graduates are 4, consisting of top 3 rankings.

Some notable alumni:

• Wu Youxun (吳有訓), a leader of Chinese modern physical science and the physical scientist who verified Compton effect (X-ray diffraction);
• Chung-Yao Chao (趙忠堯), the scientist that captured positron through electron-positron annihilation and tested the existence of antimatter;
• Chien-Shiung Wu (吳健雄), "First Lady of Physics", the first Wolf Prize winner in physics;
• Chiang Yee (蔣彝), litterateur, artist, the "Silent Traveller";
• Tang Junyi (唐君毅), philosopher and modern Confucian scholar;
• Chen Chung-hwan (陳忠寰), a scholar in ancient Greek philosophy and western philosophy;
• Xu Boyuan (徐柏園), the founder of the Chinese central bank system;
• Wang Zhixin (王志莘), the first General Manager of former Shanghai Stock Exchange;
• Kwoh-Ting Li (李國鼎), "Father of Taiwan's Economic Miracle";
• Luo Fuxin (羅福鑫), the first blind college student in China;
• Chang Cheh (張徹), "Father of New Gongfu Film", "Godfather of Hong Kong cinema";
• H. T.Loh (陸孝同), a leader of American Apollo program and Mars Exploration program;
• Zeng Liansong (曾聯松), the designer of the Flag of the People's Republic of China;
• Jiang Zemin (江澤民), former General Secretary of the Communist Party and President of the People's Republic of China;
• Zhu Guangya (朱光亞), the first president of Chinese Academy of Engineering;
• Yuan-Cheng Fung (馮元楨), the founder of biomechanics;
• Feng Kang (馮康), mathematician and founder of finite element method;
• Chen Deliang (陳德亮), climatologist and Executive Director of International Council for Science.