Chinese and American physicists celebrated the 110th birthday of renowned female nuclear physicist Wu Jianxiong on Saturday, defending the fruitful history of Sino-US scientific cooperation and wishing to continue exchanges and cooperation to push the scientific frontier. defended their mutual desire to Address global challenges.

Born May 31, 1912 in Liuhe Town, Taicang City, Jiangsu Province, Wu may not be a household name in China compared to other prominent female scientists such as Marie Curie and Tu Yu Yu. But the Chinese-American researcher was universally recognized as one of the most influential nuclear physicists of the 20th century, who fundamentally changed his view of the universe.

For decades, scientists thought the universe was perfectly symmetrical at the level of quantum mechanics. However, in 1956, theoretical physicists Li Tsundao and Yang Chenning discovered a theory that questions the conservation of this parity.

The two young scientists enlisted Wu, who was working at Columbia University at the time, to help test their theory. Her famous experiment measuring the decay of radioactive cobalt-60 proved that parity was not preserved.

The discovery shocked the international scientific community. The following year, Li and Yang were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics.

At Wu’s commemorative symposium held on Saturday, Wang Gang, president of the China Association for Science and Technology, said in a letter to the event that Wu’s extraordinary achievements in experimental physics have greatly contributed to the progress of the field. rice field.

Wang said Wu was a woman who had many “firsts.” She was the first female honorary doctorate from Princeton University, the first Chinese-American member of the National Academy of Sciences, and the first female president of the American Physical Society.

“She has always been a role model for generations of young Chinese and American scientists, especially female scientists, and has inspired them to pursue excellence in their scientific pursuits.

Wan said Wu has always been committed to promoting exchanges and cooperation between China and the United States in the fields of scientific research and education, leading to many successful cooperations.

For example, Sino-American cooperation in the field of high-energy physics marked the beginning of cooperation between the scientific communities of the two countries. Another example is the Central American Physics Examinations and Applications Program, a program that has helped China train her nearly 1,000 outstanding physicists.

“In commemoration of Dr. Wu, we should carry on the spirit of the scientist she represented, the spirit of relentlessly exploring the endless frontiers of science,” he said.

“We need to work together to address common global challenges to make a due contribution to the sustainable development of human societies and the protection of our beautiful home, the planet.”

As home to the largest number of science and technology professionals in the world, CAST is committed to enhancing openness, trust and cooperation with the international scientific community, Wu said.

“I look forward to working with my colleagues in the United States to consolidate friendships, promote exchanges and cooperation between scientists from both countries, and jointly make greater contributions to the advancement of science and technology and the welfare of our people.” Said.