Ma Dexiu attended the launching ceremony of Collected Works of Dr. H.S. Tsien (International Version) on London Book Fair

2012年04月16日

In the morning of Apr 16, London local time, the launching ceremony of Collected Works of Dr. H.S. Tsien (1938~1956)(International Version)  was held in the activity center of London Book Fair. Liu Binjie, President of the General Administration of Press and Publication, and Chi Yongshuo, President of International Publishers Association and President of Elsevier Publishing Group, attended the ceremony and delivered speeches. The launching ceremony was presided by Fang Shizhong, Director  of Shanghai Administration of Press and Publication. Ma Dexiu, CPC Party Secretary of Shanghai Jiaotong University and Director of University Administration Committee, delivered an important speech on the ceremony on behalf of Shanghai Jiaotong University Press. 

Collected Works of Dr. H.S. Tsien (1938~1956) was jointly published by Shanghai Jiaotong University Press and Elsevier Publishing Group. This activity has been listed as one of the key activities of China---”focus of market”---in London Book Fair.

Liu Binjie, President of the General Administration of Press and Publication, spoke highly of this publishing activity. He said that Qian Xuesen was not only a world famous outstanding scientist and the founder of Chinese aerospace industry, but also an important pioneer of world aerospace industry. Collected Works of Dr. H.S. Tsien (International Version) has collected Qian Xuesen’s scientific papers published during his study and work in the US, and made a systematic and thorough arrangement for his major scientific findings and thoughts formed in that period. Publishing the book was one of the achievements of inheriting and developing Qian Xuesen’s ideological inheritance, making great contribution not only to China but also to the whole world. It was also the latest achievement that China had made in publishing its books around the world.

Ma Dexiu mentioned that after coming back to China, Qian Xuesen devoted himself to making contribution to the Chinese scientific and technological undertakings and the Chinese aerospace industry. As the university where he spent his undergraduate years, Shanghai Jiaotong University was very proud of his outstanding achievements. Papers in Collected Works of Dr. H.S. Tsien , which were full of innovative ideas and theoretical breakthroughs, represented the greatest academic achievements of Qian Xuesen, and have led significant development in several scientific fields. The publication of an English version was not only a great event of the publishing circle, but also a great event of the academic and the educational circle. We hoped that we could help foreign readers learn more about Chinese scientists’ thoughts and ideas, and have deeper understanding of the development path and difficult course of China.

The story between Qian Xuesen and Shanghai Jiaotong University was not only a touching one, but also a significant spiritual treasure of the university. On Dec 11, 2011, Qian Xuesen Library was established and opened in Shanghai Jiaotong University in memory of Qian Xuesen’s centennial birthday. It will become a collection and management center of Qian Xuesen’s literature and objects, a research center of his academic thinking and a promotion center of his scientific achievements and noble spirit. Ma Dexiu stressed that Shanghai Jiaotong University should inherit Qian Xuesen’s patriotism and scientific spirit, thus to make necessary contributions to world development and human civilization.

Chi Yongshuo, President of International Publishers Association and President of Elsevier Publishing Group, said that as the largest scientific publication group, Elsevier has a good tradition which was that it only published works of the most  famous scientists in the world. He said that Qian Xuesen was a famous aerospace scientist and Elsevier could enlarge his influence in international academic world through publishing the international version of Collected Works of Dr. H.S. Tsien. Therefore, this publication was very important.

Han Jianmin, President of Shanghai Jiaotong University Press, read Tan Qingming’s (research from the mechanics research institute of Chinese Academy of Sciences) comments about the book, and briefly introduced the academic value of this book and Qian Xuesen’s academic contributions.

Collected Works of Dr. H.S. Tsien: 1938-1956 collected 51 of Qian Xuesen’s academic papers published during his stay and work in the US, covering aerodynamics, shell stability, rocket trajectory and engine analysis, jet propulsion, engineering cybernetics, physical mechanics and other fields. It solved many key problems in aerospace field, making significant contribution to the development of world aerospace industry.

Participants of this activity also included: Tao Ye, Vice Chairman of Chinese Publishers Association, Zhang Fuhai, Director of the International Exchange and Cooperation Department of General Administration of Press and Publication, Wang Shijun, Director of the International Exchange and Cooperation Department of Shanghai Administration of Press and Publication, Susanna Borrowdale, General Manager of the Scientific Book Department of Elsevier Publishing Group, Cel Gerald, Senior Vice President of Sales, Ben Danny, Director of Publication, Publisher Jonathan Simpson, Li Meiyi, Director of Asia Pacific Area, Zhang Yuguo, President of China Business, Ying Zhongfeng, General Manager of Greater China Area, Zhang Weimin, Director of the International Exchange and Cooperation Department of Shanghai Jiaotong University, Ma Lei, Secretary-General of the Alumni Association of the university, Zhang Tianwei, Editor-in-Chief of Shanghai Jiaotong University Press, etc.