BIRMINGHAM, Britain, June 30 (Xinhua) -- A blue plaque honoring Li Siguang, a late Chinese geologist and founder of geological mechanics, was unveiled at the University of Birmingham on Thursday.
Born in 1889, Li studied geology at the University of Birmingham in the 1910s. Later he spent several years researching the geology of China, and his work greatly contributed to the discovery of China's major natural gas and oil fields in the 1950s. In 1931, he received his doctorate at the University of Birmingham. He died in 1971.
With this commemorative plaque, Li has joined an illustrious club of about two dozen famous people with ties to the university, including Norman Haworth, Nobel Prize laureate in chemistry, and well-known writer David Lodge.
Calling Li "one of the university's most famous Chinese alumni," Jon Frampton, director of the China Institute that operates on the university campus, recalled a series of lectures the institute organized in 2018 to mark the legacy of the famous geologist.
"We covered a wide range of disciplines through those lectures that are relevant to our academic engagement with China, including topics as diverse as sustainability, science diplomacy, and cultural understanding," Frampton said.
"The legacy of Li Siguang is very much alive here at the university. It's driving future-oriented collaborations with researchers in China," said William Bloss, a professor of atmospheric sciences at the University of Birmingham.
China's Ambassador to Britain Zheng Zeguang said: "Li Siguang was a very accomplished academic and scientist. We're pleased that Li Siguang's legacy is alive and cherished at your great university."
He said the collaborations between the University of Birmingham and Chinese universities and research institutions will help to resolve the "common challenges" faced by the whole world. He also encouraged Chinese students studying at the University of Birmingham to try to rival Li's academic excellence.
BIRMINGHAM, Britain, June 30 (Xinhua) -- A blue plaque honoring Chinese late geologist Li Siguang, founder of China's geomechanics, was unveiled at the University of Birmingham on Thursday.
Li, born in 1889, studied geology at the University of Birmingham in the 1910s. After spending several years researching geology in China, he returned to the University of Birmingham for his doctorate, which was awarded in 1931. Li's research led to the discovery of China's major natural gas and oil fields in the 1950s. He died in 1971.
Britain has a tradition of using a plaque, usually blue-colored and placed on the facade of buildings, to commemorate the lives of important people or an important event. The University of Birmingham has unveiled about two dozen of such plaques, including ones for Nobel Laureate in chemistry Norman Haworth and famous writer David Lodge.
Calling Li "one of the University of Birmingham's most famous Chinese alumni," Jon Frampton, director of the China Institute at the University of Birmingham, said the China Institute commenced a series of annual lectures in his name in 2018.
"We covered a wide range of disciplines through those lectures that are relevant to our academic engagement with China, including topics as diverse as sustainability, science diplomacy, and cultural understanding," Frampton said.
"The legacy of Li Siguang is very much alive here in the university. It's driving collaborations with researchers in China for the future," said William Bloss, professor of atmospheric sciences at the University of Birmingham.
China's Ambassador to Britain Zheng Zeguang said: "Li Siguang was a very accomplished academic and scientist. We're so pleased that Li Siguang's legacy is alive and continues in your great university."
The ambassador said the collaborations between the University of Birmingham and Chinese universities as well as research institutions "belong to humanity," as they will help to resolve the "common challenges" faced by the two countries and the whole world. He also encouraged Chinese students studying at the University of Birmingham to emulate Li's academic excellence.
