Chien Shih-Liang
Encyclopedia
Chien Shih-Liang aka S. L. Chien (Traditional Chinese: 錢思亮) 1908-1983, was a notable Chinese
chemist
and educator.
, Zhejiang
. Chien graduated from the prestigious Tianjin Nankai High School. Chien matriculated at Tsinghua University
Department of Chemistry in 1927. He won the Boxer Rebellion Indemnity Scholarship Program
in 1931 and went to the United States
together with Ta-You Wu
. Chien continued his study in chemistry at the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign (UIUC) where he obtained M.Sc. in 1932 and Ph.D. in 1934.
Chien went back to China after obtaining PhD and joined the Peking University
Department of Chemistry. Chien was a professor
and the head of the department.
In 1949, Chien went to Taipei
, and was recruited professor of chemistry and the provost of the National Taiwan University
, by its then-president Fu Sinian
. From 1951 till 1970, Chien was the President of the National Taiwan University.
In 1964, Chien was elected Academician of the Academia Sinica
division of physical and mathematical sciences. From 1970 to 1983, Chien served the President of Academia Sinica. In 1983, Chien received honorary doctoral degree from his alma mater
UIUC.
From 1971 to 1981, Chien also served the director of Atomic Energy Commission
of the Executive Yuan
.
in the Supreme Court
of the Republic of China
, and was assassinated in Shanghai
in 1940. Chien had three sons, the oldest Robert Chien (錢純) was former Minister of Finance of Taiwan, and former Secretary-general
of Executive Yuan
. His second son Shu Chien
(錢煦), is a world-renowned bio-scientist
and engineer
. His youngest son Frederick Foo Chien
(錢復) is a politician
in Taiwan
.
Chinese people
The term Chinese people may refer to any of the following:*People with Han Chinese ethnicity ....
chemist
Chemist
A chemist is a scientist trained in the study of chemistry. Chemists study the composition of matter and its properties such as density and acidity. Chemists carefully describe the properties they study in terms of quantities, with detail on the level of molecules and their component atoms...
and educator.
Biography
Chien was from HangzhouHangzhou
Hangzhou , formerly transliterated as Hangchow, is the capital and largest city of Zhejiang Province in Eastern China. Governed as a sub-provincial city, and as of 2010, its entire administrative division or prefecture had a registered population of 8.7 million people...
, Zhejiang
Zhejiang
Zhejiang is an eastern coastal province of the People's Republic of China. The word Zhejiang was the old name of the Qiantang River, which passes through Hangzhou, the provincial capital...
. Chien graduated from the prestigious Tianjin Nankai High School. Chien matriculated at Tsinghua University
Tsinghua University
Tsinghua University , colloquially known in Chinese as Qinghua, is a university in Beijing, China. The school is one of the nine universities of the C9 League. It was established in 1911 under the name "Tsinghua Xuetang" or "Tsinghua College" and was renamed the "Tsinghua School" one year later...
Department of Chemistry in 1927. He won the Boxer Rebellion Indemnity Scholarship Program
Boxer Rebellion Indemnity Scholarship Program
The Boxer Indemnity Scholarship Program was a scholarship program funded by Boxer Rebellion indemnity money paid to the United States that provided for Chinese students to study in the U.S...
in 1931 and went to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
together with Ta-You Wu
Ta-You Wu
Wu Ta-You was a Chinese-born atomic and nuclear theoretical physicist who worked in the United States, Canada, mainland China, and Taiwan. He has been called the "Father of Chinese Physics."...
. Chien continued his study in chemistry at the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign (UIUC) where he obtained M.Sc. in 1932 and Ph.D. in 1934.
Chien went back to China after obtaining PhD and joined the Peking University
Peking University
Peking University , colloquially known in Chinese as Beida , is a major research university located in Beijing, China, and a member of the C9 League. It is the first established modern national university of China. It was founded as Imperial University of Peking in 1898 as a replacement of the...
Department of Chemistry. Chien was a professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
and the head of the department.
In 1949, Chien went to Taipei
Taipei
Taipei City is the capital of the Republic of China and the central city of the largest metropolitan area of Taiwan. Situated at the northern tip of the island, Taipei is located on the Tamsui River, and is about 25 km southwest of Keelung, its port on the Pacific Ocean...
, and was recruited professor of chemistry and the provost of the National Taiwan University
National Taiwan University
National Taiwan University is a national co-educational university located in Taipei, Republic of China . In Taiwan, it is colloquially known as "Táidà" . Its main campus is set upon 1,086,167 square meters in Taipei's Da'an District. In addition, the university has 6 other campuses in Taiwan,...
, by its then-president Fu Sinian
Fu Sinian
Fù Sīnián , was a famous Chinese educator and linguist, and one of the leaders of the May Fourth Movement in 1919. He studied experimental psychology at University College, London from 1920-23. He was also one of the creators of the Academia Sinica, and was named director of the Institute of...
. From 1951 till 1970, Chien was the President of the National Taiwan University.
In 1964, Chien was elected Academician of the Academia Sinica
Academia Sinica
The Academia Sinica , headquartered in the Nangang District of Taipei, is the national academy of Taiwan. It supports research activities in a wide variety of disciplines, ranging from mathematical and physical sciences, to life sciences, and to humanities and social sciences.Academia Sinica has...
division of physical and mathematical sciences. From 1970 to 1983, Chien served the President of Academia Sinica. In 1983, Chien received honorary doctoral degree from his alma mater
Alma mater
Alma mater , pronounced ), was used in ancient Rome as a title for various mother goddesses, especially Ceres or Cybele, and in Christianity for the Virgin Mary.-General term:...
UIUC.
From 1971 to 1981, Chien also served the director of Atomic Energy Commission
Atomic Energy Commission
Many countries have or have had an Atomic Energy Commission. These include:* Australian Atomic Energy Commission * Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission * Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique...
of the Executive Yuan
Executive Yuan
The Executive Yuan is the executive branch of the government of the Republic of China , commonly known as "Taiwan".-Organization and structure:...
.
Family
Chien's father Chien Hong-ye (錢鴻業) was a Chief JusticeChief Justice
The Chief Justice in many countries is the name for the presiding member of a Supreme Court in Commonwealth or other countries with an Anglo-Saxon justice system based on English common law, such as the Supreme Court of Canada, the Constitutional Court of South Africa, the Court of Final Appeal of...
in the Supreme Court
Supreme court
A supreme court is the highest court within the hierarchy of many legal jurisdictions. Other descriptions for such courts include court of last resort, instance court, judgment court, high court, or apex court...
of the Republic of China
Republic of China
The Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...
, and was assassinated in Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
in 1940. Chien had three sons, the oldest Robert Chien (錢純) was former Minister of Finance of Taiwan, and former Secretary-general
Secretary-General
-International intergovernmental organizations:-International nongovernmental organizations:-Sports governing bodies:...
of Executive Yuan
Executive Yuan
The Executive Yuan is the executive branch of the government of the Republic of China , commonly known as "Taiwan".-Organization and structure:...
. His second son Shu Chien
Shu Chien
Shu Chien , is an eminent American biological scientist and engineer. Chien is current President of the Biomedical Engineering Society.-Biography:...
(錢煦), is a world-renowned bio-scientist
Biologist
A biologist is a scientist devoted to and producing results in biology through the study of life. Typically biologists study organisms and their relationship to their environment. Biologists involved in basic research attempt to discover underlying mechanisms that govern how organisms work...
and engineer
Engineer
An engineer is a professional practitioner of engineering, concerned with applying scientific knowledge, mathematics and ingenuity to develop solutions for technical problems. Engineers design materials, structures, machines and systems while considering the limitations imposed by practicality,...
. His youngest son Frederick Foo Chien
Fredrick Chien
Frederick Chien Foo , also spelled Fredrick Chien, was the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China on Taiwan from 1990 to 1996.-Background:...
(錢復) is a politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
in Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
.