Mao Yisheng
Encyclopedia
Dr. Mao Yisheng was a Chinese
structural engineer
, an expert on bridge
construction, and a social activist in China.
, Jiangsu Province. He entered Jiaotong University
's Tangshan Engineering College (now Southwest Jiaotong University
) and earned his bachelor's degree in civil engineering
in 1916. He earned his Master's degree from Cornell University
and earned the first Ph.D. ever granted by the Carnegie Institute of Technology (now Carnegie Mellon University
) in 1919. His doctoral treatise entitled Secondary Stress on Frame Construction is treasured at the Hunt Library of Carnegie Mellon University.
Mao's long and productive career included designing two of the most famous modern bridges in China, the Qiantang River Bridge near Hangzhou
, and the Yangtze River Bridge at Wuhan
. He also led the structural design of the Great Hall of the People
in Beijing
.
Returning to China, Mao was on the faculty of five major universities and served as president of four, such as the President and professor of Tangshan Engineering School of the Jiaotong University
(now Southwest Jiaotong University
), Director of Engineering Course of Southeast University
, President of Engineering Course College of Beiyang University, Director of Project Office of Hangzhou Qiantangjian Bridge, and Director of Bridge Planning Project Office of Transportation Ministry of Kuomintang
Administration. He significantly influenced Chinese engineering education by introducing new subject matter and innovative pedagogical approaches. In addition to his engineering expertise, he was a distinguished scholar of the history of science in China.
Mao served as a leader of the China Engineers Association, the Chinese Civil Engineering Society and the China Association of Science and Technology. He has also served as president of Southwest Jiaotong University
(from Tangshan Engineering College to Northern Jiaotong University to Southwest Jiaotong University), director of Railway Institute under the Ministry of Railway, president of Railway Scientific Research Center, chairman of Beijing Science Association, honorary president and vice-president of the China Association for Science and Technology, vice-chairman of Jiu San Society, vice-chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference
(CPPCC), member of CPPCC, and the standing committee member of National People's Congress
.
Mao was a senior member of International Bridge and Structural Project Association, and won the honorary title of Foreign Academician issued by the National Academy of Sciences
in the United States
.
Mao was regarded as the founder of modern bridge engineering. The Qiantangjiang Bridge designed with his guidance is the first dual-purpose road-and-railway bridge designed and built by the Chinese themselves. He also participated in the construction of China's first modern bridge – Wuhan Yangtze River Bridge
. During the construction of Wuhan Yangtze River Bridge, Mao Yisheng served as chairman of the Technical Advisory Committee composed of more than 20 foreign and Chinese bridge experts, and solved 14 difficult problems relating to bridge construction.
He advocated popular science
education
, and wrote "On Bridge", "China's Arch Bridges" and many other popular science articles.
On April 18, 2006, Carnegie Mellon University set up a statue honoring its first doctoral graduate. The sculpture includes an inscription from China’s Premier, Wen Jiabao
.
, who is currently an economist in China. His family is also doing the legacy of going to Carnegie Mellon.
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
structural engineer
Structural engineer
Structural engineers analyze, design, plan, and research structural components and structural systems to achieve design goals and ensure the safety and comfort of users or occupants...
, an expert on bridge
Bridge
A bridge is a structure built to span physical obstacles such as a body of water, valley, or road, for the purpose of providing passage over the obstacle...
construction, and a social activist in China.
Biography
Mao was born in ZhenjiangZhenjiang
Zhenjiang is a prefecture-level city in the southwest of Jiangsu province in the eastern People's Republic of China . Sitting on the southern bank of the Yangtze River, it borders the provincial capital of Nanjing to the west, Changzhou to the east, and Yangzhou across the river to the north.Once...
, Jiangsu Province. He entered Jiaotong University
Jiaotong University
Jiaotong University, Jiao Tong University or Chiao Tung University , located at Shanghai, Tangshan and Peking during the early period of twentieth century, was the predecessor of the following universities:...
's Tangshan Engineering College (now Southwest Jiaotong University
Southwest Jiaotong University
Southwest Jiaotong University is one of the oldest universities in mainland China.-About SWJTU:The university was originally founded at Shanhaiguan, Hebei in 1896, and it is currently located in Chengdu, Sichuan, a major city in the southwest part of the country...
) and earned his bachelor's degree in civil engineering
Civil engineering
Civil engineering is a professional engineering discipline that deals with the design, construction, and maintenance of the physical and naturally built environment, including works like roads, bridges, canals, dams, and buildings...
in 1916. He earned his Master's degree from Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
and earned the first Ph.D. ever granted by the Carnegie Institute of Technology (now Carnegie Mellon University
Carnegie Mellon University
Carnegie Mellon University is a private research university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States....
) in 1919. His doctoral treatise entitled Secondary Stress on Frame Construction is treasured at the Hunt Library of Carnegie Mellon University.
Mao's long and productive career included designing two of the most famous modern bridges in China, the Qiantang River Bridge near Hangzhou
Hangzhou
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...
, and the Yangtze River Bridge at Wuhan
Wuhan
Wuhan is the capital of Hubei province, People's Republic of China, and is the most populous city in Central China. It lies at the east of the Jianghan Plain, and the intersection of the middle reaches of the Yangtze and Han rivers...
. He also led the structural design of the Great Hall of the People
Great Hall of the People
The Great Hall of the People is located at the western edge of Tiananmen Square, Beijing, People's Republic of China, and is used for legislative and ceremonial activities by the People's Republic of China and the Communist Party of China. It functions as the People's Republic of China's...
in Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
.
Returning to China, Mao was on the faculty of five major universities and served as president of four, such as the President and professor of Tangshan Engineering School of the Jiaotong University
Jiaotong University
Jiaotong University, Jiao Tong University or Chiao Tung University , located at Shanghai, Tangshan and Peking during the early period of twentieth century, was the predecessor of the following universities:...
(now Southwest Jiaotong University
Southwest Jiaotong University
Southwest Jiaotong University is one of the oldest universities in mainland China.-About SWJTU:The university was originally founded at Shanhaiguan, Hebei in 1896, and it is currently located in Chengdu, Sichuan, a major city in the southwest part of the country...
), Director of Engineering Course of Southeast University
Southeast University
Southeast University , colloquially Dongda is a public, coeducational research university located in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China....
, President of Engineering Course College of Beiyang University, Director of Project Office of Hangzhou Qiantangjian Bridge, and Director of Bridge Planning Project Office of Transportation Ministry of Kuomintang
Kuomintang
The Kuomintang of China , sometimes romanized as Guomindang via the Pinyin transcription system or GMD for short, and translated as the Chinese Nationalist Party is a founding and ruling political party of the Republic of China . Its guiding ideology is the Three Principles of the People, espoused...
Administration. He significantly influenced Chinese engineering education by introducing new subject matter and innovative pedagogical approaches. In addition to his engineering expertise, he was a distinguished scholar of the history of science in China.
Mao served as a leader of the China Engineers Association, the Chinese Civil Engineering Society and the China Association of Science and Technology. He has also served as president of Southwest Jiaotong University
Southwest Jiaotong University
Southwest Jiaotong University is one of the oldest universities in mainland China.-About SWJTU:The university was originally founded at Shanhaiguan, Hebei in 1896, and it is currently located in Chengdu, Sichuan, a major city in the southwest part of the country...
(from Tangshan Engineering College to Northern Jiaotong University to Southwest Jiaotong University), director of Railway Institute under the Ministry of Railway, president of Railway Scientific Research Center, chairman of Beijing Science Association, honorary president and vice-president of the China Association for Science and Technology, vice-chairman of Jiu San Society, vice-chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference
Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference
The Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference [], shortened as 人民政协, Rénmín Zhèngxié, i.e. "People's PCC"; or just 政协, Zhèngxié, i.e. "The PCC"), abbreviated CPPCC, is a political advisory body in the People's Republic of China...
(CPPCC), member of CPPCC, and the standing committee member of National People's Congress
National People's Congress
The National People's Congress , abbreviated NPC , is the highest state body and the only legislative house in the People's Republic of China. The National People's Congress is held in the Great Hall of the People, Beijing, capital of the People's Republic of China; with 2,987 members, it is the...
.
Mao was a senior member of International Bridge and Structural Project Association, and won the honorary title of Foreign Academician issued by the National Academy of Sciences
United States National Academy of Sciences
The National Academy of Sciences is a corporation in the United States whose members serve pro bono as "advisers to the nation on science, engineering, and medicine." As a national academy, new members of the organization are elected annually by current members, based on their distinguished and...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Mao was regarded as the founder of modern bridge engineering. The Qiantangjiang Bridge designed with his guidance is the first dual-purpose road-and-railway bridge designed and built by the Chinese themselves. He also participated in the construction of China's first modern bridge – Wuhan Yangtze River Bridge
Wuhan Yangtze River Bridge
The Wuhan Yangtze River Bridge , commonly known as First Wuhan Yangtze Bridge, is the first bridge built over the Yangtze River in Wuhan.-Timing:...
. During the construction of Wuhan Yangtze River Bridge, Mao Yisheng served as chairman of the Technical Advisory Committee composed of more than 20 foreign and Chinese bridge experts, and solved 14 difficult problems relating to bridge construction.
He advocated popular science
Popular science
Popular science, sometimes called literature of science, is interpretation of science intended for a general audience. While science journalism focuses on recent scientific developments, popular science is broad-ranging, often written by scientists as well as journalists, and is presented in many...
education
Science education
Science education is the field concerned with sharing science content and process with individuals not traditionally considered part of the scientific community. The target individuals may be children, college students, or adults within the general public. The field of science education comprises...
, and wrote "On Bridge", "China's Arch Bridges" and many other popular science articles.
On April 18, 2006, Carnegie Mellon University set up a statue honoring its first doctoral graduate. The sculpture includes an inscription from China’s Premier, Wen Jiabao
Wen Jiabao
Wen Jiabao is the sixth and current Premier and Party secretary of the State Council of the People's Republic of China, serving as China's head of government and leading its cabinet. In his capacity as Premier, Wen is regarded as the leading figure behind China's economic policy...
.
Family
Mao Yisheng's nephew is Mao YushiMao Yushi
Mao Yushi is a Chinese economist. Mao graduated at Jiautong University in 1950 and was labeled as a rightist in 1958...
, who is currently an economist in China. His family is also doing the legacy of going to Carnegie Mellon.