Interview with Dr. Zhaozhong Wang

Jun Wu: Dr. Wang, most of us who graduated from USTC after the Cultural Revolution have very little knowledge about the school back then. Can you tell us some of your experience during that period?

Zhaozhong Wang: I graduated from Department of Physics in 1968. At that time, we were subjects of "re-education". Among 100 students who graduated from physics department that year, most of us were sent to factories, logging mills and farms in remote areas. I was assigned to Bao Tou Steel Company to work with machines. I was able to return to USTC to attend graduate school only after the Cultural Revolution was over in 1978.

JW: I can imagine that the life must be hard for a worker at that time. But did that experience influence you in any positive way?

ZW: Personally, I think that experience teaches me to always think positively of myself. After all, the worst can happen to me is to go back to that factory in Bao Tou. Scientifically, I can not think of anything.

JW: I understand that you returned to USTC in 1978. What were the circumstances at that time?

ZW: I was among the first group to apply for graduate school after the Cultural Revolution. I remember that Chinese Academy of Sciences admitted 1,000 graduate students that year. After additional exams, I was also selected to go abroad to pursue my graduate degrees.

JW: What are the choices you had at that time?

ZW: There was little communication between China and USA at that time. As I was chosen to go to France, I had to study French from scratch. There were also people going to England, Germany, and later Japan.

JW: There must be many difficulties that you need to overcome in the beginning.

ZW: Yes, there were many difficulties. First of all, it was lack of knowledge of the outside world. There was a Chinese Physics delegation led by Guan Weiyan in France at that time. It was about the only source of information we could have access to before I arrived in France in January, 1980. Second, it was the incompatibility between Chinese and French education systems. We had to become independent and do self-study most of time.

JW: How about language?

ZW: The language is a problem, then and even now. I was 33 when I arrived in France. It is difficult to master another language at that age, and French is especially so.

JW: What about personal life?

ZW: Since we were sent abroad by Ministry of Education, we did not have much freedom of movement in the first year. For example, we had to live in designated area and could not leave the city where we studied. In the beginning, we could not even go out to buy stuff alone. We ate in the dining hall of the university. But the 540 Francs we received from the Consulate each month was not enough, so we often had to cook ourselves. The policy became looser in the second year, probably due to openness of the Chinese government. We started to mingle with French classmates.

JW: Did you stay in France after you got your Ph.D. degree?

ZW: No, I went to Princeton University to do some postdoctoral work in September, 1985. At that time, we had to obtain special permission from the Chinese government to continue to work abroad. I was granted such a permission after I presented my work to Lu Jiaxi and Hong Chaoshen, who were leading a CAS (Chinese Academy of Science) delegation visiting France at that time.

JW: What was your research in Princeton?

ZW: High-temperature superconductor was the trend in late 80s. With the superior scientific environment at Princeton, we were the leader of the field at that time. For that work, I was promoted to become a Research Staff (Assistant Professor rank), possibly the first Chinese faculty member at Princeton of mainland origin after 1970.

JW: Everything sounds very promising. But you went back to France?

ZW: I had never wanted to find a permanent job abroad. But the atmosphere in 1989 made it impossible for me to do so. I applied for a permanent position in France, and I was the director of research of CNRS (National Research Center of France) ever since.

JW: Can you tell us a little more about this centre?

ZW: As you know, this is the national centre for nanotechnology in France. Our research covers a wide range of subjects, from photonics crystal to micro-cavity. We are also working on opto-electronics and atomic manipulation.

JW: How do you feel about being a Chinese scientist in France?

ZW: Unlike other European countries, it is possible for a foreigner to hold professorship or leadership in science in France. But there is always a glass ceiling. The French society has certain stereotypic views towards immigrants. Among 577 deputies of the Assembly, there are only one minorities as I know. Many Chinese in France enter this country illegally, which does not help the general image of Chinese in France.

JW: Do you have any contacts with scientists in China?

ZW: I go back to China nearly every year. Usually I give lectures and seminars there to introduce nanoscience and nanotechnology . I am a joint professor at USTC.

JW: From your contacts with USTC, in what areas do you think it can develop?

ZW: I made some visits to CalTech. I think that USTC can learn from the CalTech model, maintain a small size, and establish itself in specific areas. If USTC intents to develop into a general university, it risks to become weak in key areas. Short-term approaches could also undermine the long-term prospects of USTC.

JW: Probably you have heard about the Alumni Foundation, what role do you think AF can play in the development of USTC?

ZW: I like the work done by AF. However, money alone will not be sufficient. Maybe AF can develop programs to help USTC to strengthen in specific areas, for example, biological engineering.

JW: You mean something like a Scientific Advisory Board?

ZW: There is an Overseas Technical Experts program at Chinese Academy of Sciences. A similar think-tank can be established among USTC alumni. Such an organization can send experts back to USTC on a regular basis to advise on specific projects.

JW: What do think about alumni activities in Europe?

ZW: I met some USTC alumni at the meetings of the Federation of Chinese Scientific Professionals in France. I think that in general, people have genuine interests towards some form of association.

JW: Before we end this interview, do you have any suggestions to newcomers in Europe?

ZW: I think that it is important for overseas students to have a long-term view of their career. Not only the present, but 5 or 10 years down the road. Moreover, we should ask ourselves what it will be if a local student carries out the same project. Only in this way can we challenge ourselves and develop.

JW: It has been a wonderful interview. Thanks for your time.

ZW: You are welcome.