4.①When China was still poor and far behind the West, two Chinese scientists insisted on leading the world through homegrown innovation. They are jet fighter (战斗机) designer Gu Songfen and nuclear energy scientist Wang Dazhong, who won China's top science award — the State Preeminent Science and Technology Award on Nov 3.
②In the 1950s, China had no aviation (航空) experience, equipment or wind tunnels. As the head of the aerodynamics (空气动力学的) team in Shenyang, Gu's first task was to develop the country's first homegrown jet aircraft. Despite difficulties, he managed to complete JJ-1, the first jet aircraft designed in China.
③Gu, 91, started the aerodynamic design of aircraft, which advanced the development of a number of major jet fighters, including the Nanchang CJ-6, a basic training plane, and the Shenyang J﹣8, a high-speed, high-altitude single-scat interceptor.
④Those aircraft not only greatly improved China's air defense capabilities but also laid the foundation of its aviation industry.
⑤Wang Dazhong, 86, has spent 60 years working to develop nuclear energy. After nuclear accidents in Three Mile Island in the US in 1979, and Chernobyl in the Soviet Union in 1986, scientists all over the world have worked hard to ensure that reactors (反应堆) are made "inherently safe". It means they do not depend on measures powered by outside resources to remain stable.
⑥An academician at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wang led the research, design and operation of China's first 5﹣megawatt low temperature nuclear heating reactor and later of its 10﹣megawatt high temperature gas﹣cooled reactor. He used key technologies related to helium coolant (氨冷却剂) . Both reactors improved the inherent safety of nuclear energy, as well as the application of clean energy. Wang 's scientific achievements have paved the way for clean energy as China works to achieve carbon neutrality (碳中和), said He Jiankun, an expert in Tsinghua University. Nuclear power releases zero carbon and can ensure the safe and stable operation of the power grid (电网), he said.
⑦Both Gu Songfen and Wang Dazhong made great contribution to the homegrown innovation for China, which is worth being respected by people around the world especially by our Chinese.