• [2012-09-27]

  PKU mechanics' 60th anniversary

Peking University, Sept.27, 2012: Hosted by the Department of Mechanics and Engineering Science, the State Key Laboratory for Turbulence and Complex Systems (LTCS), and supported by the College of Engineering (COE) Alumni Association, the 60th anniversary celebration of the Peking University (PKU) mechanics discipline was grandly held at Yingjie Exchange Center on Sept. 22. Over four hundreds alumni returned to their Alma Mater for the grand celebration, including distinguished guests, predecessors of the discipline, and friends from the mechanics departments of over 30 universities and institutes.Chen Shiyi, dean of COE and director of LTCS, presided over the ceremony.

The mechanics discipline was established in the Department of Mathematics and Mechanics at PKU in 1952, as the first mechanics discipline at that time, by Zhou Peiyuan ( P. Y. Chou), a former PKU President and deceased renowned theoretical physicist of China.Based upon the discipline was founded the Department of Mechanics in 1979, which became the Department of Mechanics and Aerospace Engineering after merging into the College of Engineering in 2006. In the past 60 years, over 5000 students graduated from the discipline.

“In the past six decades, the discipline has made remarkable impact on the advancement of our nation’s economy, science and technology,” said President Qifeng Zhou congratulating on the celebration.

The morning’s celebration included a memorial video of P. Y. Chou, speeches from alumni, faculty member, students and other representatives. Wang Jianxiang, current department chair, gave an overview of the department’s updates in faculty team, teaching, scientific research and international exchange,

In addition, the Mechanics Development Foundation of PKU was unveiled on the morning’s ceremony, which meets the alumni’s rising aspiration of supporting the department’s growth. The foundation intends to provide stipends, scholarships and research funds for the department students and teachers. Two alumni Lunan Wang and Changseng Wan donated 50,000 RMB and 10,000 USD respectively.

In the afternoon, three panel meetings, namely Alumni’s Advice on Career Development, Mechanics Education Forum, and Mechanics Research Forum were held parallel. Alumni also visited the COE laboratories including Wind Tunnel Laboratory, Aerodynamics Laboratory and Solid Mechanics Laboratory.