This year marks the 100th anniversary of Albert Einstein's opening of the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology and his visit to China. Recently, Prof. Shi Yu from the Department of Physics of Fudan University gave an online lecture titled "Shanghai-Technion: Einstein Journey Exactly 100 Years Ago" to the faculty and students at Guangdong Technion – Israel Institute of Technology (GTIIT), introducing Einstein's life and his scientific spirit.

Prof. Gong Xingao, Chancellor of GTIIT and Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Prof. David Gershoni, Vice Chancellor of GTIIT, presided the lecture. GTers participated the lecture online, learning about Einstein's connection with the Technion and GTIIT.

A Genius Who Leads the Time

Prof. Shi Yu briefly reviewed Einstein's early experience. "It's worth noting that Einstein was not that well known in the scientific world at the beginning. In 1919, British astronomers observed light bending during a solar eclipse. People were only shocked by the result, but Einstein understood that this was exactly what the general theory of relativity had predicted." According to Prof. Shi, Einstein's independent thinking and imagination were the basis for his remarkable achievements in the field of science.

In 1922, Einstein visited Shanghai, China. Prof. Shi Yu showed the diary materials written by Einstein after he came to China. "This scientific giant's visit to Shanghai has greatly stimulated Chinese people's enthusiasm for Einstein and the theory of relativity."

Albert Einstein visited Technion in 1923

The theory of relativity and quantum theory are two major contributions to physics by Einstein, the "father of modern physics". However, when the Nobel Prize Committee announced the award for Einstein, it pointed out that the award was given to him for his outstanding research on the photoelectric effect; as for his theory of relativity and gravitation, its value has yet to be confirmed. "It is clear that Einstein's imagination which far surpassed that of his contemporaries was not so recognized at the time, but now we know that it belongs to a genius a hundred years ago," Prof. Shi Yu said.

Inherite the Wisdom from 100 Years Ago

Albert Einstein initiated the Technion 100 years ago. Today, his legacy continues in the GTIIT, the China Campus of the Technion. Prof. Shi Yu encouraged all GT students to follow the footsteps of Einstein and lighten their wisdom with independent thinking and imagination. "This great scientist has a famous quote: imagination is more important than knowledge."

In 1923, Einstein visited the Technion. During his visit, he planted a now-famous first palm tree, leaving the spirit of exploring the science and unknown in Technion. As its China campus, GTIIT is destined to gain the wisdom from Einstein. The seed of wisdom, with Einstein's scientific spirit and the Chinese youth's enthusiasm of pursuing science, travels a hundred years and will be continuously passed on by GTIIT students.

Introduction

Shi Yu is a professor at the Department of Physics, Fudan University. He received his bachelor and doctoral degrees from Nanjing University, in 1989 and 1994 respectively. He worked at Bar-Ilan University, Israel, Cambridge University, UK,  and some other institutions before becoming a professor at Fudan University in 2005.

His main research interests involve quantum mechanics, quantum field theory, quantum information science, as well as the history of physics. He has done in-depth studies on important physcists, especially Albert Einstein and C. N. Yang, and gave invited plenary speeches at the 8th Conference of the International Organization of Chinese Physicists and Astronomers, the International Conference on 60 Years of Yang-Mills Theory, and the Symposium Celebrating the Centenary of C. N. Yang.  

Text: Liu Huayi, GTIIT News & Public Affairs

Photos: GTIIT Website, GTIIT News & Public Affairs, The Paper