Tsung-Dao Lee: The Promoter of China’s Basic Research and a Scientific Bridge Builder between China and the World since the 1970s

Abstract

In the early 1970s, the People's Republic of China gradually reestablished its scientific and technological exchanges with the global community, ushering in an important phase in the history of science and technology in modern and contemporary China. A number of scientists came to the Chinese mainland for visits and cooperation, among them some overseas Chinese scientists who played significant roles in this process. They not only brought new knowledge to China but also proposed suggestions for the reform of science, technology, and the educational system in China. Tsung-Dao Lee, a Chinese-American physicist, made substantial contributions to promoting the scientific and technological development of China during the 1970s and 1980s. Lee and other renowned overseas Chinese scientists played special roles in transnational knowledge exchange. Lee's endeavors encompassed several aspects. For instance, he interacted with Chinese leaders such as Mao Zedong and Zhou Enlai, as well as with physicists, during his visits to China in 1972 and1974. He also facilitated the flow of transnational knowledge, particularly in the decision-making process for the construction of the Beijing Electron-Positron Collider. Additionally, he made significant contributions to promoting cooperation and exchange between the Chinese scientific community and international academic institutions.