Fudan University held a ceremony on July 17 to commemorate the naming of asteroid 85728 in honor of the late YANG Fujia, the university’s former president.
The asteroid was discovered in 1998, with the last three digits of its number “728” coinciding with Yang’s birth date. The official naming announcement was made by the Minor Planet Center on behalf of Division F of the International Astronomical Union in 2023.
Naming an asteroid is a prestigious, international, and permanent honor. Previous recipients from Fudan University include Professor SU Buqing, Professor GU Chaohao, and Professor TAN Jiazhen.
Professor Yang, who passed away in 2022 at the age of 86, was a member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and a pioneer in China’s synchrotron research. He made significant contributions to nuclear energy spectroscopy, nuclear decay analysis, and ion beam research.
As an esteemed educator, Professor Yang prioritized higher education and international exchanges. He served as president of Fudan University from 1993 to 1998, became chancellor of the University of Nottingham in 2001, and founded the University of Nottingham Ningbo China, serving as its first president in 2004.
At the ceremony, The Illustrated Biography of Yang Fujia (《杨福家画传》) was also unveiled. This comprehensive biography, published by Fudan University Press, is co-authored by HUO Sitong and YANG Liu, and captures the remarkable journey of Professor Yang’s life, including its final moments.
“Professor Yang’s legacy as a courageous advocate for the advancement of science, technology, and innovation, along with his commitment to truth and pragmatism in education, serves as an enduring inspiration for the Fudan University community. His dedication motivates every member to persist with determination in their academic and research endeavors, striving for excellence and contributing to the progress of society,” said JIN Li, president of Fudan University, at the naming ceremony.
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Presented by Fudan University
Writer: WANG Mengqi
Editor: Li Yijie
Designer: WANG Mengqi
