On May 18, Zhang Baichun, a researcher from the Institute for the History of Natural Sciences of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, was invited to visit the Faculty of History of Nankai University. He attended the Lecture of Famous Researchers in the Field of History, and gave an academic speech on the topic of “The Development Trend of the History of Science and Technology in China”.

Before the lecture, President Cao Xuetao met with Zhang Baichun in the Service Building. They exchanged views on the construction of the discipline.

In his speech, Zhang Baichun said that the history of science and technology is an important subject in  bridging  the gap between the sciences and the humanities. It is also a breakthrough for comprehensive universities to promote the intersection of liberal arts and science. Therefore, further research and construction on the history of science and technology will help realize the coexistence and complementary nature  of history and the history of science and technology in a university, and form the puzzle of “great history” at  Nankai University.

Zhang Baichun reviewed the history of science and technology in detail. According to Zhang Baichun, while the research and discipline construction of the history of science and technology in China has made important achievements, it also faces a series of problems and challenges. At present, the development of this subject in China is slow and its structure is not rigorous  enough. Under the current condition  of discipline development, Nankai University can seek long-term and high-quality development, and gradually develop its advantages and form its own characteristics and competitiveness by building a stable team of teachers.

After the speech, the teachers and students had a vigorous  discussion with Zhang Baichun about the relationship between literature and the history of science and technology, the relationship between the sociology of science and the history of science and technology, the breakthrough point of the teaching and learning of the history of science and technology, as well as the science of ancient Chinese society.

Jiang Pei, a professor from the Center for Global Civilizations of Nankai University, spoke highly of the lecture. He believes  that the history of science and technology is of great significance to the formation of traditional history, disciplinary development, and the formation of national scientific quality standards. The development of the history of science and technology should focus on the cultivation of students’ knowledge structure, and promote the development of relevant work in the teaching system, curriculum system and enrollment.

(Reported by Wanpeng Fang, translated by Dongze Wu, edited by Daniel Stefan and JianjingYun)