30.08.2007
Oldest alumnus from University of Tübingen lives in China
Special edition stamps with Bei Shizhang honour the pioneer of biophysics
Copyright: Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen
The oldest former Tübingen student is Professor Bei Shizhang from China. The now 103-year old did his doctorate in 1928 when he was a mere 25-year old. At the time Bei Shizhang specialised in zoology.
Following his return to China in 1930, he began a steep scientific career. Shizhang is considered the founder of the disciplines Cytology, Embryology and, in particular, Biophysics in China. In addition, he was significantly involved with the creation of the Chinese Academy of Science (CAS) which works closely with the Max Planck Society. As founder of the Academy, Institute of Biophysics (IBP), he was its first director. In honour of his 100th birthday in 2003, the Chinese government renamed the Asteroid 31065 to "Beishizhang".
Bei Shizhang’s five years in Tübingen certainly made a deep impression on him – he can still speak and write perfect German and still has a touch of the regional dialect! As a result of his personal experiences made at a university abroad, he supported scientific contacts between China and Germany in many ways, for example, with a scholarship programme for students and the exchange of guest professors.
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