Mao Yisheng
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Dr. Mao Yisheng (Traditional Chinese: 茅以升; Hanyu Pinyin: Máo Yǐshēng; Wade-Giles: Mao2 Yi3-sheng1; January 9, 1896 - November 12, 1989) was as an expert on bridge construction and a social activist in China.
Mao was born in Zhenjiang, Jiangsu Province. He earned his Master's degree from Cornell University and earned the first Ph.D. ever granted by the Carnegie Institute of Technology (now Carnegie Mellon University) in 1919. His doctoral expertise titled Secondary Stress on Frame Construction is treasured at the Hunt Library of Carnegie Mellon University. Dr. Mao went on to a long and productive career that included designing two of the most famous modern bridges in China, the Qiantang River Bridge near Hangzhou, and the Yangtze River Bridge at Wuhan. He also led the structural design of the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.
Dr. Mao was on the faculty of five major universities and served as president of four. He significantly influenced Chinese engineering education by introducing new subject matter and innovative pedagogical approaches. In addition to his engineering expertise, he was a distinguished scholar of the history of science in China.
Dr. Mao served as a leader of the China Engineers Association, the Chinese Civil Engineering Society and the China Association of Science and Technology. He has also served as president of Southwest Jiaotong University(from Tangshan Engineering College to Northern Jiaotong University to Southwest Jiaotong University), director of Railway Institute under the Ministry of Railway, president of Railway Scientific Research Center, chairman of Beijing Science Association, honorary president and vice-president of the China Association for Science and Technology, vice-chairman of Jiu San Society, vice-chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), member of CPPCC, and the standing committee member of National People's Congress.
He advocated popular science education, and wrote "On Bridge", "China's Arch Bridges" and many other popular science articles.
On April 18, 2006, Carnegie Mellon University set up a statue honoring its first doctoral graduate. The sculpture includes an inscription from China’s Premier, Wen Jiabao.
