Bulletin Spring‧Summer 1991

Wei Lun Lectures 1990-91 Three famous scholars visited the University between January and April 1991 as Wei Lun Visiting Professors and conducted a series of lectures under the Wei Lun Visiting Professorship/Fellowship Programme: Prof. John C.K. Chu Prof. John C.K. Chu, professor of applied physics at Columbia University, New York, gave two talks on 8th and 9th January about computational engineering. He described some of the recent advances in engineering procedures such as grid generation, computational fluid dynamics, optimization and sensitivity analysis, which are all based on the intensive use of the computer. He also explained the basic mathematical principles involved and discussed problems related to actual application. Prof. Chu's major research interests include applied mathematics, plasma physics fluid dynamics and large-scale computing. Prof. Lucian W. Pye Prof. Lucian W. Pye, Ford Professor of Political Science at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, gave two lectures on the theme of Chinese nationalism and modernization on 9th and 11th January. The first lecture entitled ‘The Challenge of Modernization to the Chinese National Identity' analyses the tension and contradiction between Chinese nationalism and the goal of modernization since the early 20th century. The second lecture entitled ‘Overseas Chinese between the World and Beijing?' concentrates on the experience of overseas Chinese as they try to improve their socia l status in different places and are gradually assimilated by local societies. Prof. Pye specializes in the comparative study of political cultures and political psychology and is an authority on the politics of Asian countries. One of his major research interests is the impact of modernization on traditional societies in Asia. Prof. Wang Yuan Prof. Wang Yuan, a leading authority on mathematics in China, delivered a lecture entitled 'Mathematics in China - present situation and development' on 27th April. Prof. Wang compared the numbers of mathematicians, mathematical publications, and library facilities in China during different periods over the past 40 years, and discussed the achievements and influence of eminent Chinese mathematicians. He also analysed the problems facing China in her attempts to promote the development of mathematics in the country. Prof. Wang Yuan is at present president of the Chinese Mathematical Society. He wa s director of the Institute of Mathematics, Academia Sinica from 1984 to 1987. His research on the famous mathematical problems 'the Goldbach Conjecture' and ‘Diophantine Equations' has won international acclaim. Professorial Inaugural Lectures Four professorial inaugural lectures were given from January to April 1991: * Prof. J.A. Gosling, professor of anatomy, delivered his inaugural lecture entitled The Discipline of Human Anatomy 一 Historical Milestones, Current Status and Future Prospects' on 25th January 1991. * Prof. D.E. Pollard, professor of translation, delivered his inaugural lecture entitled ‘Translation and Lu Xun: the Discipline and the Writer' on 1st March 1991. * Prof. Kenneth Young , professor of physics, delivered his inaugural lecture entitled ‘Disorder and Dissipation in Physics' on 22nd March 1991. NEWS 14