China’s homegrown heroes

When China was still poor and far behind the West, two Chinese scientists insisted on leading the world through homegrown innovation. They are jet fighter designer Gu Songfen and nuclear energy scientist Wang Dazhong, who won China’s top science award – the State Preeminent Science and Technology Award on Nov 3.
在中国一度贫穷且远远落后于西方时，有两位中国科学家坚持通过自主创新，令我国技术领跑世界：喷气式战斗机设计师顾诵芬和核能科学家王大中，他们于11月3日获得中国最高科学奖项——国家最高科学技术奖。

In the 1950s, China had no aviation experience, equipment or wind tunnels. As the head of the aerodynamics team in Shenyang, Gu’s first task was to develop the country’s first homegrown jet aircraft. Despite difficulties, he managed to complete JJ-1, the first jet aircraft designed in China.
20世纪50年代，中国既无发展航空的经验，又无航空设备或风洞。作为沈阳飞机设计室气动组组长，顾诵芬接受的第一项任务就是研发中国首型国产喷气式飞机。尽管面对重重困难，顾诵芬还是出色完成了歼教1飞机的设计工作，这是中国自行设计的第一架喷气式飞机。

Gu, 91, started the aerodynamic design of aircraft, which advanced the development of a number of major jet fighters, including the Nanchang CJ-6, a basic training plane, and the Shenyang J-8, a high-speed, high-altitude single-seat interceptor.
现年91岁的顾诵芬从此开始了从事飞机空气动力设计的工作，空气动力技术推动研制出数架主力战斗机，包括初级教练机南昌初教-6以及高空高速截击战斗机歼-8。

Those aircraft not only greatly improved China’s air defense capabilities but also laid the foundation of its aviation industry.
这些飞机不仅极大提高了中国的防空能力，也奠定了中国航空工业的基础。

Wang Dazhong, 86, has spent 60 years working to develop nuclear energy.
86岁的王大中则为核能事业奉献了60年。

After nuclear accidents in Three Mile Island in the US in 1979, and Chernobyl in the Soviet Union in 1986, scientists all over the world have worked hard to ensure that reactors are made “inherently safe”. It means they do not rely on countermeasures powered by external resources to remain stable.
在1979年美国三英里岛核事故和1986年苏联切尔诺贝利核事故发生后，全世界的核科学家都在追求核反应堆“固有安全”。也就是说，不用外部操作，仅靠自然物理规律，核反应堆本身就能够趋向安全状态。

As an academician at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wang led the research, design and operation of China’s first five-megawatt low temperature nuclear heating reactor and later of its 10-megawatt high temperature gas-cooled reactor. He used key technologies related to helium coolant. Both reactors improved the inherent safety of nuclear energy, as well as the application of clean energy.
作为中国科学院院士，王大中主持了中国第一座5兆瓦低温核供热堆的研究、设计和运行工作，并在日后主持了10兆瓦高温气冷堆研发工作。王大中还带队实现了氦技术等关键技术的突破。他主持建设的两个反应堆提高了核能的固有安全性，推动了清洁能源的应用。

Wang’s scientific achievements have paved the way for clean energy as China works to achieve carbon neutrality, said He Jiankun, an expert at Tsinghua University.
清华大学专家何建坤表示，中国正努力争取实现碳中和，王大中的科学成就为清洁能源铺平了道路。

Nuclear power releases zero carbon and can ensure the safe and stable operation of the power grid, he said.
何建坤说，核电是零碳能源，能够确保电网安全稳定运行。

以上文章内容选自《21世纪学生英文报高中版》，详情请见《21世纪学生英文报高中版》高一849期