HAN Qinghua, A Good Educator and A Practical Engineer

In 1999, HAN Qinghua graduated from Tianjin University with a PhD in civil engineering and became a teacher at TJU. Since then, twenty-two years have passed and HAN has always been on the front line of scientific research and engaged in putting academia into action. He believes that one of the principal purposes of scientific research is to serve the society.

As an expert in civil engineering, Prof. HAN has presided over the design of a large number of major landmark projects, such as the Laoshan Cycling Velodrome of the Beijing Olympic Games, and the venues for the 13th National Games. He is determined to serve the society with applicable knowledge that can be transformed into visible, concrete, and impressive productivity.“It’s my lifelong pursuit,”said HAN.

Prof. Han is giving a lecture.

In HAN’s opinion, the value of his scientific work lies in the ability to ensure the safety of large-scale projects, to minimize risks, and to reduce the loss of people's lives and property caused by disasters.

For teachers and students who work with Professor HAN, what impresses them most is HAN’s sense of responsibility and pursuit of excellence. “Every time after the completion of a project, Professor HAN always runs back to the laboratory to conduct an in-depth summary and refinement of the project.”

In the course of building the Laoshan Cycling Velodrome of 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, Professor HAN built a double-layer spherical reticulated shell with the largest span in China. For that construction, HAN was most proud to be consulted by the design leader of the 2012 London Olympics cycling velodrome about solutions to the technical problems of the Olympic venues.

While concentrating on scientific research, HAN has never forgotten his duty as an educator. Since the day he became a teacher, Professor HAN has insisted on teaching undergraduates no matter how busy he was. He kept exploring new teaching methods and updating his curriculum system. Take the undergraduate course Design Principle of Steel Structure as an example, to help students have a concrete and visual perception of the steel structures, he contacted manufacturers to customize models and teaching tools and brought them to class.

“As long as the young generations have ambitions, the capability to pursue their dreams, and the courage to bear responsibilities, science and technology will keep progressing, and the spirit of innovation will permeate. We should try our best to do our parts and pave the way for our successors as well.” HAN remarked.

By Deng Qi

Editor: Eva Yin