Brief Introduction to the Late Professor Lee Hsun (H. Lee)

Professor H. Lee, a member of Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) was born on November 20, 1913 in Shaodong, Hunan Province, China and graduated from Hunan University with B.S. in 1936. He then went to Britain for further study in 1937 and got his Ph.D. from the Mining and Metallurgy College, Sheffield University, Britain in 1940. He discovered the hydrogen embrittlement in steels which had been recognized as a scientific mystery before. This discovery caused a considerable sensation in British scientific research circles. He was recognized as the founder in this field and received the Brunton Medal in 1945. 

He came back to China and was appointed as director of the Institute of Metal Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences (IMR CAS) in Shenyang by Late Premier Zhou Enlai, the State Council of PRC in 1951. He was the president of the Shenyang Branch, Chinese Academy of Sciences and vice president of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing until he passed away on March 20, 1983.

He mainly investigated the role of hydrogen in steels and the influence of cold processing on the microstructure and properties of steels. His discovery of hydrogen embrittlement in steels was a great contribution to the development of the iron and steel technology in the world. Under his leadership the IMR has made important scientific research achievements on uranium, cast superalloys, refractory metals, physical property tests at high temperature and rare earth metals applied to steel, and therefore has provided a series of key materials for many important projects in the country since the 1950s.

Lee Hsun Lecture Series on Materials Science

In order to strengthen co-operation of materials science research and academic exchange, the IMR CAS and its Shenyang National Laboratory for Materials Science (SYNL) have jointly set up the “Lee Hsun Lecture Series” in 2001, which includes:

1.　Lee Hsun Achievement Award

2.　Lee Hsun Lecture Award

3.　Lee Hsun Research Award

Those three awards honor research scientists who have made important achievements and great contributions to materials science and engineering and promote scientific co-operation and exchanges.

Nomination

Candidates for the Lee Hsun Achievement Award, Lee Hsun Lecture Award, and Lee Hsun Research Award are to be nominated only by the Director, Deputy Directors, Members of CAS and Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE), and Heads of Research Divisions in IMR CAS.

The deadline for submission of nominations for the Lee Hsun Lecture Series is the 20th of May and the 20th of December each year.

Appraisal

There is an advisory committee and two selection committees for the Lee Hsun Lecture Series, one selection committee for the Lee Hsun Lecture Award and the Lee Hsun Research Award, and one for the Lee Hsun Achievement Award. The Deputy Director who is in charge of the international co-operation program is the Chairman of the committees, while relevant leaders and experts of the IMR CAS are members of these three committees.

The evaluation and appraisal of the Lee Hsun Lecture Series take place twice each year, and the number of awardees is as follows:

1. One person will be selected for the Lee Hsun Achievement Award each year

2. Ten people will be selected for the Lee Hsun Lecture Award each year

3. There is no limit to the number of people for the Lee Hsun Research Award

The successful candidates will be informed of the results of the appraisal in written notice by the committee’s chairman.

Presentation of Awards

The Institute of Metal Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences will invite the awardees to visit IMR and attend the Lee Hsun Lecture Series Award Conferring Ceremony, and deliver one or a series of lectures. Joint research activities with partners in IMR CAS are encouraged.　

Extension of Support

All the awardees are encouraged to establish long term cooperation with their IMR partners. The deadline for applying for continued support is the 20th of May and the 20th of December each year. 

For more information, please contact

Ms. Zhe Zhao
Institute of Metal Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences
72 Wenhua Road, Shenyang 110016, China
Email. zzhao@imr.ac.cn
Tel. 024-2397 1500
Fax.024-2389 1320