Feng Duan facts for kids

Feng Duan (born June 11, 1923 – died December 15, 2020) was a famous Chinese physicist. He was an expert in something called solid-state physics. This field studies how solid materials behave.

Feng Duan was also a very important member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. This is like a top group of scientists in China. He even helped make decisions for his country. He was a representative in the Chinese government for many years.

Why He Was Named "Duan"

Feng Duan was born just before a special Chinese holiday. This holiday is called the Dragon Boat Festival. Because of this, his father decided to name him "Duan".

His Life Story

Feng Duan was born in a city called Suzhou in China. His family originally came from Shaoxing. His father, Feng Zupei, worked for the government.

Feng Duan had two older brothers and an older sister. All of them were very smart. They all went to the same university, National Central University. His eldest brother, Feng Huan, became a senior engineer in the United States. His second older brother, Feng Kang, was a famous mathematician. He was also a member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. His elder sister, Feng Hui, was a researcher. Her husband, Ye Duzheng, was a meteorologist and also a member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. It was a family of brilliant minds!

In 1942, after finishing high school, Feng Duan went to National Central University. He studied physics there. After he graduated in 1946, he stayed at the university. He started as a teaching assistant. Over time, he became a lecturer, then an associate professor, and finally a full professor.

Feng Duan held many important positions. He was the head of the graduate school at Nanjing University. He also directed a special laboratory for solid-state physics. He even led the China Physics Society. He was a key scientist in a big national project about "Nano Material Science." He also chaired the Science and Technology Association in Jiangsu province.

In 1980, Feng Duan was chosen to be a member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. This is a very high honor for a scientist in China. He was also the chairman of the alumni association for National Central University.

Feng Duan passed away on December 15, 2020, in Nanjing. He was 97 years old.

His Family Life

Feng Duan married Chen Lianfang on April 1, 1955. They were married in Nanjing. Chen Lianfang was a high school Chinese teacher. She had also graduated from National Central University, studying foreign languages.

Awards and Honors

Feng Duan received several important honors for his work:

• 1980: He became a member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS).
• 1993: He became a member of The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS).