Ye Shuhua facts for kids

Ye Shuhua (Chinese: 叶叔华; born June 21, 1927) is a famous Chinese astronomer and professor. She works at the Shanghai Astronomical Observatory. Dr. Ye is known for making one of the world's most accurate measurements of Universal Time in the 1960s. She also helped China start using advanced techniques like very-long-baseline interferometry (VLBI) and satellite laser ranging (SLR).

Ye Shuhua has held many important roles. She was the President of Shanghai Astronomical Observatory. She also served as Vice-President of the Chinese Astronomical Society. Later, she became Vice-President of the International Astronomical Union. She is a member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. She is also a foreign member of the Royal Astronomical Society in Britain. An asteroid, 3241 Yeshuhua, is named after her!

Early Life and Big Choices

Ye Shuhua was born on June 21, 1927, in Guangzhou, Guangdong, China. She grew up during the Second Sino-Japanese War (1937–45). Because of the war, her family had to move many times. They moved from Guangzhou to Hong Kong, Shaoguan, and Lian County.

After the war ended in 1945, Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou reopened. Ye wanted to study literature there. But her father thought medicine would offer a better future. She wasn't interested in medicine. So, they agreed she would study mathematics instead. At that time, mathematics and astronomy were in the same university department. Professor Zou Yixin inspired her to choose astronomy as her main subject.

A Career Among the Stars

In 1951, Ye Shuhua moved to Shanghai. Her husband, Cheng Jitai, taught mathematics at Fudan University. Ye found a job at the Zikawei (Xujiahui) Observatory. This observatory later became part of the Shanghai Astronomical Observatory.

Improving Time Measurement

In 1958, Ye became the leader of a science team. Their goal was to make China's measurement of Universal Time more accurate. At that time, China's time measurement was not very precise. By 1963, her team had made huge progress. China's Universal Time measurement became the second most precise in the world! In 1965, it became China's official time standard. Her team received many national awards for this amazing work.

Overcoming Challenges

In 1966, the Cultural Revolution began in China. Like many other smart people, Ye Shuhua faced difficulties. Her work was interrupted, and she had to do other jobs, like painting houses.

After the Cultural Revolution ended in 1976, Ye was able to return to her research. She became a research professor at Shanghai Astronomical Observatory. She then served as its director from 1981 to 1993.

Leading New Technologies

Under her leadership, the Shanghai Observatory grew a lot. They set up research stations for very-long-baseline interferometry (VLBI) and satellite laser ranging (SLR). These are advanced ways to study Earth and space. The observatory became one of the most high-tech places. It joined the International Earth Rotation Service (IERS).

In 1991, Ye was chosen as the chief scientist for a big research project. This project studied China's crustal motion. They found that the Indian Plate is causing China's land to move eastward.

Global Recognition

Ye Shuhua also held important positions in astronomy groups. She was Vice-President of the Chinese Astronomical Society from 1978 to 1988. After that, she became its honorary president. She also served as Vice-President of the International Astronomical Union from 1988 to 1994. In 1980, she was elected a member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. In 1985, she became a foreign member of the Royal Astronomical Society of Britain.

Honours and Awards

The Purple Mountain Observatory honored Ye Shuhua by naming an asteroid after her. This asteroid is called 3241 Yeshuhua. She also received the Ho Leung Ho Lee Prize for her work in astronomy.

See also

• Timeline of women in science