(Source: "People's Daily" 2022-04-13)
In the early 1990s, Yang Shie (second from right) guided students in the laboratory. (File photo）
Business card
Yang Shie: Born in 1931 in Nanyang, Henan Province, he is a professor at Harbin Engineering University and an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering. One of the earliest research experts in the field of hydroacoustics in the country, he is currently the honorary chairman of the Acoustical Society of China. Yang Shie participated in the development of hydroacoustic positioning systems and completed a series of long-baseline, short-baseline and ultra-short-baseline hydroacoustic positioning systems. He contributed to the construction of hydroacoustic disciplines in China and the formulation of hydroacoustic development plans. His monographs include "Underwater Noise" and "Underwater Acoustic Propagation Principles". Actively promote my country's large-scale deep-water acoustic comprehensive survey mission and obtain a large amount of valuable information.
“I will study whatever the country needs”
"E" is a perennial herb that grows near water and has strong vitality.
Yang Shie’s childhood was a time of war and his family was poor. He traveled to many places with his family, and gradually planted the seeds in his heart of serving the country through scientific research. In 1950, Yang Shie, who was studying in the Department of Physics at Tsinghua University, felt the need of the country and thought to himself: "Participating in naval construction can not only fulfill my long-cherished wish to serve the country, but also find a suitable and competent position in national construction." So he resolutely signed up to join the army and bid farewell to his student days in advance.
After several years of military life, Yang Shie came to Dalian Naval Academy as a teacher. Later, he was transferred north to participate in the establishment of Harbin Military Engineering Academy and became the first batch of teachers.
Hydroacoustic engineering is the study of underwater acoustic characteristics and their applications. Light waves and electromagnetic waves will be severely attenuated in water. Only sound waves can transmit information over long distances with less attenuation. Therefore, hydroacoustic technology is crucial in detecting conditions in the sea.
At that time, hydroacoustic scientific research in our country was still very weak. To this end, Yang Shie taught himself many foreign languages and plunged into this unfamiliar field. “Whatever the country needs, I will study. "Recalling the choice at that time, Yang Shie said this.
In 1957, Yang Shie was sent to the Institute of Acoustics of the Soviet Academy of Sciences for further study, where he broadened his horizons and strengthened his determination to tackle key problems in the field of hydroacoustic science. After returning to w88 casino, he immediately set about broadening his professional field and established a comprehensive hydroacoustic engineering major that combined science and engineering.
His idea also aroused doubts: "The sonar teaching and research section of our department has set a precedent in the country. Is it necessary to change the status quo? Is it too ambitious?" Yang Shie believes: "Hydroacoustic science is a very wide-ranging professional field. If our institute only offers sonar majors, it will be difficult to achieve better development. If we don't set this benchmark and work hard in this direction, we will never reach a higher level."
Under Yang Shie’s initiative, my country’s first hydroacoustic major integrating science and engineering was born. Today, the hydroacoustic major founded by Harbin Engineering University has grown into a famous hydroacoustic scientific research base and hydroacoustic talent training base in my country. In 1981, this discipline was awarded the first batch of doctoral degrees awarded by the country; in 1987, the first batch became a national key discipline and a postdoctoral research station was established; in 1993, the national key laboratory of national defense science and technology was established here... The talents who came out from here played an important role in the scientific research in the field of hydroacoustics in my country.
“The sea is unpredictable, so sitting at home and doing research will definitely not work”
In 1994, a hydroacoustic scientist research ship carrying nearly a hundred scientific researchers set out to begin scientific research. Yang Shie serves as the chief scientist and expedition team leader.
When working in the deep sea area, the sun hangs almost vertically overhead, and the temperature on the deck reaches more than 70 degrees Celsius, making it so hot that there is no place to stay. In order to conduct experiments, the researchers braved the scorching sun and drilled around in the cable pile with a spool weighing more than 100 kilograms.
“When there are strong winds and waves, many experiments cannot be done. We can only take advantage of the calm weather and work day and night.” Yang Shie was already over sixty years old at the time, and he and everyone endured difficulties such as high temperatures and heat, lack of fresh water, and no vegetables. Others can take shifts. As the captain, Yang Shie has to stick to it all the time in order to grasp the overall situation. He often cannot get a full sleep for half a month.
The sea test cycle is difficult to predict, and sometimes there is even a shortage of fresh water. We were really thirsty, so we boiled the oily water in the ballast tank and drank it. Once when we went to sea, we almost ran out of food before the experiment was over. We only had a little rice and a bucket of salt left. Under the unbearable hot weather conditions, everyone conducted experiments during the day, fished at night, and boiled fish in salt water as food. They persisted until the end of the experiment.
Last year, 90-year-old Yang Shie also participated in two scientific expeditions. When a reporter asked him why he still insisted on participating in the scientific examination at such an advanced age, he waved his hand calmly and said: "How can you do research without being on site? Any difficulties must be overcome. When it is time to persevere, you must grit your teeth and face the difficulties. The sea is unpredictable, and it is definitely not possible to do research at home."
“Scientific research is a group undertaking and cannot be accomplished by oneself”
"I was very lucky to have met many good teachers when I was young. I know the importance of good teachers to scholars, so I must teach young students well." Yang Shie often talked about the good education he received in his youth.
Today, he is still responsible for tutoring many doctoral and master's students, and continues to work hard for my country's education and hydroacoustic scientific research. "Scientific research is a group undertaking and cannot be accomplished by oneself alone. Any achievements and honors achieved are the result of team efforts and collective wisdom."
Pu Shengchun, a professor at the w88 casino of Underwater Acoustic Engineering of Harbin Engineering University, said that Teacher Yang’s seriousness in class is admirable. The course “Underwater Acoustic Propagation Principles” he took as a freshman is Yang Shie’s main research field. At that time, Park Shengchun was the only graduate student in this field, and there were often only two teachers and students in the class.
"Even so, in every class, Teacher Yang writes neatly on the blackboard, often filling several blackboards with meticulous attention to detail. It was one of the most tiring classes for me, and I didn't dare to be lazy at all, because every time Teacher Yang would come to the classroom early and wait for me to go to class." Pu Shengchun's words were full of respect for Yang Shie.
"The development of the hydroacoustic profession cannot be separated from the attention and support of the country, nor the diligent pursuit and hard work of generations of researchers. I will continue to persist and reserve more talents for the field of hydroacoustic science." Yang Shie said while looking out the window, as if he saw the blue ocean...
■Reporter’s Notes
Guard the blue in your heart
Life is full of opportunities and challenges. Sometimes it seems to be "passive acceptance", but in fact it is "to rise to the challenge". From studying physics to signing up to join the army, to hydrographic surveying, Yang Shie met new challenges one after another amidst the country's "urgent needs". “You must have the motherland in your heart, and your future must always be closely integrated with the needs of the country and the destiny of mankind.” In his view, the purpose of scientific research is to make the motherland stronger.
After experiencing "career changes" again and again, Academician Yang "encountered" hydroacoustics and made it a lifelong research field. On the surging sea, he braved the wind and waves and shouldered his mission. Time flies, step by step, he eventually became one of the founders of hydroacoustic engineering in China. When the author came to Academician Yang's home for an interview, the old man was studying at his desk; on the table were hydroacoustic technology papers from students.
Seventy years have passed and we are still as diligent as ever. He is like "E", he works by the water all his life, his life is endless, his ambition is endless...
