EVENT DETAILS

Science vs. the Chinese State: The Present Is History

The complex relationship between science and the Chinese state is as old as the civilization itself, lessons from which are of particular relevance today. When Chinese emperors ruled as "Sons of Heaven," correct prediction of astronomical phenomena was seen as central to imperial legitimacy. Over several millennia, the imperial court provided Chinese astronomers with employment and resources, but it also controlled their career prospects and interpretations of their work. From the twilight of the Chinese empire to the establishment of the Communist government, generations of Chinese intellectuals sought modern science and technology as a salvation for their nation and its people. The fate of their endeavors was entangled in political turmoil and filled with personal tragedies.

As a Chinese immigrant scientist living and working in the United States, Dr. Cheng will examine this topic through her ancestral history, professional lineage, and personal journey. The talk will take a broad historical sweep with an intimate lens, and conclude in the present tense by exploring whether science can transcend nationalism and how scientists should approach the ethical dilemmas of their work.  

Light refreshments will be served.
About the Speaker:   Dr. Yangyang Cheng

Dr. Cheng is a postdoctoral research associate at Cornell University, and a member of the CMS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider. Born and raised in China, Cheng received her Ph.D. in physics from the University of Chicago in 2015, and her Bachelor’s in Science from the University of Science and Technology of China's School for the Gifted Young. She writes the Science and China column forSupChina. Her essays have also appeared in Foreign Policy, MIT Technology Review, ChinaFile, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, and other publications. 

RSVP AT:  https://www.eventbrite.com/e/science-vs-the-chinese-state-the-present-is-history-tickets-59082693928