[Editor's note] Learn century-old Party history and know the history of the Red school。To celebrate the centenary of the founding of the Party，To promote the majority of Party members, cadres and teachers to carry out in-depth study and education of Party history，Beijing Institute of Technology Party Committee propaganda department carefully planned，Organizational strength，Focus on teachers, students and alumni who have made important contributions to the cause of the Party and the country，Launched the "Footprints" series of special reports，By learning from the role models around you，Educate teachers and students to learn history, learn history, increase credibility, learn Shi Chongde, and learn history。

This issue presents a special report by Mr. Chen Kangbai, chemist, educator and former president of the Academy of Natural Sciences。In the national crisis, Chen Kangbai resolutely returned to join the revolution, with "the great man of the country" in mind, and wrote a "red scientist" who shared the country's worries, solved the country's difficulties, and was responsible for the country's life。On November 29, the "Bright Scholar" column of Guangming Daily published a full-page special report written by our school。

Chen Kangbai (1903-1981) was born in Changsha, Hunan Province。Formerly known as Chen Yunhuang。Chemist and educator。He graduated from Xiamen University in 1927 and later taught at Xiamen University and Zhejiang University. He is a researcher at the School of Science of Peking University。In 1932, he was invited to study organic chemistry at the Institute of the University of Gottingen, Germany。In 1937, he returned to Yan 'an to participate in the revolution and served as director of the Technical Department of the Military Industry Bureau of the Central Military Commission and vice president of Yan 'an Academy of Natural Sciences。In 1944, he was appointed President of the Academy of Natural Sciences (now Beijing Institute of Technology)。During the liberation War, he successively served as chief engineer of the Military Engineering Department of the Northeast Allied Army, member of the Northeast Economic Committee and deputy director of the Planning Department, and director of the Heavy Industry Department of the National Economic Planning Committee of the Northeast Financial and Economic Committee。After the founding of New China, he successively served as Vice Minister of Culture of the Northeast People's Government, President of Harbin Institute of Technology, Secretary General of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, deputy director of the Philosophy Teaching and Research Department of the Senior Party School of the CPC Central Committee, deputy director of the Office of Culture and Education and the Office of Agriculture of the North China Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, and counselor of The State Council。He was vice chairman of All-China Federation of Specialized Societies in Natural Sciences (now China Association for Science and Technology)。

"When I was in Yan 'an, President Xu Teli said that politics should be combined with natural science。我们去请毛主席讲话，What he said was that natural science should be combined with social science，Combined, it can serve the revolution...I want to congratulate you on your achievements."June 14, 1980，Chen Kangbai, then counselor of The State Council, attended the celebration of the 40th anniversary of Beijing Institute of Technology (the predecessor of Beijing Institute of Technology)，To see the school I helped create，From the revolutionary holy land of Yan 'an all the way，Develop into an important base for training scientific and technological talents，Chen Kangbai was filled with emotion。

In 1940, the Academy of Natural Sciences (the predecessor of Beijing Institute of Technology) was born in Yan 'an, the holy land of revolution, becoming the first university of science and technology founded by the Communist Party of China, opening the "red road of education" for the Party to create and lead higher education with Chinese characteristics.。The mission of Yan 'an Academy of Natural Sciences is to cultivate "revolutionary generalists and business experts". As one of the four old deans who founded this university, "Red Scientist" Chen Kangbai grew from "business expert" to "revolutionary generalist"。

Travel to study:Embark on the road of "serving the country through science and education"

Chen Kangbai (right) and his teacher Xu Teli (left)

Chen Kangbai was born Chen Yunhuang in 1903 in Malinqiao Township, Changsha County, Hunan Province. His father was a private school teacher, and he was quite famous in the local area。Chen Kangbai went to school with his father since childhood, as the eldest son in his family, he is intelligent and studious, tenacious and persistent, self-motivated, and also practiced a good martial arts。In 1916, Chen Kangbai was admitted to Changsha County Normal School and became a student of his father's best friend and famous educator Xu Teli。From then on, Xu Teli became the teacher who influenced Chen Kangbai's life。

At the beginning of the 20th century, with the idea of saving the country through education, Xu Teli actively set up education in Hunan, not only imparts knowledge, but also imparts to students the belief and pursuit of life。Under the influence of the New Culture Movement, Xu Teli pursued democracy and science together with young students and actively participated in the anti-imperialist and anti-feudal movement。In Changsha County Normal School, Chen Kangbai began to understand Chinese society, began to think for the nation, began to understand the responsibility of young people, and gradually realized the great role of science and technology and education in national liberation and national revitalization, which was the starting point of his life to pursue "science and education to save the country"。

In 1922, Chen Kangbai went to Shanghai to study chemistry at the University of Shanghai。The University of Hujiang is an American missionary university with advanced scientific research conditions at that time。Chen Kangbai systematically learned the basic knowledge of chemistry here, which laid a solid academic foundation for his lifetime of chemical research。However, poor and weak China can hardly put down the desks of patriotic youth。Having experienced the ideological baptism of the "May Fourth Movement", Chen Kangbai has become a progressive young man with strong patriotic thoughts. He clearly opposes the partitioning of China by imperialist powers and actively participates in various anti-imperialist student movements, which is not allowed by the school。In 1925, Chen Kangbai, who had excellent academic performance, was ordered to quit school and had to return to Changsha。It was in the summer of this year that Chen Kangbai, who was out of school and returned home, once again saw Xu Teli, who had returned from staying in France。Xu Teli fully affirmed Chen Kangbai's patriotic thought, firmly believed that he would make great achievements in the future, and recommended him to continue studying at Xiamen University。

In the summer of 1925, Chen Kangbai entered Xiamen University。Here, he lived up to Xu Teli's high expectations, studied hard and achieved outstanding results。At the same time, Chen Kangbai did not give up his own thinking about the revitalization of the country, he saw the great power of science and technology from the practice of the Western industrial revolution, and the belief of "science and education to serve the country" became more and more firm, and began to explore the practice within his own capacity。

At the beginning of the 20th century, Gulangyu Island in Xiamen became a public concession, and in the rainy and hot summer, the city often broke out in epidemics。Chen Kangbai, who is studying biochemistry, is keenly aware that the outbreak of the disease is likely to be related to the contamination of drinking water caused by local residents digging Wells for water。He walked around Gulangyu Island in the heat, carrying bottles and cans to collect water samples, and even collected water samples from the surrounding waters。Chen Kangbai conducts bacterial culture and chemical analysis of water samples in the school's laboratory。After testing, Chen Kangbai found that there are indeed excessive bacteria and impurities in the drinking water of Gulangyu residents, which will seriously affect people's health。Full of confidence from the scientific test results, Chen Kangbai proposed to the concession authorities to improve the drinking water problem for urban residents。However, concession managers were indifferent to the health of the people, and Chen Kangbai's research conclusions were not only ignored, but even ridiculed。Such a "cold reception", so that Chen Kangbai was hit hard, he realized that without changing the backward and corrupt society, "science and education to serve the country" can only be a fantasy。

In 1927, Chen Kangbai graduated from the school and began his academic career。In just two years, Chen Kangbai has made a lot of scientific research achievements and is well-known in the field of chemical research in China。In 1929, Chen Kangbai was invited to work in the Chemistry Department of the College of Arts and Sciences of Zhejiang University, and got more opportunities for international academic exchanges。

In 1930, Chen Kangbai was employed as a researcher in the Industrial Research Office of the School of Science, Peking University. His academic research level continued to improve with fruitful results and many high-level research papers were published。Professor Adolf Windaus of the University of Gottingen, Germany, who won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1928, not only praised Chen Kangbai's research level, but also invited Chen Kangbai to the University of Gottingen to give lectures and exchange。The news reached China and caused a shock in the academic community。

In 1933, Chen Kangbai passed the examination and obtained the government-funded qualification to work as a researcher at the Institute of Chemistry of the University of Gottingen, Germany, and worked under the direct guidance of Adolf Windaus。The University of Gottingen provided Chen Kangbai with good scientific research conditions, arranged a laboratory, equipped with assistants, and specially funded Chen Kangbai's wife to live in Germany。

To Yan 'an:Salt shortage to promote production

A general view of Yan 'an Academy of Natural Sciences in the early 1940s

On July 7, 1937, the War of Resistance against Japan broke out in full scale. Chen Kangbai, who was far away in Germany, was so anxious for his motherland to be invaded by Japanese imperialism that he decided to give up the favorable working and living conditions abroad and immediately return home to join the war of Resistance。In October 1937, Chen Kangbai returned to China, but the corrupt rule of the Kuomintang government prevented Chen Kangbai from realizing his ambition to serve the country。When lost and confused, Chen Kangbai happened to hear that teacher Xu Teli was working in Changsha Eighth Route Army office in Hunan, he then rushed to visit the teacher。This meeting between teachers and students completely changed the trajectory of Chen Kangbai's life。

Xu Teli felt very gratified for Chen Kangbai's determined return to the war of resistance, and combined with his revolutionary experience, pointed out a bright direction for Chen Kangbai - to Yan 'an and join the Communist Party of China。Xu Teli's teachings ignited the flame of Chen Kangbai's thought, and he made up his mind to follow the Communist Party to realize his ideal of serving the motherland。In December 1937, Chen Kangbai came to Yan 'an。作为一位海外归国的知名科学家，陈康白的到来不仅在延安引起了轰动，也得到了党中央的高度重视，毛泽东主席亲切接见了陈康白。"I'll give you twenty thousand dollars, and see if there's anything you can do?。There's also a little Arsenal and a crappy oil plant that I'd like you to see if you can use。”毛泽东主席与陈康白第一次见面，就慷慨的提出要支持这位延安“最大科学家”一笔巨款。At that time, an Eighth Route Army soldier's monthly allowance was only 1.50 cents。

The new atmosphere brought by the Communist Party of China to the border area made Chen Kangbai more firm in his choice, and he devoted himself to the economic construction and science and education cause of the border area, and gradually established his communist belief。In Yan 'an, Chen Kangbai first served as the director of the Technical Department of the Military Industry Bureau of the Central Military Commission of the Communist Party of China, and carried out detailed scientific research on the oil resources, handicraft industry, military industry, salt industry, agriculture, geology, smelting and other aspects of the border area。In February 1939, Chen Kangbai joined the Communist Party of China。

In April 1939, in accordance with the requirements of the central Government, Chen Kangbai, as director of the Preparatory Committee, successfully held the first industrial exhibition in the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Border area, which greatly promoted the economic construction of the border area and made important contributions to breaking the enemy's economic blockade。In May 1939, in order to solve the scientific and technological problems encountered in the "large-scale production" movement, Chen Kangbai was appointed as the head of the preparatory group of Yan 'an Academy of Natural Sciences, and set up the first institution specializing in natural science research in the Shaan-Gansu-Ningxia border area, and served as the vice president。At the beginning of the establishment of the Institute of Natural Science, the conditions were very difficult, but under the efforts of Chen Kangbai and others, more than 20 outstanding scientific and technological talents in the border area were quickly brought together and put into economic production, playing a significant role。

In August 1940, the central government appointed Chen Kangbai to serve as the director of the Trilateral Salt Industry Office, allowing him to solve the problem of "salt shortage" in the border area in the shortest time。The tripartite region of Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia border region is famous for its salt production and is one of the main salt producing areas in China. The tripartite salt tax revenue even accounts for more than two-thirds of the total fiscal revenue of the border region。At that time, the trilateral zone "relying on the sky" to collect salt, about 10 days after the rain in June and July every year, the rainwater dissolved in the salt pond was dried and caked, and the salt farmers smashed the salt block into a salt pile。However, the summer and autumn of 1940 were rainy and rainy, which not only washed away the salt pile, but also failed to evaporate the water in the salt pond, resulting in a "salt shortage" and great difficulties in the economy of the border area。

Chen Kangbai immediately led the team into this "production campaign"。After scientific analysis, Chen Kangbai et al. found that the salt in the trilateral zone was deposited in low-lying areas after the depletion of the ancient ocean。In the in-depth research of the masses, the "sea eye" mentioned by Yanong aroused his attention。Through surveying, Chen Kangbai found several "sea eyes", after careful observation and analysis, he found that "sea eyes" are the "air holes" formed by water vapor under the salt shell.。Chen Kangbai conducted a probe with a wooden pole and found that the "sea eye" was not only deep and bottomless, but also had a very high salt concentration。He immediately organized manpower to dig the "sea eye" into the size of a well, and built a batch of standardized salt pans, poured brine into the salt pans, and obtained high-quality refined salt through drying。

The new production method not only overcomes the influence of weather, but also greatly improves the yield and quality of salt。Since then, the new salt making method has been rapidly promoted in the three sides, and the salt production in the border area has increased by nearly 10 times, which has greatly eased the financial difficulties in the border area。Chen Kangbai's work was fully affirmed by the Party Central Committee and strongly supported the Anti-Japanese War work led by the Party。Under the leadership of the Party, Chen Kangbai used natural science to serve the construction of the border area and the Anti-Japanese War, and became a veritable "red scientist".。

Teach and educate:Stand firm in the flames of war

On March 15, 1940, then President Li Fuchun wrote a report to the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee

"Comrades of the Secretariat:

...The Academy of Natural Sciences was changed to the Academy of Natural Sciences, with Wu Lao as president and Chen Kangbai as vice president...

Fuchun, March 15."

The "Yan 'an Hall" of the History Museum of the Beijing Institute of Technology displays such a document, which can be called the "treasure of the town museum", with thousands of words on the thin paper。On March 15, 1940, the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee approved the establishment of the Academy of Natural Sciences (the predecessor of Beijing Institute of Technology), the first science and engineering university founded by the Communist Party of China was born。Chen Kangbai is one of the witnesses and creators of this history。

In December 1939, the Party Central Committee instructed the then Central Ministry of Finance and Economy to hold a natural science seminar, and Chen Kangbai was the main organizer of the conference。The atmosphere of the meeting was warm.，The participants discussed not only the productive economy of the border zone，It also targets the serious shortage of scientific and technological talents in the border area，They have suggested that the Party Central Committee set up colleges and universities in the border areas，The Yan 'an Academy of Natural Sciences was changed into the Academy of Natural Sciences，To cultivate the party's own scientific and technological talents，And suggested the establishment of Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Border area natural science Research Association，"Unite the vast number of scientific and technical personnel to serve the construction of anti-Japanese base areas，And strive for more scientific and technological personnel in the KMT controlled areas to work in the base areas."。The two proposals were approved and supported by the Party Central Committee, and Chen Kangbai became the main executor of the two tasks。

At the beginning of 1940, under the leadership of the central government and the border area government, Chen Kangbai and Qu Bochuan and others began to prepare for the establishment of the Natural Science Research Association of the Shaanxi Gansu-Ningxia Border Area。1940年2月5日，陕甘宁边区自然科学研究会成立大会在八路军大礼堂隆重召开，陈康白作为大会主席团主席致开幕词，毛泽东、陈云等到会讲话。The Natural Science Research Association plays an important and positive role in promoting the development of science and technology in Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia region, and also provides a useful reference for the development of science and technology organizations in New China。

While preparing for the establishment of the Natural Science Research Association, Chen Kangbai more actively invested in the preparation of the Academy of Natural Sciences。He not only assisted Li Fuchun, then Vice Minister of the Organization Department of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Minister of the Ministry of Finance and Economy of the CPC Central Committee and president of the Academy of Natural Sciences, to determine the leadership of the college, but also led everyone to overcome difficulties and rely on the strong support of the central and border region governments to implement key issues such as venues, funds and teachers。By May 1940, the campus of the Academy of Natural Sciences had begun to take shape, built more than 50 caves, more than 30 bungalows, built a canteen, water room, but also drilled Wells, the school's basic living facilities have been complete, from all sides of the teachers, students and staff are gradually gathered to increase。We started to make preparations for the beginning of the school。At this time has not officially opened, Chen Kangbai thinks that young people can learn first, so he and the college education director Qu Bochuan to discuss, first give students remedial cultural lessons。Under the organization of Chen Kangbai, the college not only provides students with basic knowledge, but also provides instructors to strengthen management。Before the semester began, the sound of reading echoed in the campus of the Academy of Natural Sciences。

Chen Kangbai (third from left) and Lin Boqu (first from right) explore the site of the Academy of Natural Sciences

"With the purpose of training young technical personnel and assisting the founding of China's Anti-Japanese War, the school enrol children who are out of school in the anti-Japanese troops and border areas, as well as young men and women who are interested in technical work in general...Accommodation and uniform fees are waived after admission, and they are collected on arrival。”

On July 23, 1940, the New China News published in the border area appeared an advertisement for the Renewal of New Students in the International Industrial Cooperation Pioneer Zone (DFE) Youth Technical School。This "youth technical school" is the Academy of Natural Sciences in preparation。

In the process of preparing for the Academy of Natural Sciences, Chen Kangbai attached great importance to the problem of students and funds。At that time, Li Fuchun raised funds from New Zealand friend Louis Reilly, one of the leaders of the "Gonghe" movement, to invest in the construction of the Academy of Natural Sciences。Reilly suggested that funds could be raised internationally in the name of industrial cooperation, and the school had better have the function of training young people's skills, Chen Kangbai very agreed with Reilly's suggestion, after asking the central government, to add a "youth technical school" identity to the Academy of Natural Sciences, and published an advertisement in the newspaper。This advertisement had a great impact, effectively expanding the enrollment of the Academy of Natural Sciences, attracting a group of aspiring young people to the school。

With the increasing number of students, the shortage of teaching materials and teaching instruments in the Academy of Natural Sciences has not been solved, and Chen Kangbai decided to publish a newspaper to ask the society for help。From late May to July 1940, the announcement of the Academy of Natural Sciences to collect scientific books and instruments was frequently published in the newspaper, which received a positive response from all walks of life, and many units and individuals actively donated books and equipment, which solved many difficulties for the Academy of Natural Sciences。Chen Kangbai also arranged for personnel to purchase teaching materials and equipment in the Kuomintang-controlled area。The Eighth Route Army office in the Kuomintag-controlled Area, the underground party organization, Rei's international "Gongho" organization and Soong Ching Ling's "Grand League for the Defense of China" also helped the college solve its difficulties in running a school through various means。On September 1, 1940, the Academy of Natural Sciences officially opened and held an opening ceremony。With the support of all parties, natural Science students used the original English textbooks such as Tan Ming's Chemistry, Duff's Physics and Cranwell's Calculus。

At the end of 1940, Xu Teli took over as president of the Academy of Natural Sciences。As vice president, Chen Kangbai worked with his mentor to promote the formal construction of the Academy of Natural Sciences, and gave full play to his advantages in natural science teaching, and paid a lot of efforts。During this period, the college system of the Academy of Natural Sciences was changed from two years to three years, and teaching was organized in different departments。At the beginning of 1941, the Department of Geology and Minerals, the Department of Chemistry, the Department of physics, and the Department of Biology were established successively, and began to train undergraduates。The high school is changed to the preparatory school, the school system is two years, and the preparatory students can be promoted to the undergraduate school after two years of examination。The middle school is changed into a cram school, with a three-year school system, mainly studying middle school courses。

In the war of Resistance against Japanese aggression, Yan 'an Academy of Natural Sciences took solid steps in exploring the Party's founding and leadership of higher education with Chinese characteristics, formed its own characteristics in school practice, and trained nearly 500 "revolutionary general people and business experts".。The Yan 'an Academy of Natural Sciences, founded in September 1940, was the first specialized institution in the history of the Party to carry out natural science teaching and research。In the "Brief History of the Communist Party of China" published in 2021, the history of running a school of the Academy of Natural Sciences is included。

South to north:To achieve the ideal of serving the country through science and education

Chen Kangbai delivered a speech at the celebration of the 40th anniversary of the founding of Beijing Institute of Technology

After November 1944, Chen Kangbai ended his work in the Academy of Natural Sciences, left Yan 'an, and joined the southern detachment led by Wang Zhen。In the days of the south, Chen Kangbai and his soldiers slept together, fought and marched。

Late one night, when Chen Kangbai saw the young soldiers rushing to the front line, he also pulled out his pistol and joined the fight with the writer Zhou Libo。It was dark and the mountain road was rugged, two people rushed forward deep and shallow, and suddenly two devils appeared in front of them。Chen Kangbai eyes quick, immediately shot, two devils fell。

In the rumbling artillery fire, Chen Kangbai, as an excellent scientific and technological cadre, has worked in the military engineering department of the fifth Division of the New Fourth Army, the Shandong Linglong Gold Mine, the Xingshan Office of the military Engineering Department of the Northeast Allied Army and the Northeast Economic Committee。

In November 1948, the Liaoshen Campaign won a comprehensive victory and the entire Northeast was liberated。In January 1949, Chen Kangbai served as the director of the Heavy Industry Department of the Planning Committee of the Northeast Financial and Economic Committee, and the primary task he faced was to restore industrial production in the northeast as soon as possible and provide a strong guarantee for the liberation of the whole of China。In the face of a hundred ruins after the war, Chen Kangbai took the restoration of steel production as the focus of work, and personally took charge of the restoration of production of Anshan Iron and Steel works and Benxi iron and steel works。

"Chen Kangbai went to Angang to do the work of resuming production, when it was difficult, some technical personnel were not very cooperative, but he went to talk is different, he is an expert who knows a lot, let others admire, and someone listens to talk.。Li Yang, Chen Kangbai's wife, recalled her husband's role in restoring Angang's production in her later years。At that time, Chen Kangbai also made guidance and planning for the copper production in Northeast China through scientific research, and comprehensively increased the copper production in Northeast China。

Science in China has been heavily constrained by thousands of years of feudalism, nearly a century of imperialism, and nearly two decades of bureaucratic capital。Today, the brilliant results of the War of liberation have basically destroyed this constraint and opened up a garden suitable for the growth of science...How to lay the material economic foundation of China and transform China from a backward agricultural country into an industrial country, first of all, the scientific workers of the whole country should make joint efforts。On July 2, 1949, the members of the preparatory meeting of the first National Congress of Natural Scientists (referred to as the Congress of Science) organized a symposium on the theme of Northeast industry, and Chen Kangbai made a keynote speech at the meeting。

In June and July 1949, the preparatory meeting of the first China National Congress of Natural Scientists (Science Congress) was held in Beiping, and Chen Kangbai participated in the preparation of the congress as a representative of the Northeast Natural Science Research Society, and became one of the 35 members of the standing Committee of the preparatory conference。On August 18, 1950, the first National Congress of Natural Scientists in New China opened in Beijing. Chen Kangbai not only did a lot of work for the preparation of the conference, but also drafted the Industrial Sector Report together with Liu Ding, then Vice Minister of the Ministry of Heavy Industry.。At this meeting, it was decided to establish the "All-China Federation of Specialized Societies in Natural Sciences" (referred to as the All-China Federation of Science and Technology) and the "All-China Association for the Popularization of Science and Technology" (referred to as the National Science Popularization), which is also the predecessor of today's China Association for Science and Technology。At the conference, Chen Kangbai was elected vice chairman of the All-China Federation of Science and Technology。

In June 1951, the central government appointed Chen Kangbai as president of Harbin Institute of Technology。Since then, he has served as a member of the Party Group of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Secretary-General, deputy director of the Philosophy Teaching and Research Department and director of the Natural Dialectics Class of the Senior Party School of the CPC Central Committee, Deputy director of the Culture and Education Office and deputy director of the Agriculture Office of the North China Bureau of the CPC Central Committee。In June 1979, Chen Kangbai was appointed counselor of The State Council。Even in his 70s, he still went to Heilongjiang, Jilin, Inner Mongolia and other places for investigation, and combined with his years of experience in science, education and industrial systems, he put forward many important suggestions to the central government。Chen died on July 31, 1981。

In the poor and weak old China, Chen Kangbai cherished the ideal of "serving the country with science and education", devoted himself to studying, and eventually became a scientific master。At the time of national crisis, Chen Kangbai resolutely returned to join the revolution and grew into a firm communist fighter on the bank of the Yanhe River。With "the great man of the country" in mind, he wrote a chapter of life of a "red scientist" who shared the country's worries, solved the country's difficulties, and was responsible for the country。