Lu Gwei-djen

Lu Gwei-djen (Chinese: 魯桂珍; pinyin: Lǔ Guìzhēn; Wade–Giles: Lu Kui-chen; July 22, 1904 – November 28, 1991) was a Chinese biochemist and historian. She was an expert on the history of science and technology in China and a researcher of nutriology. She was an important researcher and co-author of the project Science and Civilisation in China led by Joseph Needham.

Lu Gwei-djen
魯桂珍
Born(1904-07-22)July 22, 1904
DiedNovember 28, 1991(1991-11-28) (aged 87)
OccupationAcademic, Biochemist,[1] Historian of science and technology in China
Spouse(s)Joseph Needham (m. 1989)[2]

Career

Lu began her distinguished career teaching biochemistry at the Women's Medical College in Shanghai between 1928-30, then moved to teach at the Medical School at St John's University, Shanghai between 1930-33. She then took up a post as Research Assistant at the Henry Lester Institute for Medical Research, Shanghai from 1933-37.[3]

In 1938, she came to the UK for a year's postgraduate study at the University of Cambridge under Dorothy M. Needham, as a research student at Newnham College.[4]

In 1939, during World War II, she took up a post as Research Fellow at the Institute of Experimental Biochemistry, University of California, Berkeley, and at the Harriman Research Lab, San Francisco, from 1939-41. She moved to the Hillman Hospital, Birmingham, Alabama from 1941-42, and then to the International Cancer Research Foundation, Philadelphia, from 1942-45.[5]

In 1945, she joined the Needhams in Chongqing as a consultant for nutrition at the Co-operation office and in 1948, moved to Paris to work at UNESCO at the secretariat for natural sciences.[6]

From 1947 onwards, she was a Research Fellow of the Wellcome Medical Foundation, working with Dr Joseph Needham in Cambridge on the 'Science & Civilisation in China' project.[7]

She was a Foundation Fellow of Lucy Cavendish College, Cambridge.[8]

Works

Among the work on which she is credited as co-author are:

  • Celestial Lancets: A History and Rationale of Acupuncture and Moxa (Cambridge; New York: Cambridge University Press, 1980)
  • Science and Civilisation in China Volume 4 Physics and Physical Technology Part III: Civil Engineering and Nautics (Cambridge: University Press, 1971 ISBN 0521070600)
  • Vol. 5, Chemistry and Chemical Technology: Pt. V: Spagyrical discovery and invention : physiological alchemy (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1983).
  • The Hall of Heavenly Records: Korean Astronomical Instruments and Clocks, 1380-1780, (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press). ISBN 978-0521616980
  • Gwei-Djen Lu, 1951. A contribution to the history of Chinese dietetics, ASIN: B0007KGH96

Legacy

The Lu Gwei-Djen Prize for the History of Science awarded by Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge is named in her honour[9] as is the Lu Gwei Djen Research Fellowship awarded by Lucy Cavendish College, Cambridge - a position currently held by biophysicist Dr Eileen Nugent.[10]

Personal life

The daughter of a pharmacist,[6] she was well known as Needham's long-time collaborator, co-author, Chinese language teacher and his second wife.[11]

References

  1. The Man Who Loved China by Simon Winchester Archived 2013-12-03 at the Wayback Machine, Y.N. Yiu, January 2010
  2. Biography tells secrets of Joseph Needham's China love, chinadaily, 2008-09-24
  3. Newnham College Register, vol II, p. 170
  4. Newnham College Register, vol II, p. 170
  5. Newnham College Register, vol II, p. 170
  6. Joseph Needham (1900-1995): A more detailed biography of Joseph Needham., www.riseofthewest.net
  7. Newnham College Register, vol II, p. 170
  8. Newnham College Register, vol II, p. 170
  9. Gonville and Caius College: elections and awards, Cambridge reporter, 21/7/1998
  10. College Fellows, www.lucy-cav.cam.ac.uk
  11. Winchester, Simon (2008). The Man Who Loved China: The Fantastic Story of the Eccentric Scientist Who Unlocked the Mysteries of the Middle Kingdom. New York: HarperCollins. ISBN 978-0-06-088459-8. Also published as Gun, Book and Compass.

Additional sources

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.