Wang Daheng and the Changchun China Optical Science and Technology Museum

Wang Daheng was one of the principal founders, pioneers, and leaders of optical engineering in China. He was an academician of both the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering, a distinguished scientist and educator, a meritorious contributor to China’s “Two Bombs and One Satellite” project, a promoter and participant of the National High-Tech “863 Program”, and an advocate of the domestic large aircraft project. He is hailed as “a pioneer of China’s optical science.”

Wang Daheng (February 26, 1915 – July 21, 2011)

The establishment of the Changchun China Optical Science and Technology Museum could not have been achieved without the strong support and care of Wang Daheng and other senior optical scientists. On August 29, 2007, academicians Wang Daheng, Ding Henggao, Zhou Bingkun, and Mu Guoguang jointly wrote to Premier Wen Jiabao, proposing the “Suggestion on the Establishment of the China Optical Science and Technology Museum.” On September 2, Premier Wen made a written instruction in response.

During the preparatory process for the museum, Wang Daheng repeatedly emphasized:“No matter where the China Optical Science and Technology Museum is built, it belongs to all the people of China. I hope that the entire optics community will unite, work together, build and operate the museum well, and let it play its due role.”At the beginning of 2010, he told his secretary Cai Hengyuan,“The construction of the China Optical Science and Technology Museum is a very difficult task—no easier than when we built the Institute of Instruments of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Tiebei, Changchun, shortly after the founding of the People’s Republic.”

On July 21, 2011, Academician Wang Daheng passed away. Before his death, he still had three unfulfilled wishes: to compile a Chinese Dictionary of Optical Terminology; to compile a History of the Development of Chinese Optics; and to establish the China Optical Science and Technology Museum.

“So many undertakings await those with aspirations to strive for the rejuvenation of our nation.

Optics, old yet ever new, has a future as bright as brocade.” The Changchun China Optical Science and Technology Museum carries forward the scientific spirit of Wang Daheng, bears the trust and expectations of the older generation of scientists, and marks a brilliant chapter in the history of China’s optical science.

National Approval

On March 14, 2008, in accordance with the instructions of Premier Wen Jiabao, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) replied to the four academicians Wang Daheng, Ding Henggao, Zhou Bingkun, and Mu Guoguang regarding their “Letter on the Proposal for Establishing an Optical Science and Technology Museum.” The reply affirmed the positive role of the Optical Science and Technology Museum in “promoting the dissemination of optical science and technology knowledge, improving the scientific and cultural literacy of the public, and driving the development of the optoelectronic industry,” and gave preliminary approval for the establishment of the China Optical Science and Technology Museum.

Establishment in Changchun

On July 31, 2009, after intense competition among five provinces and municipalities—Beijing, Shanghai, Hubei, Jilin, and Sichuan—the General Office of the NDRC sent an “Official Reply on the Construction of the China Optical Science and Technology Museum” to the Jilin Provincial Development and Reform Commission, giving preliminary approval to establish the China Optical Science and Technology Museum on the basis of the Jilin Provincial Science and Culture Center.

Provincial Review Meeting

On November 9, 2009, the Provincial Review Meeting on the Construction Plan of the China Optical Science and Technology Museum was held at Changchun University of Science and Technology. Experts at the meeting agreed that adopting a scientific approach to the construction of the science and technology museum was of great importance. The overall framework of the construction plan was considered feasible, and it was recommended that the theme be further highlighted and the details revised and refined to organically integrate scientific content, entertainment, and interactivity, and to use flexible and diverse means to help visitors experience the wonderful world of light.

National Review Meeting

On December 7, 2009, the National Review Meeting on the Construction Plan of the China Optical Science and Technology Museum was held at Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing.

The meeting formally adopted the “Construction Plan for the China Optical Science and Technology Museum.”The review committee, chaired by Academician Mu Guoguang with Professor Xu Shanyan as vice chair, concluded that the establishment of the China Optical Science and Technology Museum fills a national gap in specialized science museums, and holds both historical and practical significance for popularizing optical science and technology, displaying scientific achievements, promoting domestic and international exchange and cooperation in optics, improving public scientific literacy, and advancing the rapid development of optics and related disciplines.

     Construction and Management by Changchun University of Science and Technology

On November 13, 2009, the Changchun Municipal People’s Government issued a “Letter on Entrusting Changchun University of Science and Technology with the Preparatory Work for the China Optical Science and Technology Museum,” officially entrusting the university with full responsibility for the museum’s preparation and construction.

On March 1, 2011, the Jilin Provincial Commission for Institutional Organization issued a “Notice on the Establishment of the China Optical Science and Technology Museum (Preparatory Office),” specifying that the museum was to be a vice-departmental-level public institution directly under the provincial government, and that the provincial government would entrust Changchun University of Science and Technology with its management.

Official Naming

On March 16, 2011, the General Office of the State Council issued an “Official Reply on the Naming of the National Optical Science and Technology Museum under Construction,” approving that the national-level Optical Science and Technology Museum under construction in Changchun, Jilin Province, be officially named the “Changchun China Optical Science and Technology Museum.”

Exhibition Installation

On April 5, 2012, the commencement ceremony for exhibition installation of the Changchun China Optical Science and Technology Museum was held at the Jilin Provincial Science and Culture Center, marking the official launch of the exhibition installation project.

During the preparation process for the museum, a total of 35 preparatory meetings were convened to ensure the orderly progress of the project. The macro concept of the science and technology museum was gradually implemented through the detailed design of exhibition halls, the development of exhibits, and finally the trial opening of the museum.

The 35th preparatory meeting was held on October 16, 2016, in the library of the Changchun China Optical Science and Technology Museum, to discuss post-construction improvement and opening-related matters.

Acceptance and Opening

In May 2015, the Changchun China Optical Science and Technology Museum completed exhibition installation and gradually opened for trial operation. On February 26, 2017, the museum passed the project acceptance inspection conducted by the National Development and Reform Commission, and was officially opened to the public.

Distinguished Experts and Pioneers

Wang Jiaqi

Former Director of the Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics and Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences

First Director of the Changchun China Optical Science and Technology Museum

He has long been engaged in the research and development of large-scale precision optical instruments and space-based image information acquisition technology. He developed a variety of large, highly integrated, and high-precision optical and optoelectronic instruments to meet the needs of major and key national projects, and achieved a number of research results that have reached the international advanced level.

Jiang Huilin

Former President of Changchun University of Science and Technology

Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering

Head of the Technical Expert Group of the Changchun China Optical Science and Technology Museum

Academician Jiang Huilin is regarded as “an outstanding representative of the third generation of China’s optical industry.”He studied under Academician Wang Daheng and has made significant achievements in optical system design, optical CAD technology, medical optical instruments, optoelectronic simulation technology, photoelectric detection technology, and laser communication technology.