Celebrating the Works of the Founding President of AAPPS, Prof. Chen-Ning Yang

Jinge Sun

From September 22 to 23, 2021, a seminar on Prof. Chen-Ning Yang's academic works was held at Tsinghua University. The seminar was co-hosted by Tsinghua University, the Chinese Physical Society and the Chinese University of Hong Kong. It was held both in-person and online, and the number of participants attending the webcast peaked at 100,000.

At the symposium, "Celebrating Mr. Yang's 100^th Birthday", held in the afternoon of September 22, 2021, Zhili Chen, former state councilor and vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the 11th National People's Congress; Prof. Yong Qiu, president of Tsinghua University; Prof. Jie Zhang, chairman of the Chinese Physical Society and also former president of the Association of Asia Pacific Physical Societies (AAPPS); Prof. Rocky Tuan, president of the Chinese University of Hong Kong; and Prof. Binglin Gu, former president of Tsinghua University and dean of the Institute for Advanced Study, delivered speeches, and Prof. Xu Chen, secretary of the party committee of the university, presided over the meeting.

In his speech, Chairman Jie Zhang, fondly recalled the deep roots between Prof. Yang and the Chinese Physical Society and the precious memories of their personal relationship. Prof. Yang has been associated with the Chinese Physical Society since his early school days and has been actively involving in activities such as the annual meeting of the society. During his stay in the United States, he actively organized and promoted the implementation of collaborative programs between the Chinese Physical Society and the American Physical Society in fundamental research in atomic, molecular, and condensed matter physics. Under his initiative and specific chairing, the Chinese Physical Society, the Japanese Physical Society, the Korean Physical Society and others jointly launched the Association of Asia Pacific Physical Societies. Mr. Yang has participated in various activities organized by the Chinese Physical Society and has long been concerned with the development of academic journals sponsored by it. Mr. Yang has not only achieved the outstanding academic achievement of "mastering a secret of Universe and utilizing it", but also has made great contributions to the development of the Chinese physics community.

Overseas scholars and Mr. Yang's close friends from all over the world who were unable to be present due to the epidemic sent their best wishes by video. Prof. Yang thanked everyone for joining him in celebrating his 100th lunar birthday (the lunar birthday is usually one year greater than the solar birthday) and recalled his feelings regarding his first visit to New China in 1971.

On September 23, 2021, the seminar "A Century-Long Love for Physics" was presided over by Chairman Jie Zhang, and addressed by Academician Yong Qiu, president of Tsinghua University. Academician Molin Ge of Nankai University, Professor Xiaogang Wen of MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology), Professor Yu Shi of Fudan University, Academician Binglin Gu of Tsinghua University, and Academician Bangfen Zhu shared and discussed the main contributions of Mr. Yang in the field of science and education.

In the roundtable discussion session, Chairman Jie Zhang opened the session with Prof. Yang's article "The Main Theme of the Development of Theoretical Physics in the 20^th Century". Academician Hesheng Chen of the Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences discussed the development and challenges of particle physics. Professor Kenneth Young of the Chinese University of Hong Kong gave advice to young scholars regarding how to create big breakthroughs from small problems. Professor Yongshi Wu of the University of Utah looked forward to the future development of fundamental physics. Academician Tao Xiang, of the Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and an AAPPS council member, discussed some theories and applications of fundamental physics. Academician Ronggen Cai of the Institute of Theoretical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences raised many current issues affecting the development of cosmological physics from the perspective of cosmology.

Afterwards, Professor Alexander Chao of Stanford University introduced the development status of a new type of accelerator-based photon source utilizing steady-state microbunching mechanism. Academician Changpu Sun of the Graduate School of China Academy of Engineering Physics explored the developmental trends of theoretical physics. Academician Jianwei Pan of the University of Science and Technology of China discussed the developmental status and prospects in the field of quantum information. Academician Qikun Xue, President of Southern University of Science and Technology, talked about the recent advances in condensed matter physics. Professor Hui Zhai of the Institute for Advanced Study, Tsinghua University, reviewed Prof. Yang's academic achievements in the field of cold atom physics and looked forward to the future direction of this field. Academician Zhentang Zhao of Shanghai Advanced Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, pointed out Prof. Yang's historic contribution to the development of a high-gain free electron laser facility in China. Professor Shude Mao of the Department of Astronomy, Tsinghua University, presented the specific research status in the field of exoplanets and cosmology. Academician Chao Tang of Peking University showed possible directions in interdisciplinary research between life science and physics in the coming years.

Birthday greetings from Peking University, the University of Science and Technology of China, the Graduate School of the Chinese Academy of Engineering Physics, the Institute of Theoretical Physics of Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Department of Physics of Fudan University, the Department of Physics of Nanjing University and many other units were also read out at the meeting.

At the closing ceremony, Prof. Gui-Lu Long, former AAPPS president, conferred the certificate of AAPPS honorary fellow to Prof. C.N. Yang in recognition of his great contributions to AAPPS.