Chien Shih-Liang aka S. L. Chien (; 1908–1983), was a Taiwanese chemist who served as the President of the

Academia Sinica Academia Sinica (AS, ; zh, t=中央研究院) is the national academy of the Taiwan, Republic of China. It is headquartered in Nangang District, Taipei, Nangang, Taipei. Founded in Nanjing, the academy supports research activities in mathemat ...

. A graduate of

Tsinghua University Tsinghua University (THU) is a public university in Haidian, Beijing, China. It is affiliated with and funded by the Ministry of Education of China. The university is part of Project 211, Project 985, and the Double First-Class Constructio ...

and the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, he also served as President of

National Taiwan University National Taiwan University (NTU; zh, t=國立臺灣大學, poj=Kok-li̍p Tâi-oân Tāi-ha̍k, p=, s=) is a National university, national Public university, public research university in Taipei, Taiwan. Founded in 1928 during Taiwan under J ...

Biography

Chien was from

Hangzhou Hangzhou, , Standard Mandarin pronunciation: ; formerly romanized as Hangchow is a sub-provincial city in East China and the capital of Zhejiang province. With a population of 13 million, the municipality comprises ten districts, two counti ...

Zhejiang ) , translit_lang1_type2 = , translit_lang1_info2 = ( Hangzhounese) ( Ningbonese) (Wenzhounese) , image_skyline = 玉甑峰全貌 - panoramio.jpg , image_caption = View of the Yandang Mountains , image_map = Zhejiang i ...

. After graduating from

Tianjin Nankai High School Tianjin Nankai High School () is a college-preparatory high school in Tianjin, China. This is the original Nankai High School, and it is often referred to as Nankai High School in Tianjin to differentiate it from Chongqing Nankai Middle School, ...

, he matriculated at

Department of Chemistry in 1927. He won the Boxer Indemnity Scholarship Program in 1931 and went to the United States together with Wu Ta-You. Chien continued his study in chemistry at the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign (UIUC) where he obtained a

M.S. A Master of Science (; abbreviated MS, M.S., MSc, M.Sc., SM, S.M., ScM or Sc.M.) is a master's degree. In contrast to the Master of Arts degree, the Master of Science degree is typically granted for studies in sciences, engineering and medicine ...

in 1932 and Ph.D. in 1934. Chien returned to China after obtaining PhD and joined the

Peking University Peking University (PKU) is a Public university, public Types of universities and colleges in China#By designated academic emphasis, university in Haidian, Beijing, China. It is affiliated with and funded by the Ministry of Education of the Peop ...

Department of Chemistry. Chien was a professor and the head of the department. In 1949, Chien went to

Taipei , nickname = The City of Azaleas , image_map = , map_caption = , pushpin_map = Taiwan#Asia#Pacific Ocean#Earth , coordinates = , subdivision_type = Country ...

, and was recruited professor of chemistry and the provost of the

, by its then-president Fu Sinian. From 1951 till 1970, Chien was the President of the National Taiwan University. In 1964, Chien was elected Academician of the

division of physical and mathematical sciences. From 1970 to 1983, Chien served the President of Academia Sinica. In 1983, Chien received honorary doctoral degree from his

alma mater Alma mater (; : almae matres) is an allegorical Latin phrase meaning "nourishing mother". It personifies a school that a person has attended or graduated from. The term is related to ''alumnus'', literally meaning 'nursling', which describes a sc ...

UIUC. From 1971 to 1981, Chien also served the director of the Atomic Energy Council of the

Executive Yuan The Executive Yuan () is the executive (government), executive branch of the government of the Republic of China (Taiwan). Under the Additional Articles of the Constitution of the Republic of China, amended constitution, the head of the Execut ...

Family

Chien's father Chien Hong-ye (錢鴻業) was a Chief Justice in the

Supreme Court of the Republic of China The Supreme Court of Taiwan () (also known as the Supreme Court of the Republic of China) is the court of last resort in Taiwan, except matters regarding interpretation of the Constitution and unifying the interpretation of laws and orders whic ...

, and was assassinated in

Shanghai Shanghai, Shanghainese: , Standard Chinese pronunciation: is a direct-administered municipality and the most populous urban area in China. The city is located on the Chinese shoreline on the southern estuary of the Yangtze River, with the ...

in 1940. Chien had three sons. The eldest, Robert Chien and youngest,

Fredrick Chien Chien Foo (; born 21 March 1935), also known by his English name Fredrick Foo Chien, is a Taiwanese diplomat and politician who served as the List of presidents of the Control Yuan, president of the Control Yuan from 1999 to 2005. After earning ...

, became politicians. His second son

Shu Chien Shu Chien (; born June 23, 1931) is a Taiwanese-American physiology, physiologist and bioengineer. His work on the fluid dynamics of blood flow has had a major impact on the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular diseases such as atheroscle ...

is a biologist and engineer. A grandson, Carl Chien, is a businessman.

References

* Hudong.com

Encyclopedia An encyclopedia is a reference work or compendium providing summaries of knowledge, either general or special, in a particular field or discipline. Encyclopedias are divided into article (publishing), articles or entries that are arranged Alp ...

Biography of Chien Shih-Liang
*

The Fifth President -- Chien Shih-Liang

Chien Shih-Liang and Shu Chien, father and son academicians
{{DEFAULTSORT:Chien, Shih-Liang 1908 births 1983 deaths Boxer Indemnity Scholarship recipients Chemists from Zhejiang Educators from Hangzhou Members of Academia Sinica Academic staff of the National Taiwan University Academic staff of Peking University Presidents of National Taiwan University Scientists from Hangzhou Taiwanese people from Zhejiang Tianjin Nankai High School alumni Tsinghua University alumni University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign alumni