Zhejiang Province is one of the smallest provinces (both in population and area) in China but quite well known for its academic prosperity and scholars. The province has produced a large number of distinguished scientists. In ancient time, such as Wang Chong of the Han dynasty, Shen Kuo of the Song dynasty, Huang Zongxi of the Ming and Qing dynasties from Zhejiang reached research climaxes of natural sciences in their own eras, however, this item would only focus on those modern scientists from Zhejiang.
In the historic first election (in 1948) of the Academia Sinica, about 1/4 academicians came from Zhejiang, the first two Presidents of the Academia Sinica (Cai Yuanpei and Chu Ka-Wa) also were born in Zhejiang. Currently Zhejiang has produced the most members of the Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE), and the second most members of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), only after Jiangsu Province, where is also very famous for its scientific and technological tradition.[1] Current CAS President Lu Yongxiang and CAE President Xu Kuangdi were both born in Zhejiang.
Many scientists and engineers have studied and/or worked at institutes of Zhejiang, such as Chien-Shiung Wu and Tsung-Dao Lee.
Outside of Chinese speaking regions, many academics of overseas Chinese have roots in Zhejiang.
