On 4 August, local time in the United States, the world-renowned physicist and the first Chinese Nobel Prize winner in Physics, Tsung-Dao Lee, passed away in San Francisco at the age of 97. Many University of Nottingham Ningbo China (UNNC) staff and students have been commemorating this scientific giant on social media platforms. 

As fellow giants in the field of physics, Fujia Yang, the founding president of UNNC, and Tsung-Dao Lee shared a deep friendship, and a photo of them together on the UNNC campus hung on the wall of Fujia Yang’s office for a long time. Additionally, they shared a strong resonance in their educational philosophies. Fujia Yang always emphasised the importance of “学问 (learning and asking),” a core idea deeply rooted in Tsung-Dao Lee’s educational philosophy.

In numerous speeches at ceremonies, Fujia Yang referred to a quote by Confucius: “博学而笃志，切问而近思” (Be extensively learned and resolute, inquire earnestly and reflect with self-application.) He said, “Nobel laureate Tsung-Dao Lee once mentioned that he particularly appreciated two words in this quote— ‘学 (learning)’ and ‘问 (asking).’ Learning is about asking questions, not just answering them. You should dare to ask questions and explore the answers; this process is more important than attending classes. Without questions, there is no innovation. All significant discoveries are born from questions.”

On 19 June 2008, at the invitation of Fujia Yang, Tsung-Dao Lee delivered an engaging keynote address, “From Galileo to Einstein”, where he connected with the audience by mentioning his Ningbo roots. For two hours, he stood and spoke passionately about the evolution and future of physics, captivating the packed auditorium. 

On the same day, he also wrote a message encouraging the university. He expressed his full recognition of UNNC’s international approach to education. He urged the university to continue learning from and incorporating the essence of leading British Universities, thereby contributing to higher education within China.

Though Tsung-Dao Lee is no longer with us, his handwritten messages and images are permanently preserved in the UNNC Museum. This unique memory of his association with UNNC will undoubtedly inspire future generations to keep exploring and bravely pursuing their dreams.