Wang Qidong

After returning to China in 1951, Wang spent his entire career teaching at Zhejiang University. In the 1950s and 1960s, he served as Chair of the Department of Metallurgy and Vice Chair of the Department of Mechanical Engineering. In 1978, Zhejiang University established China's first Department of Materials Science and Engineering, and Wang was appointed its first chair.^[1] He concurrently served as Vice President of Zhejiang University from 1978 to 1984. He retired in 2010.^[1]

Wang was a pioneer in the field of materials science and engineering in China, with research focuses on high-speed steel and hydrogen storage materials. He published almost 400 research papers, of which 280 are included in the Science Citation Index. He held 18 patents and won multiple national and provincial prizes.^[1]

Wang joined the China Democratic League (Minmeng) in 1953.^[2] He was a member of the Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh Central Committee of Minmeng, and served as Chairman of Minmeng's Zhejiang Provincial Committee. He also served as Vice Chairman of the Fifth to Eighth Zhejiang Provincial People's Congress. He was a member of the Standing Committee of the 8th National People's Congress, and a delegate to the 9th National People's Congress.^[1]

In 1946, Wang married Zhang Sucheng (Chinese: 张苏澄).^[5]

Wang died in Hangzhou on 29 July 2019, at the age of 97.^[1][2]