Qu Zhongxiang 曲仲湘

M.S., Botany, 1948

Qu Zhongxiang, who was also as Kwei-Ling Chu, was born in 1905 in Tanghe, Henan province. He received a bachelor of science in biology from National Central University in Nanjing. Qu then served as a researcher at the Biology Institute of China Science Society and an associate professor at Fudan University. In 1945, Qu went to Toronto University in Canada, and then transferred to the University of Minnesota where he received a master’s degree in botany in 1948. After graduation, Qu went back to China and taught biology at Fudan University, Nanjing University, and Yunnan University.

Qu made significant contributions in the field of ecology, especially in the ecologic research of living fossil metasequoia. He published numerous articles and books, and was one of the pioneers in fields of ecologic botany and environmental sciences in China. Qu was a committed educator having taught for more than fifty years. Many of his students have become accomplished scholars and educators.He was involved in editing and translating several important textbooks.

Qu also actively participated in social activities. He served as a member of 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, and the vice-chairman of the 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th People’s Political Consultative Conference in Yunnan province. In addition, Qu took active roles in several science societies, such as China Environment Science Society, China Ecology Society, and China Botany Society, etc.

曲仲湘,又名曲桂龄,1905年生于河南省唐河县,于1930年获得南京中央大学生物专业学士学位。曲仲湘毕业后先后担任中国科学社生物研究所研究员、复旦大学副教授。 1945年,曲仲湘赴加拿大多伦多大学学习,后转入明尼苏达大学并于1948年获植物生态学硕士学位。毕业后,曲仲湘回国先后任教于复旦大学生物系、南京大学生物系、云南大学生物系。

曲仲湘在中国生态学领域,尤其是活化石水杉的生态学研究方面做出杰出贡献,他出版了大量极具价值的学术论文和专著, 是中国植物生态学和环境科学的开拓者之一 。同时,曲仲湘也是一名孜孜不倦的教育家。他从教50余年,培养出了很多生态学领域的骨干,他还参与编写和翻译了多本教材,如《植物与环境》、《植物生态学》和《环境和植物生态学》。

曲仲湘还积极参与社会活动。他先后担任全国政协第三届、第四届、第五届、第六届委员,和云南省政协第三届、第四届、第五届、第六届副主席。曲仲湘还积极参与各种科学学会并担任领导,如中国环境科学学会、中国生态学会、和中国植物学会等。