Wang Jin 王琎

M.S., Chemistry, 1936

Wang Jin, who was born in 1888 in Minhou, Fujian, was one of the first Chinese students who came to the U.S. with the Boxer Indemnity Scholarship. He received a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Lehigh University in 1915 and then returned to China where he taught and served as deans at Nanjing Advanced Normal School (later renamed Southeast University) and National Central University in Nanjing. Wang played a significant role in developing China’s first analytical chemistry lab and founding the China Science Society and the China Chemistry Society. Wang was also the editor-in-chief of “Science,” which is a prominent research journal in China.

In 1934, Wang enrolled at the University of Minnesota and received a master’s degree in chemistry in 1936. Upon his return to China, he served as a professor and administrator successively at Sichuan University, Zhejiang University, and Hangzhou University.

Wang was the first person to propose the application of chemistry to archeological analysis of ancient currency. He was considered the pioneer in analytical chemistry and chemistry history research in China. In addition, Wang was very active in the political field. He served as a member of 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and the vice-chairman of 2nd and 3rd People’s Political Consultative Conference in Zhejiang.

 

王琎,1888年生于福建闽侯,作为第一批庚子赔款赴美留学生之一,他于1915年获得里海大学化学工程专业的学士学位。毕业后,王琎先后任教于南京高等师范学校(后来更名为东南大学)和南京国立中央大学并担任院长。他参与成立了中国第一个化学工程系,担任中国科学社董事,《科学》杂志编辑部部长。他还成立了中国化学会,并担任上海分会理事长。

1934年,王琎来到明尼苏达大学并于1936年获得化学专业硕士学位,同年回国后,王琎先后任教于四川大学、浙江大学和杭州大学。

王琎首创了将化学方法运用于考古学检验古代货币,是中国分析化学与中国化学史研究的开拓者。同时,王琎曾任第二、第三、第四届全国政协委员,浙江省第一届政协委员,第二、第三届政协副主席。