403A: Outstanding Talent
"Xiao Yang, how could someone as outstanding as you have mental problems? Who made that assessment of you? I'll definitely get an explanation for you when I get back." Dean Ning seemed quite angry, but inwardly he was suspicious. This Xiao Yang probably had some mental issues; what normal person would casually admit to being mentally unstable?
Dean Ning looked at Shen Qi and said, "You really dare to use people like this, leaving this young Yang alone in the lab."
However, how can a doctoral student with mental health issues co-author a PRL paper with Shen Qi?
Could it be that Shen Qi deliberately promoted and mentored Xiao Yang?
Dean Ning has a very rich inner world; some things he can only think about internally and are not convenient to say aloud.
"Xiao Yang is perfectly healthy; he was just joking," Shen Qi said, trying to smooth things over. Although his attempt was rather weak, Dean Ning didn't press further about Xiao Yang's mental state.
Dean Ning wasn't there for Yang Ding Tian; Shen Qi was the one he was really interested in.
"Professor Shen, the equipment in your lab is rather basic." Dean Ning glanced at the lab's equipment and immediately drew a conclusion based on its specifications, models, and brands.
Shen Qi: "Do what you can afford, one step at a time. You can't rush scientific research."
"It's not easy, it's really not easy. Just the two of you, using the most basic experimental equipment, have given the phase transition mechanism rules and basic equations for Condensed Matter Physics in just a few months. I'm ashamed, I'm very ashamed. Our physics department has several Condensed Matter Physics special groups, but we haven't made much progress. One brilliant mind is worth a hundred top-of-the-line pieces of equipment." Dean Ning spoke from the heart. In today's Physics Community, people who can rival high-end equipment with brilliant minds are national assets in any country.
"As I just mentioned, the School of Physics has provided us with a great deal of assistance, and we hope that Dean Ning will continue to support the development of our center."
"Support! Absolutely support!"
Dean Ning supports Shen Qi. He promised that you can use the equipment in the Physics Department as you please, and he also looks forward to the Physics Department collaborating with the Shen Qi Mathematical and Physical Research Center on subsequent projects.
Shen Qi knew that Dean Ning's personal visit wasn't just for casual conversation or a cup of tea.
Although it's a sister department within Yenching University, why should they let you use their equipment for free? They won't even bother with maintenance or energy costs, which are quite expensive.
Dean Ning is not from Condensed Matter Physics background; his expertise lies in communications.
Shen Qi explained to Dean Ning that the research directions of the Condensed Matter Physics groups in the School of Physics differed from that of their 973 Program, and forced cooperation was impossible.
"If there's an opportunity in the future, we can cooperate in other fields of physics. I believe there will definitely be opportunities." Shen Qi chatted with Dean Ning for a few more minutes. Their center would still need to borrow equipment and other related resources from the Institute of Physics in the short term.
Yanjing University Physics Department has developed over many years into the best in the country, boasting comprehensive and advanced facilities.
It is very difficult for the Shen Qi Mathematical and Physical Research Center to surpass Yanjing University Physics Department in terms of hardware, or to become the second Yanjing University Physics Department.
From a national perspective, it is unnecessary for different departments within the same university to have two sets of top-of-the-line equipment; that would be a waste of resources.
Why have the Physics Division of the Princeton Institute for Advanced Study and the Physics Department Princeton University been able to work together for so many years? It's because the two institutions have achieved differentiated and complementary research: the Institute for Princeton University Study specializes in Theoretical Physics, while the Physics Department of Princeton Institute for Advanced Study invests heavily in applied experiments.
Shen Qi is committed to creating a Chinese version of the Princeton Institute for Advanced Study. To achieve sustainable development, he must differentiate himself significantly from the Yanjing University Physics Department.
We should still focus on theoretical research, and the government will support the purchase of basic experimental equipment to support this research.
If Shen Qi pushes the higher-ups too hard and applies for too much funding at once, they'll probably say, "If you need high-end equipment, go to the Yanjing University Physics Department. We're all Yenching University students, why do we have to be so strict about it? Let's unify things, merge things, and not have two separate teams within the same family."
After seeing Dean Ning off, Shen Qi returned to the lab and said to Yang Ding Tian, "We won't be able to recruit anyone before the Spring Festival. I heard that a physics PhD graduate from Wuhan University will be joining after the Spring Festival, so you'll have to work hard to continue collecting experimental data before then."
"The 'Disorder-Order Phase Transition Rules and Basic Equations of a Class of Compounds' is the first volume of the 973 Program '973 Program Application Extension of Defect Topology Research in Condensed Matter,' which is the second part of my Condensed Matter Physics trilogy. Do you understand what I'm saying?" Shen Qi asked Yang Ding Tian.
"I understand, this is an extremely ambitious plan. So what we need to do next is the second phase of 973 Program." Yang Ding Tian carefully saved a set of experimental data after collecting it.
"That's right. In the second episode, I hope you can become the man who can stand on your own, while I will mainly be responsible for overall control." After finishing his official business, Shen Qi inquired about his student's personal life, "The Lunar New Year is on February 1st. When are you going back to your hometown? Have you bought your ticket?"
Yang Ding Tian said, "I didn't buy a ticket, I'll ride my motorcycle back later."
Shen Qi was surprised. "Where is your hometown? You ride a motorcycle?"
Yang Ding Tian uttered two words: "Xiong'an."
"Are you from Xiong'an? What kind of big shot from Xiong'an rides a motorcycle? First, it's not safe, and second, aren't you cold riding a motorcycle in the dead of winter? Why don't you go home early, and I'll have someone drive my car to take you back to Xiong'an." Shen Qi was very worried about the student's safety.
"I just love riding motorcycles," Yang Ding Tian said firmly.
"Ride, ride, ride or don't, we can't afford to mess with the big shots in Xiong'an." Shen Qi was also angry, his good intentions were taken for granted.
Yang Ding Tian is very clear-headed and rational when conducting experiments or discussing physics, but his thinking in daily life seems rather peculiar.
Speaking of going home for the Chinese New Year, Shen Qi has also started making preparations. He and Ou Ye definitely won't be spending the New Year in the capital.
Should we go back to the boy's hometown or the girl's hometown? That is the question.
At Shen Qi's home.
Shen Qi consulted Ou Ye's opinion. "When we just returned from the United States, I visited your home and received a warm welcome, which touched me deeply. So please give me a chance this time, when we return to my hometown for the Chinese New Year, my family will also treat you well."
"Except when I was in the United States, I have never spent the Chinese New Year outside of my hometown." Ou Ye was quite embarrassed.
Shen Qi suggested, "How about this: we go to my house for New Year's Eve dinner first, and then fly to your house on New Year's Day?"
"I'll ask my dad." Ou Ye picked up her phone and called her Old Ou.
After exchanging only a few words, Ou Ye handed the phone to Shen Qi: "My dad wants to talk to you."