Yen Chen-hsing explained

Yen Chen-hsing
Office1:President of National Taiwan University
Term Start1:July 1970
Term End1:July 1981
Predecessor1:Chien Shih-Liang
Office2:President of National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology
Term Start2:1 July 1969
Term End2:31 January 1971
Predecessor2:Position established
Office3:President of National Tsing Hua University
Term Start3:1969
Term End3:1970
Successor3:Shu Shien-Siu
Office4:Chairperson of the Atomic Energy Council
Term Start4:10 April 1981
Term End4:1 June 1990
Predecessor4:Chien Shih-Liang
Successor4:Hsu Yi-yun
Term Start5:20 April 1966
Term End5:5 December 1971
Successor5:Chien Shih-Liang
Office6:Chairperson of the National Youth Commission
Term Start6:28 January 1966
Term End6:9 July 1970
Predecessor6:Position established
Successor6:Lee Huan
Office7:Minister of Education
Term Start7:25 January 1965
Term End7:1 July 1969
Successor7:Chung Chiao-kuang
Office8:President of National Cheng Kung University
Term Start8:August 1957
Term End8:December 1964
Birth Date:10 July 1912
Alma Mater:National Tsing Hua University
University of Iowa
Module:
Child:yes
Hide:no
T:閻振興
Poj:Giâm Chín-heng
Tl:Giâm Tsín-hing
P:Yán Zhènxīng

Yen Chen-hsing (; 10 July 1912 – 7 January 2005) was a Chinese-born engineer, educator, and politician based in Taiwan.

Early life and education

Yen graduated from National Tsing Hua University in Beijing and moved to the United States in 1937 to continue his education. He earned a master's degree and doctorate from the Department of Mechanics and Hydraulics at the University of Iowa in 1938 and 1941, respectively.

Career

Upon graduation, Yen returned to China and helped construct the Burma Road. After World War II, Yen devised plans to dam the Yellow River. He joined the faculty of Henan University shortly before moving to Taiwan in 1949, along with Chiang Kai-shek's Nationalist government. In Taiwan, Yen became chief engineer of Kaohsiung Harbor before assuming the presidency of National Cheng Kung University in 1957. He stepped down in 1965 and was named Minister of Education.

The next year, Yen began concurrently serving as chairman of the National Youth Commission. As education minister, Yen extended the length of compulsory education programs in Taiwan from six years to nine years and helped establish many junior colleges.[1] Yen left the Ministry of Education in 1969 and ended his tenure at the National Youth Commission the next year. He stepped down from the Atomic Energy Council in 1971, having held the position since 1966. Yen assumed administrative posts at several universities while working in the government.

While serving as president of National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology from 1969 to 1971, Yen was also president of National Tsing Hua University until 1970. He then led National Taiwan University from 1970 to 1981. Upon stepping down from NTU, Yen returned to the Atomic Energy Council from 1981 to 1990 and later served President Lee Teng-hui as a senior adviser. Yen was elected to the Academia Sinica in 1982 and awarded the University of Iowa's Distinguished Alumni Award for Achievement in 1984.[2] [3] In 1999, the University of Iowa inducted Yen into its Distinguished Engineering Alumni Academy.[4]

Yen died in January 2005, aged 92. Following his death, the "Chen-Hsing Fluid Dynamics Lab" and "Chen-Hsing Memorial Hall" at National Taiwan University were dedicated in Yen's honor.[5]

Notes and References

  1. News: Dr. Chen-Hsing Yen. 2019-01-31. University of Iowa.
  2. News: Chen-Hsing Yen . 21 June 2020 . Academia Sinica.
  3. Web site: Chen-Hsing Yen 38MS, 41PhD. 10 September 2017. University of Iowa.
  4. News: UI inducts five new members into Distinguished Engineering Alumni Academy. 2017-09-10. University of Iowa. 1999-02-12. https://web.archive.org/web/20170911025423/http://news-releases.uiowa.edu/1999/february/0212alumni.html. dead. 2017-09-11.
  5. News: NTU Fluid Dynamics Lab Christened in Memory of Former President Chen-Hsing Yen . 20 February 2019 . National Taiwan University . January 2009.