PolyU establishes Joseph Needham Professorship in Science and Civilisation

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), with strong support from the Joseph Needham Foundation for Science and Civilisation (JNFSC), announced the establishment of the Joseph Needham Professorship in Science and Civilisation in the Faculty of Humanities at PolyU, in honour of Dr Needham’s outstanding contributions to academia, particularly his pioneering work in the history of science and civilisation. Today, the PolyU Policy Research Centre for Innovation and Technology (PReCIT) co-hosted the 15th Joseph Needham Memorial Lecture with JNFSC. It featured Prof. Roel STERCKX FBA, Joseph Needham Professor of Chinese History, Science and Civilisation at The University of Cambridge, who delivered a lecture titled “‘Those who are learned do not farm and farmers do not learn.’ Writing agriculture in early China”.

In his welcoming remarks, Prof. Christopher CHAO, PolyU Vice President (Research and Innovation) and Honorary Secretary of the JNFSC, said, “We are deeply committed to advancing interdisciplinary research that bridges technology, sustainability and cultural heritage. This lecture focuses on the interaction between scholarly discourse and agricultural development, resonating with the connection between academic rigour and real-world impact. In addition to co-hosting the lecture, we are very honoured to establish the Joseph Needham Professorship, continuing the research legacy of this legendary scholar. This new professorship will further advance research in the history of science and technology at PolyU, while also strengthening the University’s overall research capabilities.”

Dr Peter LEE, Chairman of the JNFSC, remarked, “The Joseph Needham Memorial Lecture continues to bring together global top scholars to promote research in the history of science and medicine in East Asia. Today’s lecture helps the participants further understand ancient Chinese agricultural activities. To deepen the academic legacy of Dr Joseph Needham, JNFSC has announced the establishment of the Joseph Needham Professorship at PolyU to attract international scholars and expand Dr Needham’s core value of nurturing ‘the coexistence of science and civilisation’ through interdisciplinary research, talent development and public outreach, promoting a deep global dialogue on science and humanities.”

In the lecture, Prof. Roel Sterckx FBA said, “In ancient China, rulers routinely presented agriculture as the most important profession in society. Yet, Confucius notoriously claimed he had no expertise when it came to fields and gardens and insisted that those who study should not be concerned with farming.” In his lecture, Prof. Sterckx explored how these seemingly contradictory attitudes were reflected in the textual sources of Warring States and early imperial China. The history of early Chinese agriculture was not just a story of agronomic and technological developments but also firmly influenced by the political philosophies of the time.

Prof. Eric CHUI, Head of the PolyU Department of Applied Social Sciences and Co-Director of PReCIT, also noted that the lecture explained the technological development and political relationships in early Chinese agronomy, highlighting the diversity of ancient Chinese agricultural history. Through a meticulous analysis of documents of the Warring States period, the lecture demonstrated how ancient Chinese rulers viewed agriculture as a fundamental political and economic strategy of the state.

JNFSC was established in 1979, with the aim of promoting the academic legacy of the late Dr Joseph Needham for the benefit of students and the public. To cultivate more outstanding scholars and talents like Dr Needham, JNFSC has established the “Joseph Needham Professorship” and “Joseph Needham Merit Scholarship” programmes. Two PolyU graduates, two HKU graduates and one HKUST graduate were awarded this year’s scholarship to recognise their outstanding performance in academic research, as well as their qualities of empathy, humility and courage. They will receive full scholarship funding and an additional stipend for a fixed period of four years during their postgraduate studies and research work. The full list of awardees is as follows:

About Dr Joseph Needham

Born in 1900, Dr Needham was a biochemist and historian of science known for his scientific research and writing on the history of Chinese science and technology. He initiated the publication of Science and Civilisation in China, which is an ongoing series of books about the history of science and technology in China published by Cambridge University Press. It is recognised as one of the most remarkable works of scholarship in the twentieth century.  Dr Needham was the first Western scholar to undertake a comprehensive and comparative study of the history of Chinese science and technology, examining its relationship with the development of modern science. He highlighted and fully recognised the rich connotations of traditional Chinese culture in science and technology development. His works opened up global interests in and attention to the history of Chinese science and technology, making it an important international academic field. Among his many academic honours and achievement, Dr Needham was elected as a foreign member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in 1994. His legacy as a distinguished scientist, humanist, and intellectual continues to have a profound impact on the science and civilisation of our world today. 

PolyU looks forward to the continued exploration and understanding of the rich tapestry of science and civilisation inspired by Dr Needham’s remarkable legacy. PolyU has initiated global open recruitment for the Joseph Needham Professorship in Science and Civilisation. The position will be held by a world-renowned leading scholar at the Chair Professor level in the Faculty of Humanities, whose scholarship includes a focus on areas related to the history of science and civilisation.

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