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Tuesday, 26 October 2010

Four outstanding postgraduates at Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology in China were awarded a Dongke Zhang Scholarship by W/Prof Dongke Zhang FTSE on 15 October 2010.

The Dongke Zhang Scholarships were established early in 2010 by W/Professor Dongke Zhang FTSE and The Zhangs Family Trust to recognise and reward outstanding postgraduate research students, currently enrolled at Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology.

Candidates are selected on their good manner, excellent ethical standards, hard working attitude and good research outputs in an area related to energy. With the support of their supervisors, candidates apply to a selection panel. The shortlisted candidates give a presentation to the Institute’s Postgraduate Research Committee before their applications are ranked and forwarded to W/Professor Zhang FTSE for his final decision.

The 1st Prize Winner, Runner–Up and two 3rd prize winners receive ¥8,000, ¥5,000 and ¥3,500 RMB in cash respectively. Because there were so many excellent applicants in the first year of offering of the scholarships, W/Professor Dongke Zhang decided to add two Encouragement Awards at ¥1,000 RMB each.

At the ceremony, W/Professor Dongke Zhang FTSE shared with some 150 postgraduates and staff that he set up these scholarships to promote good citizenship, recognise and reward outstanding performance and encourage interested and able young people to choose science and research as their career.

W/Prof Zhang told the congregation that he knows only too well that life can be tough for research students and his own experience may set a good example for those who commit themselves to a science career.

W/Prof Zhang recalled the time when he needed a hand-held calculator for his study in the second year of Southeast University in Nanjing. He went to Xiaguan Port to work part time for two months to earn enough money to buy his first calculator.

While he was studying for his PhD at Newcastle University and living on a PhD scholarship of $12,500 pa, Prof Zhang worked in a restaurant four evenings per week to support his family of three.

Rather than his wife doing odd jobs and part time work, he encouraged her to attend courses to learn English. After she was able to speak English, his wife was offered a very good job at a food factory as the Quality Assurance Supervisor. Later, she completed her own PhD degree at the University of Adelaide and now works as a Research Assistant Professor at UWA.

W/Prof Zhang concluded by saying...

"My road has been harsh and rocky but I am now a fulfilled and ‘wealthy’ man although I am not rich. I am wealthy because I have a lot of useful knowledge and experience."

2010 Dongke Zhang Scholarships Prize Winners
1st Prize Winner, Miss Lu LIN
Runner-Up, Mr Xinlin JIANG
3rd Prize Winners, Mr Yujing CAO and Mr Guang QI
Encouragement award prize winners, Miss Zhuo LI and Mr Xicheng WANG

Media references

W/Prof Dongke Zhang (Director, UWA Centre for Energy) (+61 8) 6488 7600

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Channels
Awards and Prizes — International — Research
Groups
Centre for Energy — Energy and Minerals Institute — School of Mechanical and Chemical Engineering