China Honors 10 Scientists as ‘Most Beautiful Tech Workers’
On the eve of the 10th National Science and Technology Workers’ Day, China’s Central Propaganda Department and the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST) jointly released the advanced deeds of the “Most Beautiful Science and Technology Workers” on May 29, honoring 10 scientists and engineers who embody the nation’s drive for technological self-reliance. The honorees span fields from cultural heritage preservation and aerospace engineering to nuclear technology and ecological protection, reflecting China’s broad-based innovation strategy.
The ‘Four Orientations’ Framework
The 2026 cohort was selected for embodying the “four orientations” (四个面向) — a policy framework first articulated by President Xi Jinping at the 2020 Symposium of Scientists that calls on researchers to face world science frontiers, the economic main battlefield, national major needs, and people’s life and health. According to People’s Daily, the honorees “consciously bear in mind the ‘great of the nation’ and actively invest in high-level technological self-reliance.”
The awards come as part of China’s intensified push for technological self-reliance (高水平科技自立自强) and its goal of building a “science and technology powerhouse” by 2035, amid ongoing US-China technology competition.
Guardians of Cultural Heritage and Engineering Marvels
Among the most prominent honorees is Yu Zongren (于宗仁), Director of the Protection Research Institute at the Dunhuang Academy, who has spent over two decades preserving the ancient murals and painted sculptures of the Mogao Caves. Yu pioneered in-situ non-destructive analysis techniques for cultural relics and led China’s first cliff-face mural relocation project. As reported by the Dunhuang Academy, Yu reflected: “The desert wind always finds the cracks in the caves… everything here breathes with time — the ‘stillness’ we assume has lasted a thousand years has actually been slowly changing.” He has published over 50 papers and holds seven authorized patents.
Su Quanke (苏权科), now a professor at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou), served as Chief Engineer of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge — the world’s longest sea-crossing bridge at 55 kilometers. According to CAST, Su led the development of a 120-year design life durability theory for marine engineering and pioneered industrialized construction methods. “Build a world-class bridge. As long as we aim for this goal, no matter how tired, we don’t feel the hardship,” Su said.
From Space to Deep Sea: Exploring New Frontiers
Gui Haichao (桂海潮), a professor and PhD supervisor at Beihang University, was recognized as China’s first payload expert to board the China Space Station during the Shenzhou-16 mission from May to October 2023, where he completed 68 scientific experiments. Born in 1986 in Yunnan Province to an ordinary family, Gui received the Aerospace Merit Medal in 2024 and has become an inspirational figure for young Chinese pursuing careers in science.
Zhao Yang (赵洋) was honored for contributions to space and deep-sea exploration, while Jin Haizu (金海族) was recognized for breakthroughs in new energy battery technology.
Medicine, Agriculture, and Ecology
The 2026 list also includes Chen Lei (陈蕾) for her work in epilepsy treatment, Song Rende (宋仁德) for promoting livestock technology on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau to boost farmers’ incomes, and Huang Guiyun (黄桂云) for long-term dedication to ecological protection. Kong Hainan (孔海南) was recognized for contributions to environmental science and water management.
A Posthumous Honor
Xu Hongjie (徐洪杰), whose name was marked with a black border indicating his passing, was honored posthumously for his lifelong dedication to nuclear technology basic research and applications, described as “bravely scaling world science peaks.”
Broader Significance
The “Most Beautiful Science and Technology Workers” campaign, launched in 2018 by the Central Propaganda Department, CAST, and the Ministry of Science and Technology, has now honored over 50 individuals across multiple editions. The campaign emphasizes grassroots and young scientists, focusing on frontier breakthroughs, rural revitalization, and technology transfer.
As China Youth Daily reported via Xinhua, the honorees “love the Party and the country, are self-reliant, dedicated, and persistent, vividly demonstrating the fine character of scientific and technological workers in the new era.” A special broadcast program on the “Most Beautiful Science and Technology Workers” is scheduled to air in the coming weeks.
What to Watch
The 2026 awards underscore China’s continued emphasis on linking scientific achievement to national strategic goals. As the People’s Daily editorial noted: “The key to Chinese-style modernization lies in the modernization of science and technology. Both the peaks of science and the peaks of industry must be climbed by ourselves.” With the 2035 science and technology powerhouse target on the horizon, the recognition of diverse fields — from deep-sea exploration to plateau agriculture — signals a comprehensive approach to building China’s innovation ecosystem.