Prof. FANG Wenjun: Education should always be a top priority for teachers

[Editor’s note: Yongping Teaching Award is the highest accolade for teaching at Zhejiang University. Set up by Mr. DUAN Yongping ('82, Wireless Electronics Engineering) in 2011, the Award was conferred annually in the first seven years and then in the even-numbered year. In recognition of outstanding dedication and accomplishment in teaching, the Award is composed of three categories: the Distinguished Teaching Award, the Teaching Excellence Award and the Teaching Excellence Nomination Award. The selection is based on the online voting from all remembers of the ZJU community. As we celebrate the 38th Teachers’ Day today, let’s meet Prof. FANG Wenjun from the Department of Chemistry, one of the two recipients of the Distinguished Teaching Award this year, an award with a cash prize of 1 million yuan, and share his philosophy of teaching.]

FANG Wenjun is a true “frontline teacher” who has been dedicated to teaching for over 30 years. He is a doctoral supervisor and has completed many national research tasks, but he has given of his time and expertise to teach the most fundamental general education and experiment courses to undergraduates, such as General Chemistry and Physical Chemistry Experiments.

Teaching is as much a discipline as research. As General Chemistry is a general education course, FANG Wenjun does a lot of serious thinking about how to deliver his lecture to freshmen from different majors. Drawing on familiar life experiences, he is able to explain abstract theories in a lucid and vivid manner.

“I bet you have seen crystal water droplets on lotus leaves. They are very cute. But do you know why water forms droplets instead of spreading on lotus leaves?” FANG Wenjun inspires his students to think from the perspective of chemistry in class.

It turns out that on the surface of lotus leaves is a layer of hydrophobic wax which can protect them from water erosion. “Why do leaves with similar compositions show different hydrophobic properties?” FANG Wenjun pursues. Further experimental observations reveal that it is because their surface structures are different. FANG Wenjun uses a common phenomenon to impart a basic thinking and learning method to his students. “The property of a substance depends on its composition and structure. Next time you encounter similar problems, you can follow this line of thought.”

“Only if you gain an accurate understanding of basic concepts, lay a solid foundation, and foster particular thinking modes in chemistry, will you be able to penetrate the essence of things,” says FANG Wenjun.

Outside class, FANG Wenjun spends much of his time solving puzzles for his students, who can turn to a variety of communication channels, such as e-mail, WeChat and DingTalk, for help. Although General Chemistry runs only for three hours per week, FANG Wenjun has been arranging 4-hour question and answer sessions every week over the years. In order for those taking other evening courses to make it to the office hours, he often waits until 10:00 p.m.

“Love” is the motivation behind his ongoing commitment to teaching. FANG Wenjun sees chemistry as a labor of love. When asked how to keep passion even in adversity, he says, “It is important to stay diligent and down-to-earth. I regard synthesizing every substance and solving every problem as an accomplishment. They can bring me much joy.”

FANG Wenjun loves his students even more. “I don’t have any special hobby. I just like to spend all day in the laboratory and stay with my students,” says FANG Wenjun jokingly. “Education should always be a top priority for teachers.” 

Photo credit: FANG Wenjun