Stargazing fetches Chinese woman honor for research

Her daily online reading includes research work by various astronomers from around the world to keep pace with developments elsewhere. Chen says that a good way to promote astronomy among people is through sci-fi movies, such as Christopher Nolan's Interstellar. "If the public can get to know about science through visual enjoyment, they will find science very beautiful."

After graduating in physics from Yunnan University in 1999, she enrolled in astronomy as a postgraduate at Yunnan Observatory of the Chinese academy. But soon she realized how different the thinking patterns of physics and astronomy were. Her husband, who was then her boyfriend, was aware of her struggle with that transition, she says.

Chen didn't quit astronomy because of her own persistence and encouragement from her friends and teachers, she adds. "One should have the spirit. If you always give up halfway when you encounter difficulties, you will never succeed."

She now seeks to awaken an interest in astronomy in her 10-year-old son Xie Xuanzhu, whom she takes to the observatory during his school breaks in the summer and winter. The child likes to watch China Central Television's documentary channel 9, and she will watch it with him.

She says it's a convenient way for her son to know about science and discover its beauty, and the programs range from astronomy, geography and the life sciences. "He is more interested in astronomy than his peers. Whenever China launches a satellite, he will be very excited and watch the live broadcast on TV with me," Chen says.

Chen wants to take her son to Chile to see the Atacama Large Millimeter/Submillimeter Array, which is the largest astronomical project in existence, involving a number of countries. The array is in reality one massive telescope.

Chen's husband teaches Chinese at a junior middle school and spent a lot of time with their son, which frees her up to pursue research.

"I feel very lucky to have my husband. When I have something at work, I can go without worries because he's there for the family," she says.

According to Lan Zhen-zhen, vice-president of L'Oreal China, the women who receive the annual fellowships aren't just scientists but also daughters, wives and mothers, demonstrating perfectly a woman's colorful life. "They make good balance between work and life," says Lan.

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