When China was still poor and far behind the West, two Chinese scientists insisted on leading the world through homegrown innovation. They are jet fighter designer Gu Songfen and nuclear energy scientist Wang Dazhong, who won China’s top science award – the State Preeminent Science and Technology Award on Nov 3.
在中國一度貧窮且遠(yuǎn)遠(yuǎn)落后于西方時(shí)，有兩位中國科學(xué)家堅(jiān)持通過自主創(chuàng)新，令我國技術(shù)領(lǐng)跑世界：噴氣式戰(zhàn)斗機(jī)設(shè)計(jì)師顧誦芬和核能科學(xué)家王大中，他們于11月3日獲得中國最高科學(xué)獎(jiǎng)項(xiàng)——國家最高科學(xué)技術(shù)獎(jiǎng)。

In the 1950s, China had no aviation experience, equipment or wind tunnels. As the head of the aerodynamics team in Shenyang, Gu’s first task was to develop the country’s first homegrown jet aircraft. Despite difficulties, he managed to complete JJ-1, the first jet aircraft designed in China.
20世紀(jì)50年代，中國既無發(fā)展航空的經(jīng)驗(yàn)，又無航空設(shè)備或風(fēng)洞。作為沈陽飛機(jī)設(shè)計(jì)室氣動(dòng)組組長(zhǎng)，顧誦芬接受的第一項(xiàng)任務(wù)就是研發(fā)中國首型國產(chǎn)噴氣式飛機(jī)。盡管面對(duì)重重困難，顧誦芬還是出色完成了殲教1飛機(jī)的設(shè)計(jì)工作，這是中國自行設(shè)計(jì)的第一架噴氣式飛機(jī)。

Gu, 91, started the aerodynamic design of aircraft, which advanced the development of a number of major jet fighters, including the Nanchang CJ-6, a basic training plane, and the Shenyang J-8, a high-speed, high-altitude single-seat interceptor.
現(xiàn)年91歲的顧誦芬從此開始了從事飛機(jī)空氣動(dòng)力設(shè)計(jì)的工作，空氣動(dòng)力技術(shù)推動(dòng)研制出數(shù)架主力戰(zhàn)斗機(jī)，包括初級(jí)教練機(jī)南昌初教-6以及高空高速截?fù)魬?zhàn)斗機(jī)殲-8。

Those aircraft not only greatly improved China’s air defense capabilities but also laid the foundation of its aviation industry.
這些飛機(jī)不僅極大提高了中國的防空能力，也奠定了中國航空工業(yè)的基礎(chǔ)。

Wang Dazhong, 86, has spent 60 years working to develop nuclear energy.
86歲的王大中則為核能事業(yè)奉獻(xiàn)了60年。

After nuclear accidents in Three Mile Island in the US in 1979, and Chernobyl in the Soviet Union in 1986, scientists all over the world have worked hard to ensure that reactors are made “inherently safe”. It means they do not rely on countermeasures powered by external resources to remain stable.
在1979年美國三英里島核事故和1986年蘇聯(lián)切爾諾貝利核事故發(fā)生后，全世界的核科學(xué)家都在追求核反應(yīng)堆“固有安全”。也就是說，不用外部操作，僅靠自然物理規(guī)律，核反應(yīng)堆本身就能夠趨向安全狀態(tài)。

As an academician at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wang led the research, design and operation of China’s first five-megawatt low temperature nuclear heating reactor and later of its 10-megawatt high temperature gas-cooled reactor. He used key technologies related to helium coolant. Both reactors improved the inherent safety of nuclear energy, as well as the application of clean energy.
作為中國科學(xué)院院士，王大中主持了中國第一座5兆瓦低溫核供熱堆的研究、設(shè)計(jì)和運(yùn)行工作，并在日后主持了10兆瓦高溫氣冷堆研發(fā)工作。王大中還帶隊(duì)實(shí)現(xiàn)了氦技術(shù)等關(guān)鍵技術(shù)的突破。他主持建設(shè)的兩個(gè)反應(yīng)堆提高了核能的固有安全性，推動(dòng)了清潔能源的應(yīng)用。

Wang’s scientific achievements have paved the way for clean energy as China works to achieve carbon neutrality, said He Jiankun, an expert at Tsinghua University.
清華大學(xué)專家何建坤表示，中國正努力爭(zhēng)取實(shí)現(xiàn)碳中和，王大中的科學(xué)成就為清潔能源鋪平了道路。

Nuclear power releases zero carbon and can ensure the safe and stable operation of the power grid, he said.
何建坤說，核電是零碳能源，能夠確保電網(wǎng)安全穩(wěn)定運(yùn)行。

以上文章內(nèi)容選自《21世紀(jì)學(xué)生英文報(bào)高中版》，詳情請(qǐng)見《21世紀(jì)學(xué)生英文報(bào)高中版》高一849期