Draft:Hongqi Tian

Hongqi Tian is a Chinese rail engineer. She is President of Central South University, and member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering.

She was the leading brain behind the shape and structural design of China’s first high-speed train.

Life
She was born in Lushan City in December 1959, Hongqi Tian received both her bachelor's and master's degree from Changsha Railway University. In 1999, she received her PhD from China Aerodynamics Research & Development Center. For her work in solving technical problems of train safety caused by aerodynamics, she has been a recipient of six National Science and Technology Awards. Hongqi Tian established the research system of basic theories, technology developments and engineering applications for Chinese rail transit aerodynamics. These research theories then led to her designing the first experimental system of the impact-resistant, energy-absorbing train.

Academic career
Tian has also made several achievements in the world of academia. She is the president of Central South University in Hunan, China. Hongqi Tian is also Vice Chairperson of the International Center for Engineering Education under the Auspices of UNESCO. She joined the organization to promote a culture of peace through the eradication of poverty. Her work in governmental organizations continues with her position as a member of both the 11th and 12th Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC). The conference advises the Chinese government body on social and political issues. Members are nominated by the party's United Front Work Department for appointment or election to the Conference. The CPPCC National Committee is elected for a term of five years.

Later career
Tian was also elected as the academician of Chinese Academy of Engineering as well as the director of the Energy Transportation Department of Science and Technology Commission of the Ministry of Education. This group only consisted of 16 members, Hongqi Tian being one of them. She then formed her own research group to further experiments on aerospace engineering and China’s railway systems. The team led by her has built communication and transportation engineering into a national key first-level discipline. She published two academic books on her findings and authorized eleven Chinese invention patents. With her work, she won the Prize for Science and Technology Progress of the Ho Leung Ho Lee Award. Her research group was also adorned with prizes and honors including the First National Excellent Professional Group and the Yangtze River Scholar Innovative Team of the Ministry of Education of China.

Her current role as the president of Central South University has allowed her to expand the school’s development model of ‘big science’. Hongqi Tian divided her plan into five big goals: meeting important needs, building big platforms and big teams, undertaking big projects, and making big contributions. Her school’s team is behind most of the construction of major train lines in China. They currently provide technical support in railway bridge designs and railway sub-ground material development. They also ensure the safety of high-speed transportation networks with crash testing. Her current goal is to elevate CSU’s standing by the middle of the century.

She is on the board of China Merchants Bank.

Awards
Throughout her career, Tian has been recognized for her research.


 * Two Grand Prizes of the National Science and Technology Progress Award
 * Second Prize of the National Technology Invention Award
 * Prize for Science and Technology Progress of the Ho Leung Ho Lee Award
 * Achievement Award of Zhan Tianyou Development Foundation for Science and Technology
 * Guanghua EST Prize
 * Guangzhao Science and Technology Award