Pinxian Wang: no place for a 'gold rush' in the exploration of the deep sea

Prof. Pinxian Wang of Tongji University, born in 1936, is one of the leading deep-sea scientists in China. As the first co-chief scientist of Chinese nationality in the international Ocean Drilling Program (ODP), he co-led ODP Leg 184 in 1999; and in 2018, at 82 years old, he dived to a depth of 1400 meters in the South China Sea (SCS) in China's manned submersible 'Deep Sea Warrior'. In recent years, he has also become a star of science popularization in China-he has more than 1.7 million followers on China's video-sharing platform bilibili, and his popular science book Deep Sea in Simple Words is a best seller. In September 2022, Prof. Wang was interviewed by NSR's Associate Editor-in-Chief, Zhonghe Zhou. In this interview, Prof. Wang summarized his six-decade-long scientific career, talked about the past and future of China's deep-sea research efforts, and explained his opinion on how to promote scientific culture in China.

Automated summary

English Summary: Prof. Pinxian Wang, a leading deep-sea scientist in China, has made significant contributions to the field. He has led international research expeditions and conducted dives to great depths in the South China Sea. Additionally, he has gained popularity as a science communicator in China, with a large following on bilibili and a best-selling book on deep-sea exploration. In a recent interview, he discussed his scientific career, China's deep-sea research efforts, and strategies for promoting scientific culture in the country.