Editor’s Note: Professor Jun Xia is the first Ph.D in Hydrology and Water Resources nurtured independently by China. He is also the first Chinese scholar who received the International Hydrology Prize-Volker Medal. In 2011, he was awarded The International Prize for Outstanding Contributions to Water Management by the Third World Centre for Water Management (TWCWM). Apart from that, he is also in charge of many major science and technology projects such as the Project 973. So far, he has published more than 400 theses, many of which have been collected by SCI and EI. In 2009, he was elected the president of the International Water Resources Association (IWRA）, which was the first time for a Chinese scholar to lead a major international water organization.
A photo of Professor Jun Xia
Ever since Prof. Jun Xia started his enduring study on hydrology and water resources in the 1970s, he has devoted strenuous efforts to this field. The countless awards he received are the best rewards for his diligence and persistent pursuit.
Focusing on the non-linear water cycle, the uncertainty of global climate changes, and the coupling of multiple water systems, Prof. Xia has obtained many achievements highly recognized by the international academic community.
For Prof. Xia, water not only made his dreams come true, it also nourished his heart.
A lifelong story with water
When asked about the reason he chose to take the study on hydrology and water resources as his lifelong career, Prof. Xia answered: “Perhaps it’s the severe flood in Henan Province that led me to this decision.”
In 1975, a severe flood struck Henan Province, claiming more than 26,000 lives and caused great property losses. Deeply touched by the lost caused by this catastrophe, Prof. Xia realized the importance of water conservancy and the security of the dams, for they are closely related to people’s welfare and safety.
With the ambition to be fully devoted to the study of water conservancy, in1978, Prof. Xia started his lifelong career by following after his early Ph.D. Supervisor, Prof. Shouze Ye, a renowned professor of hydrology from Wuhan University of Hydraulic and Electrical Engineering.
As an intelligent and diligent student, Prof. Xia always encouraged himself to achieve more and advance faster while “walking with sandbags on”, his metaphor for carrying heavy burdens. The spirit of being hardworking and assiduous had been deeply rooted in his learning and practice. He also paid extra attention to the knowledge of basic curriculums such as mathematics, physics, information technology, foreign languages, environmental and social science, in order to secure a solid base for his further study in hydrology.
Due to the shortage of lab equipment, Prof. Xia always seized each opportunity to develop his mathematical modeling skills and information technology for simulating a complex hydrologic system. More than often, he would stay up all night to use the only TQ16 computer in the university, calculating stacks of data.
In 1985, Prof. Xia completed his Hydrology Ph.D program at the age of 31. He then became the first Hydrology and Water Resources Ph.D. cultivated independently by China. The focuses of his study were in the field of Hydrology and the sustainable use of water resources.
Currently, Prof. Xia occupies leading positions in associations of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), including the Key Laboratory of Water Cycle and Related Land Surface Processes and the Center for Water Resources Research. He was also the former Dean of the Research Institute of Water Security,WHU. Step by step, he marked his success with determination and persistence.
“Scientific research is a long journey. Along with accomplishments, there will surely be frustrations too. I always feel lucky for I have found a career I love, and because of this love, all the laborious work is happiness to me.” In the past four decades, Prof. Xia has never stopped making progress on hydrology.
On the long journey of research
In1989, Prof. Xia had the chance to study at the National University of Ireland. There, by testing and verifying the data collected from over 60 basins distributed in different regions of the world, he managed to develop the first non-linear time-variant model. With this model, he successfully resolved the problem of non-linear hydrology theories.
“The non-linear time-variant model developed by Prof. Xia has worked out excellently during the simulation and forecast. I sincerely hope that the cooperation between us can be promoted.”Said Prof. J.E. Nash, a worldly renowned hydrologist.
One focus of Xia’s study is to apply the knowledge of hydrology into practice, especially in the developing countries. “The problems concerning water are particularly complex in these countries due to their underdeveloped society as well as their weak economic bases. Some of them also suffer from severe climate. Therefore, the conflicts between their urgent need of water and the extremely weak ecosystem are always harsh and bitter.” said Prof. Xia.
To solve these problems, since the 1980s, Prof. Xia has buried himself in the relevant research. The non-linear time-variant model he developed has been put into practice for the prediction of water disasters, flood control, and complex water system operation and management, ensuring the safety of dams and finally allowing people to make valid hydrological predictions.
Prof. Xia’s scientific achievements had solved numerous serious problems. With his efforts, the rate of contamination accidents happened in the trunk stream of the Huai Riverhad greatly reduced by 75 percent.
Impressed by his achievements, the academic circle agrees that Prof. Xia’s success has set an example for water management in many developing countries.
Furthermore, Prof. Xia’s leading role has also been recognized by many influential international water organizations, including the International Water Resources Association (IWRA), the International Association of Hydrological Sciences (IAHS) and the World Water Council (WWC). His participation in many international programs has made a great contribution to expanding the global influence of China.
In 2014, Prof. Xia was awarded the International Hydrology Prize-Volker Medal. According to the presentation speech of Dooge Nash International Symposium, Prof. Xia was recognized as “an outstanding scientist, whose innovative work on developing knowledge and strategies in hydrologic sciences and its application to water management and sustainable development in China and the world has made a major contribution to the international society.”
Real greatness makes no sound
“Prof. Xia’s publications have made immense impact on the practice of water resources and hydrology management. As a teacher, he has educated and inspired a new generation of hydrological professionals who will undoubtedly contribute significantly to the efficient and equitable management of water in China.” said Hubert Savenije, the IAHS President.
Truly, as a hydrologic scientist, Prof. Xia has obtained a series of worldly renowned achievements; as a teacher, he also worked attentively for the fostering of students and the development of research teams.
“When I was a student, my tutor Professor Ye was a cordial and open-minded academic role model who always promoted a free and fair academic atmosphere. He offered us help and guidance not only on our academic study but also on our lives.”Prof. Xia recalled, “Prof. Ye was also a teacher who cared much about the teaching methods. He would teach in a special way tailored to the characteristics of each student. What’s more, he always required the students to construct a solid basic knowledge system and put what they have learnt into practical use.
Benefited from the guidance of his academic mentor, Prof. Xia realizes the importance of a mentor for a student. In practice, he has developed his own way of student management. On the one hand, he gives them strict instructions to follow including writing book reports and holding academic discussions regularly to check their improvements on research. On the other hand, he considers his students as friends, offering them help when they have problems in life.
“Prof. Xia often tells us the importance of always making progress in our study as well as in our lives. We should always keep a positive mind”, said Prof. Xia’s postdoctoral student Dunxian Yu.“He is also a tireless, active and concentrated scholar. He often advises us to do some exercises during our spare time.”
Prof. Xia pays much attention to he power of a team. He combines the personal pursuits with the demands of the projects, and emphasizes the cooperation between team members majoring in different subjects and optimizes the structure of the students, effectively improving both the quality and efficiency of the projects.
Prof. Xia holds much anticipation and confidence toward the young generation. He believes that compared with the older generation, these young fellows have much more active and creative minds. As the biggest developing country, nowadays, China is in desperate need of their innovative minds to cope with its environmental, ecological and economic urges. Therefore, these young people represent the future.”
(Rewritten by Jiaqi Li, Edited by Siying Wu, Jiahao Xiang & Sijia Hu)
(Professor Jun Xia’s resume: http://en.whu.edu.cn/info/1073/2079.htm)
