Chi Yuan's Career by Paul Ho

An essay on our friend, for his family (near and extended)



Yuan Chi, his career as scholar and scientist.

Chi is a proud graduate of the National Taiwan University (1959), and received his Masters of Science from the University of Florida (1962), and his Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Michigan (1966). He then worked with Professor C.C., Lin as a research associate at MIT for three years, before taking his faculty post at the City College of New York in 1969. He attained full professorship at CCNY in 1981. During1990-1991, Chi returned to Taiwan as a Visiting Professor at National Tsinghua University, National Central University, and the National Taiwan University.
In 1994, Chi took early retirement from the CCNY, returning full time to Taiwan. He served as Director of the Academia Sinica Institute of Astronomy and Astrophysics (ASIAA) during 1994-1996, established the Computational Fluid Dynamics and Magnetohydrodynamics group, and led the theory group for the last ten years. Chi retired as Distringuished Research Fellow in 2007, and continued as Visiting Scholar with the ASIAA. In his career, Chi was greatly influenced by Professor C.C. Lin. He worked closely with C.C. Lin and Frank Shu in developing the density wave theory for the spiral arm structures in galaxies, which became a central theme of his work throughout his career. Chi applied his knowledge on the spiral density waves to the study of the Galactic magnetic field, the formation of the Galactic three-kiloparsec arm from bar resonance excitation, and the fueling of Active Galactic Nuclei via bar-disk resonances. His latest works involved development of numerical codes to model the galactic structures as well as the formation of planetary bodies in solar nebulae. In his career, he authored 4 books and numerous scientific papers, almost predominantly as first author. His scientific work continued even after his official retirement.

Chi is also a student of Chinese classics, and a scholar of our ancient culture. I am not competent to summarize, except to say that he was my guide and teacher. While he clearly knows his history and classics, I find most impressive how he taught himself calligraphy. He practiced, studied, and steadily improved in the last ten years. This art form, practiced in solitude, is a window into the man.


Yuan Chi, his career as teacher, mentor, and administrator.

Chi had a life-long passion for his research in astronomy. We are reminded of one of very few things which irritated him, which is if you did not give him enough time to talk about his results at a meeting. He is most animated and excited when he explains to you his latest accomplishments and calculations. However, everyone knows that he is always most proud of his students, and there are many many. While he taught and mentored many students at CCNY, his greatest influence can be felt in Taiwan. In 1990, Chi first returned to Taiwan to push for the establishment of astronomy and astrophysics as a viable discipline in Taiwan. He along with a number of colleagues began the push to establish the Institute of Astronomy and Astrophysics in the Academia Sinica. Chi, along with Typhoon Lee and Fred Lo, were the three names given to Academy President Wu Ta-You, to be the pillars and guarantors for the success of the ASIAA. His calm demeanor, his ability to listen, his respect for all whom he encounters, were the not-so-secret ingredients for reaching consensus behind the scenes. All through the years, Chi taught every year. Many of the current faculty, staff, postdocs, and students, learned their astronomy from Chi. It would be difficult to list all his students, as there are so many. It is enough to tell you that they are all fiercely loyal, and hold Chi dear to their hearts. His last student, Lin Lien-Hsuan, has just finished her Ph.D. degree at National Taiwan University ten days ago. His earlier student, Kuo Chao-Lin, is Assistant Professor at Stanford, and has attended to Chi, in these months. As the second ASIAA Director, Chi played a major role in hiring the first staffs, establishing the front office, as well as the culture at the ASIAA. Without a doubt, Chi is the hands-down favorite for the staff, of all the ASIAA Directors. It is no wonder. There is really no need to explain. But, as a note to the young people who will read this: to lead, to teach, to mentor, there is one central ingredient, you have to care about your charges. How to care, establish high standards, be demanding, be encouraging, be understanding, and be forgiving? We all have been watching and learning.


Yuan Chi, as friend and human being.

Chi has more friends than anyone I know. I asked him two weeks ago how it is that he even has friends from elementary school. Chi just smiled and did not give me a straight answer. I think this is not because Chi keeps up with his friends. We all keep up with him. How to understand this? It does not take long for one to recognize that Chi is a really nice person. Just sit and watch. No mean bones, no bad thoughts, no selfish anything, generous, thoughtful, modest, never self-promoting, always dependable, willing to step back, no airs of any sort. In November 2006, right before his own diagnosis, Chi was focused on taking our postdoctoral fellow, Aran Lyo, to see the doctors because she had a growth on her thyroid. After diagnosis, while checked into the hospital, Chi in his hospital gown, insisted to visit Aran who had just undergone surgery at the same hospital. If anyone is ill, Chi will be the first to check into it, and to inquire. If anyone has a problem, Chi would be the one to consult. If anyone is getting married, Chi will be the one to ask to be the official witness. Chi seems to cover all our needs. Some philosophers question the concept of good and evil, and how to set absolute standards. But we all know what nice really is by watching Chi.

This is not to say that Chi cannot be picky about things. Good food is a must. I once asked Howard Yee whether he had a good dinner in Taipei. Howard replied that he did not know, since Chi was not with him. Jeremy Lim always tells the story of asking Chi whether the food at the restaurant that we were at was good that day. Chi would reply, always, that it was not as good as the last time. I was once going to have dinner at the house of Nagayoshi Ohashi. Chi was standing there, and Nagayoshi apologized that he could not invite Chi to dinner, because his wife could not possibly cook for Chi because of his high standards. I always say that there are thousands of restaurants in Taipei, but I only get to go to five, because they are Chi-approved. Where will we go to eat now?

We are but a very small cross section of Chi’s friends. I cannot tell how many there are. But I am sure my assessment is not unique. Let me pick a few words to describe Chi: kind, gentle, quiet. To be a human being, there are no better goals and no better achievements.



For Lucy: A better husband I have never seen.
For Jessie: Your dad has many academic children. He was always proud of you, and no happier than when you chose to adopt your daughter from Hunan.
For Chi’s sisters: Some of us imagine ourselves to be like Chi’s siblings. It is because he has been too good to us.
For his friends: We have been fortunate. Depending on the moment, we might think that life has many or few blessings. Knowing Chi is one of those blessings, and it has been a privilege. For those of you who are life-long friends, some of us are very envious, but content nevertheless.

Well, that covers everyone. I thought to write for students and colleagues, but I think the category of friends does cover everyone because that is how Chi treats us and made us all feel like one.

Paul Ho