Hu Danian

Professor Hu Danian is a tenured faculty member at the Center for Social Sciences, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech). After taking early retirement from The City University of New York (CUNY), he returned to China in spring 2022 to continue his scholarly work.

Education:

• Ph.D. in History, Yale University (2001)
• M.Phil. in History, Yale University (1997)
• M.A. in History, Case Western Reserve University (1991)
• Bachelor of Engineering, Northern Jiaotong University (1984)

Research Interests:
Professor Hu’s scholarship centers on the history of science and technology in twentieth-century China, with a particular emphasis on the history of modern Chinese physics. His research explores how Einstein’s theories and modern physics were received, translated, and debated in China, the transnational networks linking Chinese and international scientists, and the interplay between science, politics, and ideology during periods such as the Cultural Revolution. He also investigates the institutional development of physics education and research in China, as well as the role of philanthropy and foreign foundations in shaping scientific agendas.

Major Publications & Editorial Contributions:
His monograph China and Albert Einstein (Harvard University Press, 2005) was recognized by Physics Today as one of the five essential books on the history of physics. The Chinese edition, Einstein in China (2006), was named one of the ten best books of the year by China Reading Weekly. He has guest-edited two special journal issues: The Transnational Dimensions of Science, Technology, and Medicine in Modern China (2019) and Science, Technology, and Medicine in China’s Cultural Revolution (2017).

Scientific Awards & Honors:

• China and Albert Einstein selected among the “five fundamental works on the history of physics” by Physics Today (2017).
• Einstein in China selected as one of the “top ten books in China” by China Reading Newspaper (2006).

Teaching & Advising:
At SUSTech, Professor Hu currently teaches “20th Century Chinese Physics and Physicists” and “Einstein and the World He Lived in.” Previously, he held tenured and tenure-track positions at CUNY, Morgan State University, and the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, and served as a visiting faculty member at Peking University’s BiMBA program. No specific student advisees are listed in the provided materials.

Laboratory & Research Teams:
While no dedicated laboratory is mentioned, Professor Hu leads collaborative projects through the Center for Social Sciences at SUSTech and maintains international research networks with historians of science in Canada, China, Singapore, and the United States.