The U.S. Postal Service issued a new forever stamp to honour the Chinese American Chien-Shiung Wu 吴健雄, one of the top nuclear physicists of the 20thth century. Released on International Day of Women and Girls in Science (Feb. 11), the significance of the historic stamp is multifold.
“I think it means a lot because she’s on a stamp, people will learn her story,” says Jada Yuan, Madam Wu’s granddaughter, and the Washington Post journalist.
Chien-Shiung Wu was a Chinese immigrant. Her name 吴健雄in Chinese characters means strong and heroic, and is usually given to a boy. Her journey and achievements were nothing short of heroic.
“When my grandma immigrated, it was on a boat from China. For people of her generation, they got out just before the [Second] Sino-Japanese War,” Jada Yuan says.
Like many successful immigrants, Madame Wu made sacrifices. “She never saw her parents alive after she left (China),” Yuan told CNN.
Madame Wu worked hard once she arrived in the U.S. She received her Ph.D., became a professor, and made ground-breaking discoveries in physics at a time when the field was dominated by men, and few women in the United States were even going to college (CNN).
“Dr. Chien-Shiug Wu, a pioneering physicist, radically altered modern physical theory and changed our accepted view of the structure of the universe,” states the National Women’s Hall of Fame. Madam Wu won many honours and awards. Her achievements earned her the name “First Lady of Physics”. In China, people call her “the Marie Curie of China”.
This February also marks the 24th anniversary of Madame Wu’s passing. She would have been glad to know that she has joined physicists Albert Einstein, Enrico Fermi, and Robert Oppenheimer who have also appeared on US stamps.
With the issuing of the postage stamp, Madame Wu’s legacy continues, and so does her inspiring story.
In an effort to celebrate Asian American history and culture and to combat the surge in anti-Asian racism, the U.S. Postal Service also issued a stamp to honour Japanese Americans who fought in the 2nd World War, as well as a Year of the Ox stamp.
May the New Year bring you good health and prosperity.
Kathy Jia-Jones
Cross-Cultural Biz
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