Rayson Huang
Encyclopedia
Rayson Huang, CBE a chemist, expertise at Chemistry
on radicals
. He was the first Chinese Vice-Chancellor of the University of Hong Kong from 1972 to 1986.
, where his father was the founding principal. He later attended St. John's University
in Shanghai
in 1937, but his studies were interrupted by Japan
ese occupation (see the Marco Polo Bridge Incident ) and after 1938 he continued his stuides with a scholarship student at the University of Hong Kong. In Hong Kong Huang majoring in chemistry at St. John's Hall (now called St. John's College). In addition to his academic studies, Huang was an accomplished violinist. Following the Japanese invasion of Hong Kong in 1941, Huang was briefly worked with British auxiliary forces and was responsible for detecting chemical weapons. In 1942 his studies at the University was interrupted when the school was forced to close. Rayson Huang returned to China in 1942 and arrived in Guangxi. By 1945 Huang followed other members of the University of Hong Kong chemistry department to Britain
and received a scholarship to study at the Oxford University's Institute of Chemistry. He received at doctorate in chemistry in and then pursueed his post-doctoral research at the University of Chicago
. During his study in Chicago, he met his wife Grace Wei Huang and eventually married her.
in Singapore
(now called National University of Singapore
) and in 19 he was transferred to University of Malaya
's Kuala Lumpur
campus. He became a tenured professor of chemistry and later as acting Vice-Chancellor and Dean of the Faculty of Science
.
in Singapore
.
In 1972, Rayson Huang became the first Chinese Vice-Chancellor of University of Hong Kong and quelled students demonstration during the Royal visit to Hong Kong
. In addition, he served in various capacities including becoming a member of the Basic Law Drafting Committee in drafting Hong Kong
's post handover constitution. Rayson Huang and his wife retired in 1994 and went to live with their son.
To commemorate his wife's life, Rayson Huang established the Grace Wei Huang Memorial Fund. and has written a book on memoirs, A Lifetime in Academia: An autobiography by Rayson Huang, which will be set aside for the fund.
Rayson has a wide range of hobbies, one of the most special is studying violin making. He returns to Hong Kong on a regular basis. Huang also established the Progress of Hong Kong's Rayson Huang and the "Rayson Huang Foundation." in Malaysia.
Chemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
on radicals
Radical (chemistry)
Radicals are atoms, molecules, or ions with unpaired electrons on an open shell configuration. Free radicals may have positive, negative, or zero charge...
. He was the first Chinese Vice-Chancellor of the University of Hong Kong from 1972 to 1986.
Early years
Shantou, Guangdong native. He completed primary and secondary education in Munsang CollegeMunsang College
Munsang College is an EMI Hong Kong college founded by Mr. Au Chak Mun , Mr. Mok Kon Sang and Dr. Ts'o Seen Wan in 1926. It has 6 houses: Love, Tak, Chi, Tai, Kwan, May.-Mission statement:...
, where his father was the founding principal. He later attended St. John's University
Saint John's University, Shanghai
St. John's University was an Anglican university located in Shanghai, China. Before the Chinese Civil War it was regarded as one of the most prestigious universities in Shanghai and China...
in Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
in 1937, but his studies were interrupted by Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese occupation (see the Marco Polo Bridge Incident ) and after 1938 he continued his stuides with a scholarship student at the University of Hong Kong. In Hong Kong Huang majoring in chemistry at St. John's Hall (now called St. John's College). In addition to his academic studies, Huang was an accomplished violinist. Following the Japanese invasion of Hong Kong in 1941, Huang was briefly worked with British auxiliary forces and was responsible for detecting chemical weapons. In 1942 his studies at the University was interrupted when the school was forced to close. Rayson Huang returned to China in 1942 and arrived in Guangxi. By 1945 Huang followed other members of the University of Hong Kong chemistry department to Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and received a scholarship to study at the Oxford University's Institute of Chemistry. He received at doctorate in chemistry in and then pursueed his post-doctoral research at the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
. During his study in Chicago, he met his wife Grace Wei Huang and eventually married her.
Academic career
In 1951, Rayson Huang taught chemistry at the University of MalayaUniversity of Malaya
The University of Malaya is located on a campus near the centre of Kuala Lumpur, and is the oldest university in Malaysia. It was founded in 1905 as a public-funded tertiary institution...
in Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
(now called National University of Singapore
National University of Singapore
The National University of Singapore is Singapore's oldest university. It is the largest university in the country in terms of student enrollment and curriculum offered....
) and in 19 he was transferred to University of Malaya
University of Malaya
The University of Malaya is located on a campus near the centre of Kuala Lumpur, and is the oldest university in Malaysia. It was founded in 1905 as a public-funded tertiary institution...
's Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur is the capital and the second largest city in Malaysia by population. The city proper, making up an area of , has a population of 1.4 million as of 2010. Greater Kuala Lumpur, also known as the Klang Valley, is an urban agglomeration of 7.2 million...
campus. He became a tenured professor of chemistry and later as acting Vice-Chancellor and Dean of the Faculty of Science
Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore
The Faculty of Science in the National University of Singapore, can be traced back to 1929 when Raffles College started classes in Mathematics, Chemistry and Physics in Science education at the tertiary level...
.
University Administrator
In 1969 Huang was appointed as Vice-Chancellor at Nanyang UniversityNanyang University
Nanyang University was a university in Singapore from 1956 to 1980. During its existence, it was Singapore's only Chinese language post-secondary institution...
in Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
.
In 1972, Rayson Huang became the first Chinese Vice-Chancellor of University of Hong Kong and quelled students demonstration during the Royal visit to Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
. In addition, he served in various capacities including becoming a member of the Basic Law Drafting Committee in drafting Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
's post handover constitution. Rayson Huang and his wife retired in 1994 and went to live with their son.
Retirement and Post-Academic Life
By 1999 the Huangs' returned to Hong Kong, his wife suffering from senile dementia. She died in Hong Kong.To commemorate his wife's life, Rayson Huang established the Grace Wei Huang Memorial Fund. and has written a book on memoirs, A Lifetime in Academia: An autobiography by Rayson Huang, which will be set aside for the fund.
Rayson has a wide range of hobbies, one of the most special is studying violin making. He returns to Hong Kong on a regular basis. Huang also established the Progress of Hong Kong's Rayson Huang and the "Rayson Huang Foundation." in Malaysia.