HE Mingyuan, Chinese chemist

Biography Professor Mingyuan HE was born in Suhzou in the province of Jiangsu (China) in 1940. Nicknamed The Capital of Silk , Suhzou is also known as Mingyuan HE was just 21 when he was recruited as a young graduate, in 1961, by the Institute for Research in Petroleum Refining, which later became SINOPEC (Chinese Petroleum and Chemical Corporation). He spent his industrial career there and during this time he focused on developing sustainable chemistry otherwise known as "green chemistry". Today, 60% of the Chinese petrol refineries are equipped with a process that he developed with his research teams. Having a brilliant career in the oil industry was not an end in itself for Mingyuan HE who also wanted to transmit his knowledge and encourage younger generations; while pursuing his career at SINOPEC, which finished in 2004 as Head Engineer of the corporate research institute of China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation. In 2000, he became a professor at East China Normal University (ECNU). He was responsible for establishing a research laboratory dedicated to green chemistry and, in doing so, attract the best students and researchers.