主 题: Personal story: Being a Good Human Being and Loving Challenge（The Li Ka Shing Women in Science Distinguished Speaker Series）
报告人: Prof.Bin Yu (University of California, Berkeley)
时 间: 2009-09-25 下午16:00
地 点: 北京大学生命科学学院一楼邓佑才报告厅
In this presentation, I would like to reflect on my path to become a Professor in the departments of Statistics, and Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at
University
of
California
,
Berkeley
. I did not grow up dreaming to become a scientist, as my childhood was spent during cultural revolution. My world then consisted of first-hand observations of grown-up's actions around me, and second hand life experiences through stories of grand parents and aunts and uncles (especially those of strong women in the family). These observations and stories taught me two lessons: one has to be a good human being with empathy towards others; and a woman has to be strong and economically independent.
My connection to science started with a math book given by a cousin when I was a third grader. It was still during the cultural revolution, but doing math problems in the book gave me a much needed refuge and great satisfaction of independence. Attraction to quantitative thinking and kind mentoring of a middle school math teacher eventually led me to the math dept at
Peking
University
in 1980. In the 30 years that followed, I made many choices including a crucial one to become a statistician when I went to the
US
for Ph.D. In my current position, I enjoy teaching and using statistical thinking and tools to tackle problems from neuroscience, remote-sensing, text-mining, sensor- networks, and finance. I believe my love for challenge, curiosity, open-mindedness, and determination have been driving forces behind my exciting scientific career.
