—— Adapted from the article on "Zhengcai's Essay" by Cai Zheng, Associate Professor of Astronomy at MUST and Project Manager of MUST
Dear colleagues from the Technology Center,
It has been a year and a half since the "2030" initiative was established for MUST. Under the banner of the university, with the efforts of the technical team led by Professor Huang and the meticulous work of the management team, we have made progress. Recently, I would like to share some thoughts about the visit of the distinguished visiting professor from Tsinghua University, American academicians of both the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering, Steve Shectman.
Steve stayed with us for nearly a month. He is straightforward, direct; he is proactive and honest. He "always cares" and "shares everything he knows, and spares no effort in his communication." Often, when the discussion was supposed to be over, a casual question from us would lead him to the blackboard to spend another half hour explaining things. He embodied the concept of "completely transparent," a phrase he emphasized many times. Despite being a member of the National Academies, he did not have any pretentious airs. He showed no impatience with "Telescope 101" questions. Even though I am considered a poor student in the team, often late or having to leave early due to other tasks, I have deepened my understanding of scientific engineering and learned some "system optimization" from him. I also realized how to discuss and collaborate effectively. Steve rode bikes and exercised with our younger team members, constantly conveying enthusiasm.
There were times when Steve disagreed with us, such as on the positioning and size of the mirrors, the arrangement of the focal plane, etc. However, he was always candid and direct, explaining not just his thoughts but the reasons behind them. When we made decisions that differed from his, as long as they were carefully considered and well-reasoned, he accepted them with a smile and would draw out a long "fine...". He also admitted when he didn’t understand something and would happily laugh like a child when we came to the same conclusion or solved a problem he had trouble with.
Through Steve, we can catch a glimpse of the reasons behind the success of the Magellan Telescope. Perhaps the most important factor is not how advanced your technology is, how rich your funding is, how big your team is, or how intelligent your members are. It’s about people, about whether you can be sincere, and about whether the team can unite as one. This includes both internal unity and communication with external partners—being open, transparent, and discussing things fully and honestly. By dedicating ourselves to the cause with our whole heart, letting go of personal attachment, confronting ingrained habits, and each member becoming an integral part of a collective endeavor, we can make the project flourish. As the saying goes, "The situation changes as the heart changes." If the heart is right, everything else will fall into place.
In Steve, I see the spirit of Norman Bethune, the Canadian thoracic surgeon. When I studied in Yan’an, I was deeply moved by the story of Bethune. Even when he was critically ill, with poor treatment conditions and great physical pain, he would say, "I have no pain. I am very happy." Perhaps this happiness came from his devotion to his cause, from his fulfillment in realizing his own value, and from the deep love and trust between people. As Steve told us, the joy in life is not just about mastering more technology; it’s about being fortunate enough to work with outstanding friends in a team over a long period of time. I believe Steve must have felt the same way about his month at Tsinghua—sweet and fulfilling.
MUST is one of the most challenging scientific engineering projects in China, and it is expected to become an internationally leading spectral survey facility. However, the "fifth stage" and "internationally leading" labels are not self-assigned. They have been recognized and anticipated by the global high-energy physics and cosmology community (such as NOIRLab), which puts a lot of pressure on us. MUST is tasked with building a 6.5-meter primary mirror, the largest aspherical convex mirror in China (2.4 meters), the largest lens array in history (1.7 meters), and the smallest, most precise 20,000 optical fiber positioning systems for controlling 6.2 mm robots. This survey will complement China’s space station survey telescope (CSST) and take humanity to the edges of the known and unknown universe.
Along this journey, we have also received assistance from many American academicians and experts. For example, in the field of primary mirrors, we received help from Professors Roger Angel and Jeff Kingsley of the University of Arizona. In optical design, we benefited from the careful review by David Schlegel of the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL). The project has also received encouragement from Sandra Faber of the University of California and Robert Williams, who was received by President Xi. In software systems, we have been guided by candid advice from Robert Lupton of Princeton University... We have also collaborated with domestic professional teams such as the Nanjing Institute of Astronomical Optics and Technology, the National Astronomical Observatory, the Chengdu Institute of Optics and Electronics, and the Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics and Physics. What we are working on is not just a scientific engineering project, but an extraordinary top-tier research collaboration between China and the United States, aiming for a new exploration of the universe and deep space.
No matter how the external environment changes, we must be grateful to and learn from scholars like Steve. We must learn from his straightforwardness, transparency, seriousness, and high standards. As the saying goes, "Think carefully before taking a step, and never look back after making a decision." When everyone is united, the MUST project will definitely reach a new level.
Finally, I have attached two photos for everyone and wish that direct flights between China and the U.S. will increase and our cooperation will continue to improve.
