In the early morning, Prof. Feng Xin was walking to catch the school bus when a student ran up behind her, panting just to say, “Mrs.Feng, thank you so much for teaching us!” When Prof. Feng Xin asked, she realized that it was a student who had taken her course Computer Information Retrieval for Graduate Students.

Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics and Computer Information Retrieval are widely recognized as courses that are difficult to instruct and learn, but these two courses taught by Prof. Feng Xin have been rated as “courses that students are most willing to take” and “courses that are most worthy of learning” among students.

In the eyes of students, Prof. Feng, who has been awarded “Top Ten Teachers in Morality” and “Jiangsu Inspirational Role Model in Education-2018 Most Beautiful College Teacher” is both amiable and respectable.

A“Star” Professor

“Based on the law of thermodynamics, how was the Maglev train invented?”, “How did you travel to Hong Kong on a budget this May Day?”, “What is the masterpiece of this year’s Nobel Prize Winner?”...

“Using students’ favorite stories to help them learn, comprehend and digest thermodynamic knowledge, stimulate their curiosity, and encourage them to take the initiative to study is my original intention of developing the ‘story-based teaching method’. ” Prof. Feng Xin said.

Prof. Feng Xin has deep insight into the mutual effect of teaching and learning. At the end of each course, she asks students to complete a special post-course assignment proposing suggestions for improvement. She would adopt students’ constructive suggestions and swiftly apply them to her teaching practice.

This ensures the vitality of the courses taught by Prof. Feng Xin, making them invariably the favorite courses among students. The Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics course, taught by Prof. Feng Xin, was awarded the National Superior Course award. Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics a textbook mainly edited by the professor, won the second prize of Jiangsu Superior Textbook and the “Outstanding Publications Award of China’s Petroleum and Chemical Industry”, and it has been used by more than 30 universities in China.

“Prof. Shi Jun, a senior academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, is a great master in the chemical industry. Prof. Feng often talks about how Prof. Shi taught chemical thermodynamics like a symphony. Prof. Feng is also equipped with the ability to describe thermodynamics in a vivid and evocative way, and her lectures on thermodynamics are super brilliant!” Huang Liangliang, a student of Prof. Feng and now a professor at the University of Oklahoma in the United States, recalled.

On Prof. Feng Xin’s 50th birthday, many of her “fans” came from all over the world to visit her birthplace, family, friends, etc. With gratitude, they made a film for her, “Growing”, that lasted nearly one hour and which touched every guest.

A Dedicated “Craftsman”

Sun Chao, a student in Class ’06 of Chemical Engineering, had an average academic performance. Like most students, he didn’t want to amaze others with top-ranking scores, but only hoped to pass exams. During a class break on Thermodynamics, Sun Chao discovered a small mistake in Prof. Feng’s newly edited textbook, Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics, and verified it with her.

Prof. Feng Xin keenly perceived Sun Chao’s valuable spirit of inquiry and critical thinking, called on everyone to learn from him in the class, and asked him to lead his classmates in identifying the mistakes in the new textbook. Finally, when Sun Chao wrote 10 pages of errors and suggestions to her, she decided to grant him exemption from the exam, but Sun Chao still took the exam. In the end, she gave him full marks in spite of his actual exam score of 94. The reason Prof. Feng explained to the Academic Affairs Office was that “errors in the textbook are not easily discovered. It takes countless time to carefully study and compare extensive reference books. Students can find out the errors only when they truly comprehend the knowledge. This inquisitive spirit of Sun Chao is rare and commendable”.

Such a small interlude completely changed Sun Chao’s life. In the end, he was admitted to the East China University of Science and Technology with a high score and won the first-class scholarship.

When everyone envied Dr. Wang Huaiyuan, a student in material chemistry enrolled in 2005, for the honorary title of NanjingTech No. 1 National Excellent Doctor, perhaps no one knew that he was originally a graduate of Jiangsu Institute of Petrochemical Technology, majoring in chemical engineering. Before enrolling at Nanjing Tech University, he had almost no knowledge of chemical engineering. After three years of work, he furthered his studies for a master’s degree. It is such a student whose qualification and foundation were not good who went on to win numerous awards, such as the second prize of the National Technological Invention Award and the first prize of the Technological Invention Award of China Petrochemical Association, etc  under Prof. Feng Xin’s guidance.

“I am deeply impressed by her wisdom, serious and responsible attitude, dedication to work, and her spirit of pursuing perfection, which becomes the driving force for me to keep forging ahead for the rest of my life.” Wang Huaiyuan, now a professor at Tianjin University, said.

A Caring “Mother”

The girlfriend of a doctoral student in Prof. Feng’s research group was diagnosed with cancer, and this doctoral student still resolutely married her. However, due to financial difficulties, his wife didn’t want their family to lose their wealth, and gave up the treatment.

After learning about it, Prof. Feng Xin discussed with all the team members winning the second prize of the National Technological Invention Award, and decided to take out all the bonus of RMB 300,000 to help the doctoral student’s wife. However, this doctoral student told her that his wife’s greatest wish was to travel with him all over the country after he obtained a doctoral degree because she had missed the best treatment period.

Prof. Feng remitted RMB 30,000 to this doctoral student, and then “ordered” him: “As long as your wife’s health allows, accompany her to travel immediately, and don’t be mentally stressed due to the issue of money. This sum of money is not a big deal for me, and it is not a big deal for you in the future. However, with the money now, you can have fewer regrets in the future.”

This doctoral student was so touched that he took his wife to travel. After graduation, he insisted on paying back the RMB 30,000, but Prof. Feng refused to accept it. He said, “I can make money now. Instead of paying back the money, I hope to pass on the love I feel from you to juniors.” Prof. Feng is particularly delighted since it is also her wish to pass on the love.

Prof. Feng Xin treats her students as if they were her children. She has set up a hotline for students whenever they encounter any problems in life or research, they can come to her for help. She not only subsidizes students for years but also lends her house to students who suffer from illness.

One of her students, Ma Chunyan, said excitedly, “Looking back on this time many years later, we will definitely not think of the long dark night, but will think of the shining stars in the night sky. Prof. Feng is the brightest star.”