EBM Interview: Prof. Rong-Chang Zeng

Prof. Rong-Chang Zeng is a retired professor at Shandong University of Science and Technology (SDUST), China since 2010, and has published 10 books/chapters, 240 articles with 12,860 cites, a h-index of 63.

Recently, Prof. Zeng received numerous rewards and honors:

1. Person of the year, International Magnesium Science and Technology Award (2023).
2. IAAM Scientist Medal (2023).
3. Highly Cited Chinese Researcher (2021-2023).
4. Full membership in Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Honor Society (2023).
5. Fellow of the International Association of Advanced Materials (FIAAM) (2022）

Here is the interview we did with him

1. Could you briefly introduce your current research field?

My current research interest is highly interdisciplinary in materials, mechanical, chemical, and biological fields such as corrosion of metals, degradation mechanisms of bio-magnesium alloys, and their functional surface modification.

2. What obstacles or difficulties have you encountered in your research work? How did you overcome these difficulties?

It is difficult to get enough financial supports or foundations to do more interesting research. We are doing cooperative study with different research teams at home and abroad, and will devote more time to the solution to the pre-failure of materials for manufacturers.

3. What attracted you to join the BAM editorial Board team?

It is pleased to share the knowledge and experience on the in vitro degradation and surface modification of magnesium alloys. Also, I can enjoy any cutting-edge advance on the research at a first glimpse during the review. Dozens of the introduction of the published articles, translated from English to Chinese, have been completed by our research group.

4. What are your expectations for the future development of Bioactive Materials and its promotion of related fields?

It is expected that Bioactive Materials will be one of the flag journals concerned with the science and engineering of next-generation biomaterials.

5. What is your greatest hobby outside of scientific work?

My greatest hobby outside of scientific work is to write classic Chinese poems and photography. It is of huge challenge to write such poems. More than 190 poems have been read online. So far, I have published 550+ poems on my blog with approximately 800,000 hits.

6. How do you balance scientific research work and personal life?

I would like to make a balance between scientific research work and personal life. Usually, I would like to combine scientific contents into the creation of poems. I could get ultimately relaxed during the thinking from an artist perspective.

7. What do you think is the most important quality for researchers?

The most important quality for researchers is the persistence, ability and ambition to pioneer a new avenue regarding the front of science.

8. What advice do you have for young scholars who are determined to engage in scientific research?

It is the best choice for the young scholars to join a research team in their earlier academic careers as soon as possible.