An Innovator of Management Science

Turn Interest into Motivation

Possessing a deep love of knowledge since childhood, Wang’s academic performance was always good, though he never realized he would end up in academia and research. Upon graduating from Huazhong University of Science and Technology with a master’s degree, an official of Nantong City Planning Commission of Jiangsu Province personally went to the school to invite him to work there. However, at the time, his tutor strongly discouraged this, so he chose to study for a doctorate. During his doctorate study at Southeast University, Wang, at his mentor’s suggestion, began to focus a great deal on writing and submitting academic articles. The consequent sense of accomplishment made him develop a deep love for scientific research. After that, as a postdoctoral fellow at Tsinghua University and later a senior researcher at Manchester University in the U.K. and City University of Hong Kong, he devoted himself to academic research. To some it seems he leads an ascetic life, but he does not think so, and manages to find pleasure and satisfaction in his work.

In addition to teaching, Wang also holds some social positions, such as the expert of the Disciplinary Planning Review Group of the National Social Science Foundation of China (NSSFC). Being busy has become his daily basic state. “I get up every morning at about 7 am and usually do not have a rest before 12:30 pm. Many people think that university teachers have winter and summer vacations in addition to weekends, and thus should not be that busy. In fact, for university professors, one may do research at any time,” said Wang. He does not find this life boring. Every time a new idea emerges, a new model is established, or a new method is created, his happiness is unparalleled.

According to Wang, academia is an arena. It is both a race against oneself and a competition with others. In order to win on the academic battlefield, one needs not only academic interests but also freedom of thought for science and innovation. His life is an untiring drive for a simple, productive life and the search for happiness and satisfaction in scientific work.  

Wang Yingming, a scholar who constantly explores innovation in the field of management science, has gone through an extraordinary path in his career.