Zhu Rong (second from left) leads students in experimental teaching at a pilot base in a steel enterprise.

Profile

Zhu Rong, born in 1962 in Pingxiang, Jiangxi Province, is an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, a professor and doctoral supervisor at the University of Science and Technology Beijing, and director of the National Key Laboratory of Green and Low-Carbon Steel Metallurgy. He has long been dedicated to scientific research, teaching, and engineering in the field of green and low-carbon steel metallurgy. He is a main pioneer in efficient and clean electric arc furnace smelting and the application of carbon dioxide in steelmaking, contributing to the advancement of low-carbon steel technology in China.

A desk, a chair, and a cabinet of books. Inside the Metallurgical and Ecological Engineering School building at the University of Science and Technology Beijing, the office of Zhu Rong is very simple. Certificates in the bookcase, such as “Green and Clean Steelmaking Technology and Application Based on Carbon Dioxide Resource Utilization” and “Development and Application of Green and Efficient Electric Arc Furnace Steelmaking Technology and Equipment,” record the milestones of his scientific career.

From an ordinary furnace worker at Jiangxi Steel Plant (now Xinyu Iron and Steel Company) to a leading researcher in green and low-carbon metallurgy in China, Zhu Rong’s journey has always been rooted in the front line. He often attributes his achievements to “riding the wave of the times” and prominently displays the motto “Cultivate virtue, gather wisdom for innovation, and dedicate to practice” on the door frame of his office.

“Only by rooting at the furnace can you truly understand steel”

“Practice is the source of scientific research; research detached from the front line is like a castle in the air.” In interviews, Zhu Rong frequently emphasizes “dedication to practice,” a foundation forged through his frontline experiences in his youth.

At the beginning of reform and opening up, industrial revitalization relied on steel as its backbone. In 1979, Zhu Rong was admitted to Jiangxi Metallurgical College (now Jiangxi University of Science and Technology) to study steel. “The school’s teaching was well integrated with practice, helping us grow quickly,” Zhu Rong said. During his studies, the school arranged internships at steel plants in Wuhan, Hubei; Ma’anshan, Anhui; and Shanghai. During these internships, he personally experienced the advanced nature of foreign silicon steel rolling mills and strengthened his resolve to serve the country through steel. Guided by his mentors, he initially decided to focus on electric arc furnace steelmaking, laying the groundwork for his later path toward green steelmaking.

In July 1983, after graduation, Zhu Rong worked at Jiangxi Steel Plant. He voluntarily applied to start from the most basic furnace operation. Charging materials, measuring temperature, controlling temperature, recording smelting parameters, and studying operational procedures… The molten steel temperature reached 1700 degrees Celsius, and the furnace workshop was unbearably hot, but he never complained. “Only by rooting at the furnace can you truly understand steel.”

Whether working at the steel plant, later pursuing advanced studies at the University of Science and Technology Beijing, or eventually standing at the lectern, Zhu Rong always cared about the furnace front line. The pain points in production were his focus:

Steelmaking required workers to add lime and other ingredients into the furnace door with coal shovels, and burns were common. Zhu Rong’s hands were also burned, and the scars are still clear. To address this, he researched and developed a furnace door manipulator for automatic feeding, reducing safety hazards for frontline workers, and it was promoted to many enterprises.

His research on “Composite Blowing Technology for Electric Arc Furnace Steelmaking” was rated by the World Metals Guide as one of the “Top Ten Technological News in the World Steel Industry in 2015.” Today, this technology covers more than 30% of China’s electric furnace steel capacity and has been industrially applied in hundreds of enterprises both domestically and internationally.

“On one hand, oxygen blowing is needed to melt scrap steel during electric arc furnace steelmaking, but oxygen velocity tends to decay, reducing efficiency. Inspired by aviation drag reduction, we innovatively developed ‘coherent jet’ technology, using natural gas to wrap oxygen and

Pingxiang

Pingxiang is a city in Jiangxi Province, China, known for its rich industrial history, particularly as a major coal mining hub since the late 19th century. It played a significant role in China’s early industrialization and was also a key location during the 1922 Anyuan miners’ strike, a pivotal event in the Chinese labor movement. Today, Pingxiang is recognized for its scenic landscapes, including the Wugong Mountain, and its transformation into a more diversified economic center.

Jiangxi Province

Jiangxi Province, located in southeastern China, is renowned for its rich cultural heritage and natural beauty, including the iconic Lushan Mountain and Poyang Lake, China’s largest freshwater lake. Historically, it was a cradle of Chinese porcelain, with Jingdezhen earning the title “Porcelain Capital” for its thousand-year-old ceramic industry. The province also played a key role in early Chinese revolutionary history, serving as a base for the Communist Party during the 1920s and 1930s.

University of Science and Technology Beijing

The University of Science and Technology Beijing (USTB) is a prestigious public research university located in Haidian District, Beijing, China. Founded in 1952 as the Beijing Iron and Steel Institute, it was established to support China’s industrial development, particularly in metallurgy and materials science, and has since evolved into a comprehensive university with strengths in engineering, technology, and interdisciplinary studies. Over the decades, USTB has played a key role in advancing China’s scientific research and education.

Jiangxi Steel Plant

The Jiangxi Steel Plant, located in Jiangxi Province, China, is a major industrial facility with roots dating back to the mid-20th century, when it was established to support the country’s rapid industrialization efforts. Over the decades, it has played a key role in regional economic development, producing steel for construction, infrastructure, and manufacturing. In recent years, the plant has undergone modernization and environmental upgrades to align with China’s push for greener and more sustainable industrial practices.

Xinyu Iron and Steel Company

The Xinyu Iron and Steel Company, located in Xinyu, Jiangxi Province, is one of China’s major state-owned steel producers, with its origins dating back to the 1950s during the country’s industrialization drive. It has played a key role in the region’s economic development, evolving from a small mill into a large integrated steel enterprise. Today, it remains a significant contributor to China’s steel industry, producing a wide range of steel products.

Jiangxi University of Science and Technology

Jiangxi University of Science and Technology (JXUST), located in Ganzhou, Jiangxi Province, China, was founded in 1958 as the Jiangxi Institute of Metallurgy. It has since evolved from a specialized metallurgy-focused institution into a comprehensive university, now offering a wide range of programs in engineering, science, management, and humanities. The university is particularly known for its strengths in mining, metallurgy, and materials science, reflecting its historical ties to the region’s rich mineral resources.

Wuhan

Wuhan is a major city in central China, known as the capital of Hubei Province and a key transportation hub at the confluence of the Yangtze and Han rivers. Its history dates back over 3,500 years, and it played a significant role in modern Chinese history, notably as the site of the 1911 Wuchang Uprising that helped end imperial rule. Today, Wuhan is a vibrant cultural and industrial center, famous for landmarks like the Yellow Crane Tower and its university districts.

Shanghai

Shanghai, a major global financial hub on China’s eastern coast, has a history as a prominent trading port since the 19th century, shaped by foreign concessions and rapid modernization. Its iconic Bund waterfront showcases colonial-era architecture, while the futuristic Pudong skyline symbolizes its economic boom. Today, Shanghai blends traditional Chinese culture, like its historic Yu Garden, with cutting-edge innovation.