Wu Jin

Wu Jin (Chinese: 吳京; pinyin: Wú Jīng; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Ngô͘ Keng; 9 April 1934 – 14 January 2008) was a Taiwanese civil, mechanical, and hydraulic engineer who served as Minister for Education between 1996 and 1998 under President Lee Teng-hui.

Wu was born in Nanjing on 9 April 1934. After moving to Taiwan, he graduated from National Cheng Kung University with a bachelor's degree in civil engineering in 1956.^[1] He then completed graduate studies in the United States, earning a Master of Science (M.S.) in 1961 and his Ph.D. in 1964, both from the University of Iowa in mechanical engineering and hydraulic engineering.^[2] His doctoral dissertation, completed under Louis Landweber, was titled, "The measurement of viscous drag of ship forms".^[3]

After receiving his doctorate, Wu was a research fellow at Academia Sinica in 1986 and was elected a member of Academia Sinica in the same year.^[2][4] In 1995, Wu was elected to the United States National Academy of Engineering.^[5]

Upon graduating from the University of Iowa, Wu worked for Hydronautics, Inc. as a research scientist within the Fluid Motions Division, and in 1966, became head of that division. In 1972, Wu was promoted again, to lead the Hawaii-based Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Division.^[6] Wu joined the University of Delaware faculty in 1974, and held the H. Fletcher Brown Professorship in Marine Studies and Civil Engineering from 1980 to 1998.^[4][7] In Taiwan, he served as the president of National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) from 1994 to 1996.^[2][4]

Wu was selected by President Lee Teng-hui to serve as Taiwan's education minister in June 1996.^[2] He was known for his progressive views on the reforms needed in Taiwan's educational system.^[2]

Wu stepped down as Minister for Education in February 1998.^[2] His resignation was due to a difference of opinion dispute between himself and the president of Academia Sinica, Lee Yuan-tseh, over the pace and types of educational reforms needed.^[2] (Lee Yuan-tseh had previously chaired a panel force in the 1980s which had led to a number of changes concerning education in Taiwan.^[2])

Wu Jin was diagnosed with cancer of the ampulla of Vater, a rare form of the disease, in 2006.^[2] He received treatment at the National Cheng Kung University Hospital in Taiwan and the United States.^[2]

Wu's health began to deteriorate in December 2007 following a trip to Mainland China.^[2] He died on 14 January 2008 at National Cheng Kung University Hospital in Tainan, Taiwan, at the age of 74.^[2] Wu was survived by his wife, Tzu-Chen C. Wu. His funeral took place in Tainan on 27 January 2008.^[2][7]