On May 15, 2025, at the invitation of Prof. Fang Yu of the Institute of New Concept Sensors and Molecular Materials, Researcher Cao Zexian of the Institute of Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences was invited to give a special science popularization report titled “How was Quantum Mechanics Founded?” at the High-end Academic Forum of Shaanxi Normal University.

In the report, Cao Zexian, staring from the learning history of Physicist Wolfgang Pauli, discussed with students what to study in the university, how to teach as a teacher in the future, and then introduced the creation of quantum mechanics, following the historical vein of quantum mechanics development, with key figures, physical events and mathematical ideas to construct the knowledge system of quantum mechanics, from Planck’s quantization of energy assumptions, to the theory of photon of Albert Einstein, and then to the concept of matter waves of De Broglie, and the birth of Schrödinger equation and Heisenberg matrix mechanics, presenting the key points in the process of establishing quantum mechanics.

During the interactive session, students exchanged views with Cao Zexian on some confusions in quantum mechanics, conceptual understanding, and cross-applications with other disciplines. Cao encouraged the students to maintain their curiosity and spirit of exploration in science, and to challenge the traditional thinking, so as to lay a solid foundation for their future scientific research.

Fang Yu highly praised Cao Zexian’s report, and emphasized that quantum mechanics is not only science, but also an important discipline, saying how to combine scientific knowledge with teaching practice is an important exploration path for the future development of the school, and encouraged the researchers, students and faculty members work hard in order to promote the benign development of the university together.

The report was co-sponsored by the Science and Technology Department, the School of Physics and Information Technology, the School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering and the School of Materials Science and Engineering of the university, and was attended by more than 500 teachers and students. Prof. Fang Yu attended the presentation and made comments. The presentation was hosted by Li Guian, member of the Standing Committee of the Party Committee of the university and dean of the School of Physics and Information Technology.