Established in 1928 as the Department of Chemistry of Jiao Tong University the School of Chemistry & Chemical Technology stands before us. Its journey is a testament to resilience and growth. Imagine the department’s initial years. Professor Xu Mingcai led the way. The early years saw remarkable growth. The Organic Chemistry Laboratory and the Biology Laboratory were established. This led to more comprehensive academic development.
The Second Sino-Japanese War drastically altered the school’s trajectory. Part of the department moved to Chongqing. The remaining part persevered in the French Concession. Classes temporarily stopped during the Pacific War. Following the war’s end the department was rebuilt. In 1946 the Department of Chemical Engineering emerged. Professor Su Yuanfu became its first chair. Basic and applied research flourished side by side.
The year 1952 brought significant changes. Nationwide reorganization transferred the Department of Chemistry to Fudan University. Chemical Engineering combined with other institutions. This formed the East China Institute of Chemical Technology. Jiao Tong University relocated to Xi’an. The Chemistry Teaching and Research Office went with it. Five years later the office was reestablished in Shanghai. The Physicochemical Analysis Teaching and Research Office followed in 1957.
The school faced turbulent times. It gradually recovered and developed. The reform and opening-up policy ushered in a new era of rapid progress. In 1979 the Department of Applied Chemistry was formed. Three teaching and research offices merged. The Electrochemistry Teaching and Research Office also joined that year. The school’s foresight established the Environmental Science and Engineering Research Laboratory and the Institute of Biological Science and Technology. This laid the foundation for the School of Environmental Science and Engineering and the School of Life Science and Biotechnology.
By 1997 the School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering stood strong. It comprised four departments. These are the Department of Chemistry the Department of Chemical Engineering the Department of Polymeric Science and Engineering and the Department of Chemical Biology. It also boasts the Public Instrumentation and Equipment Platform and the Basic Chemistry Experiment Center. The School offers bachelor’s master’s and doctoral degrees. It has two postdoctoral research stations. Polymeric Chemistry and Physics is a key Shanghai discipline. The school’s commitment to both fundamental and applied research has produced remarkable results. The Chemistry and Chemical Engineering disciplines are now “Double First-Class” disciplines. According to ESI rankings the Chemistry discipline is among the global top 1%. It also ranks in the QS Global Top 50. The School of Chemistry & Chemical Technology stands as a beacon of academic excellence a testament to perseverance and innovation.