May: Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
In the College of Engineering, all are welcome. To better share the stories of how our faculty, staff, students and alumni are diverse in their many varying forms, we are celebrating various heritage and other nationally recognized months. This recognition will include stories about those in our greater engineering community, as well as sharing events and other opportunities.
Yongfeng Lu
Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Q: Describe a bit about your personal and/or professional background.
A: My hometown is around 100 miles west of Shanghai, China. I went to college in Beijing and received a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering at Tsinghua University, which is a top engineering university in China. After college, I went to study at Osaka University, Japan, where I received my Master of Engineering and PhD degrees. After that, I joined the National University of Singapore as a new faculty and worked there over 10 years before I joined UNL in 2002. Now, Lincoln is the place I lived the longest.
Q: What is your role in the College of Engineering – and what do you enjoy (love!) about what you are doing?
A: I am a faculty in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. I have been working on laser applications, mainly in nanoscience and nanotechnologies based on lasers, including processing and synthesis of materials, micro/nanofabrication, and optical spectroscopy and imaging. I love the department because all the colleagues are friendly and supportive. I also enjoy working with collaborators from different areas, from mechanical engineering to physics and chemistry.
Q: Why is your heritage meaningful to you and your family? Is there a specific example/event/tradition of how you showcase or celebrate your heritage in its many forms?
A: Chinese heritage emphasizes harmony, harmony with nature, society, and people. For example, Spring Festival (Chinese New Year) is the most important holiday in Chinese heritage, to celebrate spring—the start of a new year and hope of peace and prosperity.
Q: How do you bring your own unique background to your role/responsibilities in the college or in your professional life?
A: From my own heritage and the different cultures I experienced in the four countries I have lived, I learned the importance and value of the diversity. Cultures and religions are cultivated through thousands of years by millions or billions of people. Through respect and mutual understanding, we can build strong bonds with colleagues and collaborators.
Q: What advice or words of wisdom could you share with others in our engineering community (staff, faculty, students, alums)?
A: When I attended meetings at my kids’ middle school, there are four words on their banners: teamwork, integrity, respect, and tolerance. Based on these wonderful values, I hope our engineering community will continue to be united in facing the challenges that humankind is facing.
