Since the 20th century, optical glass has emerged as a pivotal strategic material, finding extensive application in military optical instruments and weapons, including telescopes, theodolites, and gun sights. Its development necessitates not only advancements in applied optics but also significant strides in glass manufacturing technology, accompanied by substantial investments. As the second Sino-Japanese War erupted in the 1930s, China, which was just embarking on its journey in applied optics, prioritized self-sufficiency in optical glass production to meet wartime demands. Various entities, such as the Ordnance and Industrial Administration of the National Government, the Academia Sinica, and the Peiping Academy of Sciences, leveraged their unique strengths to pursue distinct research avenues related to optical glass, fostering some degree of collaboration amidst their endeavors. However, due to factors including government directives, the existing level of research capabilities, and the exceptional external pressures of war, the aspiration for independent optical glass production remained unfulfilled. This study, by scrutinizing the efforts of major Chinese institutions in optical glass development during wartime, underscores that the conflict profoundly influenced the direction, organizational structure, and methodologies of scientific research. The pursuit of optical glass production amidst the war fostered a tight interplay between the government, military, and scientific research sectors, emphasizing the profound impact of the wartime context on scientific endeavors.

In 1905, Ludwig Prandtl, at the invitation of Felix Klein, began teaching at the University of Göttingen, thus founding the Göttingen School of Applied Mechanics, with Prandtl as its central figure. Ludwig Prandtl later founded and directed the Aerodynamic Research Institute (Aerodynamische Versuchsanstalt) and the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute for Fluid Mechanics (Kaiser-Wilhelm-Institut für Strömungsforschung). He trained numerous famous scholars in aerodynamics and fluid mechanics as well as professionals in the aerospace industry, earning the title "Father of Modern Aerodynamics." As scientific research became increasingly intertwined with industrial and national demands in the 20th century, coupled with the flourishing of aerospace research, the Göttingen School of Applied Mechanics thrived with exceptional vigor. Its academic genealogy continued to spread worldwide. Many pioneers of mechanics and aerospace engineering in China, such as Qian Xuesen, Guo Yonghuai, Qian Weichang, and Lu Shijia, emerged from this genealogy and were profoundly influenced by the Göttingen School of Applied Mechanics.
This study investigates the development and characteristics of Prandtl’s genealogy in China from the perspective of academic genealogy, focusing on the contributions of Chinese scholars within this genealogy. It explores how they inherited and disseminated the academic traditions of the Göttingen School of Applied Mechanics and investigates their roles in institutionalizing applied mechanics and aeronautics in China.

Chinese graduate education is distinguished by the autonomous degree-awarding and training capabilities of national scientific research institutions, with the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) at the forefront. Despite its pivotal role in shaping the scientific community and advancing graduate education, research on CAS's graduate education has been marginalized. This study, based on CAS archives and primary materials, explores the early motivations and conditions for CAS's graduate training during the People's Republic of China's formative years. It analyzes the evolution of graduate training methods in response to national demands and the progress of graduate education, aiming to clarify the development of distinctive educational characteristics. This research not only deepens historical insights into CAS's graduate education but also enhances the international community's understanding of the unique aspects of Chinese graduate education and the practices within national research institutions.