About Me

---

Yaping Zhao is a life-long student of physics, and her career encompasses engineering, thinking and writing. When she's not busy puzzling over academic research, Yaping reads interesting books. Her research interests are broad, and she considers herself a "bird" type researcher, inspired by Freeman Dyson's "Birds and Frogs" lecture.

Raised in a highly competitive and strictly regimented academic environment, she once overly pursued achievement. Nowadays, she views success not as a pursuit of fame and wealth but as personal growth and happiness. Rather than chasing accolades and benefits, she focuses on her academic journey—gauging her progress and what she learns along the way. She believes that true happiness stems from an optimal blend of health, life, family, and career, among other factors. Despite the challenges, she remains committed to her quest for this balance. The road ahead is long and has no ending; yet high and low she will search with her will unbending.

Her favorite scientist, Richard Feynman, has profoundly influenced her. Although she has never fully grasped all of Feynman’s complex physics texts—attributing this to differences in talent and intellect—she has repeatedly delved into his autobiography and lectures. She particularly treasures the epilogue of "Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman!" and wishes to share this message with everyone:

"So I have just one wish for you -- the good luck to be somewhere where you are free to maintain the kind of integrity I have described, and where you do not feel forced by a need to maintain your position in the organization or financial support, or so on, to lose your integrity. May you have that freedom.”