Poetry and the art of general mechanics

It all comes down to how books deal with the tight, dark confines of a school bag: Can an anthology of poetry live amicably with a manual on general mechanics?

For Chen Geng the answer is yes, which is why she will no doubt soon be reciting the laws of mechanics with as much ease as she now recites Chinese poetry.

Chen, 25, is a PhD student at Peking University specializing in general mechanics who has become renowned nationwide for her poetry prowess.