Forensic science pioneer stands firm
With a stellar career and honorary professorship at Fudan University, Henry C. Lee maintains his principles and remains humble, Zheng Zheng reports in Shanghai.
Although Lee is often dubbed the "modern-day Sherlock Holmes" by others due to his expertise in more than 8,000 cases, he remains humble. "I am just an ordinary person who simply lets science and evidence speak for themselves," said the scientist.
Born in 1938 in Rugao, Jiangsu province, Lee embarked on a journey to become a world-famous forensic science pioneer. This is a path that embodies the principles that he advocates — purpose, passion, hard work, knowledge, persistence, and belief.
Lee is the 11th of 13 children who all experienced early hardships when their father passed away.
His mother raised all of the children to become successful professionals.
Life took an unexpected turn when Lee, aspiring to become a ship captain, enrolled in a police school in Taiwan due to financial constraints.
"I almost became an actor at one point, but my mother opposed it," Lee recalls with amusement.
In 1965, he went to the United States for further education, completing a four-year college program in just two years. While pursuing his first doctorate, he held three jobs — server, student, and kung fu instructor. "I put tremendous effort into my first doctorate, yet I have received over 30 honorary doctorates with far less toil ever since," he says, drawing laughter from the audience.
