AN English based documentary that depicts famous scientist William A Goddard III’s lifelong career, “Scientist in a Beret,” debuted at Shanghai University in the 2016 International Master Forum on Friday.

    William A Goddard III, whose signature is his beret, 79, is well-known for his accomplishments in the field of chemistry, materials science, engineering and applied physics. He is a member of the American National Academy of Sciences, fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and a professor at the California Institute of Technology.

    This documentary describes the scientist’s personal life and academic achievements. It reveals Bill’s humble beginnings, including dropping out of school, his intelligence as well as his romances, and most importantly, his passion for science and his dedication and tireless efforts in research and teaching.

    Bill is not only a theorist, he is also dedicated to experimentation. He spent his entire life converting scientific theory to application and production. His advocacy of “First Mile to Last Mile” is indeed about commercialization of scientific theories. His research areas are extremely broad, dealing with fields from health to energy.

    He is so knowledgeable in so many academic arenas, yet he continues to pour his heart out nurturing his students, all the while remaining humble and down to earth.

    He is a family man, a great husband, a great father and grandfather. His marriage has lasted 60 years since he first laid eyes on his wife when she was 18 years old.

    According to director Liu Shen, the duration of the film is about 100 minutes. They started the filming in the U.S. in September 2014, and in the past years, the crew has been to Los Angles, New York City, New Jersey, as well as cities in China like Shanghai, Dalian and Hong Kong. During the filming, they interviewed more than 100 researchers, professors, faculty members and students both in the United States and China.

    Dean of Shanghai Film Academy, Shanghai University, who hosted the premier, He Xiaoqing stated that, “As we all know, the birth of film was the documentary. Documentaries are a reflection of history and showcase reality.

    Its charm resides in that it can capture our era, it can impact audiences and ultimately the world. This documentary focuses on Professor Goddard’s dedication to making the world a better place.

    (SD-Agencies)