Description: (Chinese Astrophysicist and Activist Who Partly Inspired the 1989 Tiananmen Square Protests)
Fang Lizhi, a prominent Chinese astrophysicist, was known for his contributions to the field and his role as the vice-president of the University of Science and Technology of China. He gained international recognition for his activism and liberal ideas that influenced the pro-democracy student movement of 1986–87 and the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989. Despite facing repercussions such as expulsion from the Chinese Communist Party and the revocation of his academician position, Fang was honored with the Robert F Kennedy Human Rights Award in 1989 for his dedication to advancing human rights.