The Fate of Y.S. Ma, China's First Female Geologist

Yin, Jian Zhao

doi:10.5194/hgss-2026-6

Preprints

https://doi.org/10.5194/hgss-2026-6

Preprints

27 Mar 2026

| 27 Mar 2026

Status: this preprint is currently under review for the journal HGSS.

The Fate of Y.S. Ma, China's First Female Geologist

Jian Zhao Yin

Abstract. In April 1944 during the War of Resistance against Japan, three young scientists were killed by bandits in the field. Among the three were Ms. Y.S. Ma, the only female geologist in China at the time, a young geologist fluent in five foreign languages despite never having been abroad, and Mr. T.Y. Hsu and Mr. K. Chen, both budding and accomplished geologists. They were killed on the same day, at the ages of 25, 36, and 28 respectively. This year marks the 82nd anniversary of their tragic deaths. This article is dedicated to these three young scholars who died before achieving their goals, leaving future generations deeply saddened.

Received: 19 Mar 2026 – Discussion started: 27 Mar 2026

Publisher's note: Copernicus Publications remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims made in the text, published maps, institutional affiliations, or any other geographical representation in this paper. While Copernicus Publications makes every effort to include appropriate place names, the final responsibility lies with the authors. Views expressed in the text are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher.

Download & links

Jian Zhao Yin

Status: open (until 06 Jun 2026)

Post a comment Subscribe to comment alert

RC1:
'Comment on hgss-2026-6', Zhihui Zhang, 05 May 2026 reply

Review Summary
This manuscript explores a case of significant historical importance and emotional resonance, supported by valuable archival materials and secondary literature. However, in its current form, the manuscript does need some revisions.
Firstly, the overall positioning of the paper is unclear. The manuscript reads more like a commemorative narrative than a rigorous academic study. It lacks a clearly defined research question and fails to sufficiently develop analytical arguments. Consequently, its academic contribution remains implicit rather than explicitly articulated.
Secondly, the language style is not sufficiently academic. The text contains a large amount of emotional and literary expression, including evaluative and rhetorical statements. While these elements may enhance readability, they undermine the objectivity and analytical tone essential for scholarly work.
Thirdly, there is an imbalance in the structure. The paper is dominated by detailed narrative descriptions, focusing singularly on a female scientist who passed away early due to an accident, yet there is a scarcity of materials directly related to her. Due to the absence of a clear discussion section, the manuscript fails to move beyond mere description to the level of interpretation.
Recommendations for Revision
To improve the quality of the manuscript and bring it closer to publication standards, we strongly recommend the following revisions.
Most importantly, the author should clarify the research objectives in the introduction. The paper should explicitly state its analytical intent—for instance, aiming to explore the risks of scientific fieldwork in wartime China, the institutional role of the Geological Survey of China, or the gender dimensions within the early Chinese scientific community—rather than serving primarily as a commemorative account.
Furthermore, the author should attempt to place this female scholar within an academic network to analyze the state of Chinese society and the development of the discipline of geology at that time, rather than writing solely about her as an individual; this approach would yield richer material. Attention should also be paid to removing or rewriting emotional or rhetorical expressions, transforming them into neutral, evidence-based statements.
Equally critical is the necessity of introducing a dedicated section for analysis or discussion. This section should interpret the historical materials and situate the case within broader academic themes, such as science and the state, scientific practices during wartime, or the status of women in early modern science in China.
In addition to these core revisions, the manuscript should condense the biographical and narrative sections, reducing redundancy while retaining key information.

Reply

Citation: https://doi.org/10.5194/hgss-2026-6-RC1
- AC1: 'Reply on RC1', Jet Yin, 06 May 2026 reply
  
  Thank you very much for the time and professional comments from Ms. Zhang. Once all the review feedback is received, the author will carefully revise the manuscript based on the experts' comments.
  Best wishes,
  Jet
  
  Reply
  
  Citation: https://doi.org/10.5194/hgss-2026-6-AC1

Jian Zhao Yin

Viewed

Total article views: 104 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)

HTML	PDF	XML	Total	BibTeX	EndNote
71	22	11	104	12	12

HTML: 71
PDF: 22
XML: 11
Total: 104
BibTeX: 12
EndNote: 12

Views and downloads (calculated since 27 Mar 2026)

Month	HTML	PDF	XML	Total
Apr 2026	51	17	8	76
May 2026	20	5	3	28

Cumulative views and downloads (calculated since 27 Mar 2026)

Month	HTML	PDF	XML	Total
Apr 2026	51	17	8	76
May 2026	20	5	3	28

Viewed (geographical distribution)

Total article views: 104 (including HTML, PDF, and XML) Thereof 104 with geography defined and 0 with unknown origin.

Country	#	Views	%

Latest update: 17 May 2026


Total:	0
HTML:	0
PDF:	0
XML:	0