126 years ago today, on September 13, 1899 (August 9, 1899 lunar calendar), Chinese glass and ceramicist Lai Qifang was born. Lai Qifang (1899~ 1985), a Chinese glass and ceramicist, was an older generation of scientists in the silicate field, one of the founders of the Chinese Ceramic Society, and served as a consultant to the Scientific Research Institute of Glass and Ceramics Industry of the Ministry of Light Industry. Born on September 13, 1899 in Gaowu Village, Shifang Town, Wuping County, graduated from Beijing National Industrial College in 1921, and later obtained a bachelor's degree in engineering. In 1924, he went to Chicago to study in the United States. He studied in the Department of Ceramic Engineering of the University of Illinois and the College of Eweh successively. He obtained a master's degree with the graduation thesis "High-quality and cheap ceramics are suitable for Chinese manufacturing". In 1928, Lai Qifang received a scientific research grant from the China Education and Culture Foundation, and became a researcher in the United States of the foundation. He continued to engage in beryllium glass research in the United States. Two years later, he returned to China as the director of the kiln industry laboratory of the chemical group of the China Industrial Laboratory. After liberation, he served as the director of the pottery group of the Shanghai Industrial Laboratory, conducting research on chemical porcelain, industrial porcelain, etc. He guided all the staff of the pottery group to cooperate with the Shanghai Glass Factory and successfully trial-produced "95" chemical instrument glass, neutral ampoule glass, thermometer glass, lead glass for X-ray machines, glass electrodes for PH meters, lighting instrument glass, bacterial filter funnel glass and other products, which solved the urgent needs of industry, medicine, medical apparatus and other aspects at that time, and won the title of advanced producer of Shanghai glass factory. In 1956, he served as the deputy head of the light industry group and the deputy head of the silicate group of the State Science and Technology Commission, and participated in the formulation of the national 12-year science and technology development plan and the national industrial development plan. In August of the same year, he served as the first director of the Silicate Research Institute of the Ministry of Light Industry (the predecessor of the Glass Enamel Research Institute of the Ministry of Light Industry) and a first-class engineer. On December 2, he was elected director of the Preparatory Committee of the China Silicate Society. Died in Shanghai on June 28, 1985.