Zhou Guangzhao, male, Han nationality, was born in 1929 in Changsha, Hunan Province.
He graduated from the physics department of Qinghua University in 1951, joined the CPC in 1952, and, beginning in 1954, did postgraduate work in theoretical physics at Beijing University. From 1957 to 1960, he was a researcher at the Dubra joint nuclear research institute in Moscow.
After 1961, Zhou specialized in nuclear weapons research and development in various institutes and industries. His work earned him widespread recognition and numerous awards. He was acknowledged as a pioneer in advancing the theory of the spiral amplitude
of particles and in establishing a relevant mathematical method. He was an advisor regarding research on detonation physics, radiation hydrodynamics and computing methods in mechanics. He participated in the design and manufacture of China's first
atomic bomb, hydrogen bomb and satellites in the 1960s and early 1970s. He was the author of more than 80 papers, including "The Relativistic Theory of Polarized Particle Reaction," "Parial Conservation of Axial Currents," and "Reactions of Polarized Particles with Zero Masses." He was president of the Chinese Academy of Sciences from 1987 to1997.
Zhou was chairman of the 5th National Committee of the China Association for Science and Technology, vice-chairman of the 9th NPC Standing Committee, and a member of the 12th, 13th, 14th and 15th CPC Central Committees.