How Aquatic Chemistry Took Root and Has Flourished in China: Classical Textbooks, a Tale of Two Manganese, and a Dynamic Community

In the history of environmental science and engineering, there are numerous great thinkers, mentors, and scholars, whose influence transcends geographical boundaries. Being assembled into a special tribute issue in ES &T celebrating its founding editor Jim Morgan, this Perspective tells a few stories related to China, a country that he never visited but one where his research and vision have a profound influence. The following stories are inspiring accounts of people who made indelible contributions to this discipline. Through providing an international angle, this perspective aims to reinforce the global aquatic chemistry community's appreciation of our discipline's roots and continuous growth in China, as well as the significant contributions from China. Given the universality of scientific knowledge, we believe that similar stories exist in many other countries, cultures, and fields, where their pioneers are celebrated and remembered.