Dr Ronald C. Po is an Assistant Professor at our Department. He joined us in September 2016. His research and his teaching focuses on the history of late imperial China, but he is also interested in the realm of maritime and global studies, namely the ways in which the maritime world has been mapped, conceptualised and imagined.
Dr Po was educated at Universität Heidelberg, where he received a D.Phil. in History and Transcultural Studies. Before joining LSE, he was a Postdoctoral Fellow at McGill University (2013-16) and a Visiting Lecturer at the University of Chicago (2013). He was also an Erasmus Scholar at Cambridge (2011-12) and a Baden-Württemberg Fellow at Kyoto University (2012).
He has published numerous peer-reviewed articles on Chinese history and maritime studies in the United States, England, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and South Korea. He is currently working on two monograph-length projects, one on Chinese maritime frontier and the other one on port cities in Northeast Asia.
In the department, Dr Ronald C. Po teaches an undergraduate course, HY235: Modernity and the State in East Asia: China, Japan and Korea since 1840, and a postgraduate course, HY472: China and the External World. 1711-1839.
Meet one of our newest historians, Dr Ronald C. Po:
Where do you come from?
I was born and raised in colonial Hong Kong. Before coming to LSE, I spent three years working in Canada.
Why did you want to come to LSE?
It is a wonderful, unique, and prestigious institution filled with brilliant and outstanding people. I am so inspired and impressed by the quality of my colleague’s remarkable work. And London is in fact one of the centres of maritime, Chinese, and Asian studies.
Why did you want to become an historian?
This is what I want to do with my life. I had a passion for history since my secondary school years. When I committed to a D.Phil. in history, I also committed to becoming a historian no matter what that might look like. But I also agree that becoming a historian requires a lot of drive if you hope to become an academic.
If you could bring one famous historical person back to life, who would it be?
Can I bring more? If so, this would probably be someone who will best improve the plight of today’s society or someone who can bring a huge amount of enjoyment to humanity. Henry Ford, Run Run Shaw, Marie Curie, Beethoven, Shakespeare, Charlie Chaplin wouldn’t be bad choices.
If you had a time machine, where and what era would you go?
Eighteenth Century Beijing. And in particular the 14th of September, 1793 from the point of view of George Macartney himself as he met the Qianlong Emperor.
Which is your favourite place on the LSE campus and why?
So far it is the Sardinia House – where I’m very much looking forward to meeting up my new colleagues.
If you could give your younger student self some advice, what would it be?
This answer would depend on if that advice could influence who I am today. If it could change my path, I would not give any advice, even if it might have the possibility to ease any pain in the journey. I am absolutely blessed and I am very grateful for where I am today, and wouldn’t really want to wave a Potter’s wand - or a Hermione’s one (she is my favourite wizard by the way) to change anything at the moment.
How do you like to relax?
I read, sleep, write, and sleep some more. – Ah, I also listen and sing to my favourite Canton-pop!
How many languages do you speak?
Mandarin, Cantonese, English, German and Japanese.
What is your favourite fiction book?
The Five People you Meet in Heaven remains my favourite.
What is the most memorable place you have ever visited?
Heidelberg.
What would we be most surprised to learn about you?
I am horrible in chemistry, the periodic table in particular.