[1][5] Her superstitious mother blamed the baby for her father's death, and gave her away to be raised by a paternal uncle.
[6] Inspired by Marie Curie,[3] she entered the Physics Department of Beijing Normal University as the only female student.
[1] With financial help from her maternal uncle, the renowned doctor Shi Jinmo, Lu went to study in Germany in 1937.
[7] In 1952, Lu became a member of the preparatory committee for the establishment of the Beijing Institute of Aeronautics (now Beihang University).
[3][4] When the Chinese Academy of Sciences resumed its election for academicians in 1980 after the end of the Cultural Revolution, Lu was nominated twice, but she declined both times and insisted on giving the opportunity to a younger scientist.
[5] On the first anniversary of her death, Qian Xuesen presided over a scientific symposium held in her memory.