Abstract: School of Materials Science and Engineering of University of Science and Technology Beijing grows out of Metallographic Phase and Heat Treatment Department of Beijing Institute of Iron and Steel Technology (and Industry), which was one of the institutions engaging in metals scientific research and teaching, and made a distinguished contribution in personnel training and academic research in the field of metals and heat treatment.The author interviewed Zhang Shouhua, one of the main founders and leaders of this department, and retells the story of seting up and development in the early period of the department.