Scientist Qian Weichang , who was renowned as an applied mathematician and physicist before becoming famous for his efforts in higher education, died in Shanghai yesterday, aged 98.
Born in 1912 in Wuxi, Jiangsu , Qian was regarded as one of the pioneers of modern mechanics in China.
He was respected not only for his outstanding achievements in physics but also his efforts in education reform while he was president of Shanghai University.
'He was a diligent and talented person and most importantly thought highly of education and the cultivation of talent,' said Jiang Jinsong, an associate professor at Tsinghua University's Institute of Science, Technology and Society.
As president of Shanghai University (formerly the Shanghai University of Technology) from 1983, Qian devoted himself to the reconstruction of the university and higher education reform. In 1992, he pushed for mainland universities to introduce credit for previous study.
Qian's catchphrase was that it was never too old to learn.
