Noted mathematician Chen Xinshen passes away
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2004-12-03 21:57

Shiing-shen Chern (Chen Xingshen), a world-renowned overseas Chinese mathematician, 93, died of illness at his home at Nankai University in north China's city of Tianjin at around 7:15 p.m. Friday, the university announced.

A student lights up candles on the campus of Nankai University, northern Chinese city of Tianjin, to mourn the death of renowned Chinese-American mathematician Shiing-shen Chern (Chen Xingshen) Friday evening. Chern, 93, died of illness at his home in the university Friday. [newsphoto] A student lights up candles on the campus of Nankai University, northern Chinese city of Tianjin, to mourn the death of renowned Chinese-American mathematician Shiing-shen Chern (Chen Xingshen) Friday evening. [newsphoto]

Chinese-American mathematician Chen Xingshen (Shiing-shen Chern), 93, died of illness at home Friday night in Tianjin. [newsphoto/file]

Chern, a US citizen, is best known for his achievements in the study of differential geometry.

Born in 1911 at the time of the fall of China's last imperial dynasty, the Qing, Chern graduated from Nankai University in 1930. Later he received further education at Qinghua University and the University of Hamburg in Germany.

He taught at several Chinese and US universities, including Princeton University, the University of Chicago, and the University of California, Berkeley. He is the only Chinese to win the Wolf Prize - the most distinguished award in the international mathematics field.

Chern's particular field of research led to the development of the later-named Chern characteristic classes in fiber spaces that came to play a role in a wide area of mathematics and mathematical physics.

The International Astronomical Union officially named asteroid No. 1998CS2 after the noted mathematician in November for his outstanding contributions to human society.

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