YAN Dongsheng, renowned Chinese material scientist and academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and the Chinese Academy of Engineering, died in Shanghai on Sunday morning at the age of 98.

CAS member YAN Dongsheng (Image by CAS)

YAN was the founder of the advanced inorganic material science and engineering in China and considered as one of the most influential academic leaders internationally. He was also honorary director of the Shanghai Institute of Ceramics of CAS. 

He was born in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, in February 1918.  He received his B.S. degree and M.S. degree in 1939 and in 1941 respectively, and got his Ph.D. degree from the University of Illinois-Urban-Champaign, USA, in 1949. 

YAN returned to China in 1950 and had committed his lifetime to scientific and technological development ever since. 

YAN has devoted his life to researches on high performance ceramics and material science. He brought innovations in many fields such as the science and mechanism of high-temperature materials, the design and micro-regulation of high-temperature materials, ceramic matrix composites research. 

Carbon fiber reinforced composite he developed had greatly contributed to national defense construction. He led the research and development of China’s large size scintillation crystal. 

YAN was elected to be a member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in 1980, member of the Third World Academy of Sciences in 1993 as well as member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering since its founding in 1994. 

YAN was also noted as a strategist and educator; he had accomplished creative contributions to scientific and technical system reform.