Huang Danian, a geophysicist who returned to China seven years ago from Britain and contributed greatly to deep earth exploration technology. [Photo/Xinhua]

Though having to encounter language and living difficulties in a foreign country, Huang quickly earned respect from his British professors and colleagues thanks to his profound academic knowledge and hard work.

Dr Roger Clark, Senior Lecturer at Leeds University's School of Earth & Environment, used to supervise Huang's PhD work on the quantitative analysis of gravity and magnetic field anomalies.

"As a student, he was clearly very skilled at mathematics, and we enjoyed guiding him into geophysics," Clark said.

"He was certainly a very dedicated student while he was in Leeds, and I heard exactly the same from colleagues in industry," he said.

"I always knew he had the skill and energy to do well in whatever he wanted to apply himself to."

Clark also expressed shock and sadness on Huang's passing-away. "We never think or expect the students we have taught to pass away before us ... It's a great loss, both personally and professionally."