Master's last words: don't be blinded by money

Mathematics master Shiing-shen Chern told scientists they should put their profession ahead of fame and money.

Those were the great master's parting words at a mathematics science conference in Tianjin two weeks ago.

Chern, 93, known as Chen Xingshen on the mainland, died on Friday at Tianjin Medical University.

Xinhua yesterday reported that at the conference's final meeting, Chern warned the scientists against being blinded by fame and money.

'Mathematicians should devote themselves to their work in mathematics and should not over-concern themselves with what society says about them,' Chern told them.

Chern is the only Chinese scientist to win the Wolf Prize - the Nobel Prize of the maths world.