Scientist's shunning of spotlight commendable

PEOPLE HAVE BEEN PAYING TRIBUTE TO LIU XIANLIN, a 78-year-old geomatics scientist and an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, after a photo of him appeared showing him preoccupied with work on a high-speed train. West China Metropolis Daily commented on Thursday:

The esteemed academician's simple clothes and dedication to work, as shown in the photo, are just part of the story.

Liu, who was on a business trip, reportedly gave up his first-class seat to sit with his colleagues so they could talk about work more easily. He also refused other privileges to which he is entitled as an academician, such as a chauffeur service.