The family of a leading Chinese materials scientist has recently called for more attention to the health of the research community after their loved one died at the age of 47 due to what was described as an "unbearable" workload.

Professor Liu Yongfeng, a leading expert at Zhejiang University, suffered a cerebral hemorrhage on January 21 while attending a conference in Xi’an, Shaanxi Province, China. According to an obituary posted on Chinese social media by the university’s School of Materials Science and Engineering, he passed away on March 5.

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Materials scientist Liu Yongfeng, a professor at Zhejiang University and recipient of multiple national research grants, has died suddenly at the age of 47, adding to the list of Chinese researchers who have died prematurely. Photo: SCMP

"Professor Liu is a hard-working, dedicated and serious person. He has guided more than 40 postdoctoral, doctoral and master's students, and has made important contributions to the training of talents in the field of new energy materials," the school said in a statement.

"The tragic passing of Professor Liu is a great loss to the university and the materials science community. We are deeply saddened by the loss of a teacher and friend like him," the school said.

Last weekend, an open letter appeared on social media, purportedly written by Professor Liu's wife, detailing his "horrific" workload.

In the letter, the wife noted her husband's work schedule from March 2024 to January 20, 2025 based on information she found on the professor's personal computer. The numbers shocked many people: In a year, according to regulations, Professor Luu had 183 working days, but in reality he worked 319 days and went on business trips 135 days. On the days he did not go on business trips, he worked late, past 105 p.m. This scientist maintained such a high-intensity work schedule for 18 years.

Source: https://archive.vietnam.vn/giao-su-47-tuoi-dot-ngot-qua-doi-lich-trinh-lam-viec-cua-ong-gay-chu-y/