Renowned physicist Yang Chenning, a Nobel laureate and academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, died in Beijing on Saturday at 103, according to Tsinghua University.

Yang was born in Hefei, Anhui, in 1922. In the 1940s, he went to the United States to pursue academic studies and subsequently held teaching positions. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1957.

The Yang-Mills gauge theory introduced by Yang and Robert Mills in 1953 is one of the most important achievements of physics in the 20th century.

Yang was appointed as honorary professor, distinguished professor-at-large, co-director of the Institute for Mathematical Sciences and director of the Institute of Theoretical Physics at Chinese University, after giving a public lecture there in 1964.

He was also conferred the degree of Doctor of Science in 1997 and two years later, he donated his medals, including the Nobel Prize medal, together with his papers, correspondence, manuscripts and publications, to CUHK.

In a statement, the university said its students and lecturers are “profoundly saddened” by Yang’s death.

Vice chancellor Dennis Lo praised Yang for his extraordinary accomplishments in physics and invaluable contributions to the academic development of the university.

“Professor Yang devoted his life to academia, establishing himself a world-renowned master of theoretical physics and an esteemed authority admired by countless scientists. We have lost not only a scientific giant but also a cherished mentor who has had a profound impact on the CUHK community,” Lo said.

“He showed unwavering care for our faculty and students, particularly the younger generation, always guiding them with patience and generosity. His passing is an immeasurable loss to the global academic community, yet the scholarly treasures he left behind will continue to inspire future generations in their pursuit of the essence of theoretical physics.”

The Hong Kong Academy of Sciences, of which Yang was an honorary member, also mourned his passing.

In a statement, the academy paid tribute to the contribution that Yang made to the sciences and mankind, saying his research profoundly influenced the development of modern physics. (Additional reporting by Xinhua)