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

Shortly after he obtained his doctor's degree, Huang joined a geophysical service company ARKeX in Cambridge as an advanced researcher on high resolution airborne and marine gravity gradiometry, mainly used in oil, gas and mineral resources exploration at sea and on land.

Huang's team had been deemed by fellow researchers as one of the leading research teams in the industry of mobile detection technology.

Mark Davies, president and CEO of AustinBridgeporth, used to work with Huang at ARKeX for many years.

"I think Huang was an extremely talented geophysicist who pioneered many projects over the years for large independent oil companies," he said.

"He was extremely talented and knowledgeable. Not only a colleague but a true friend too," Davies added.

During his time in Britain, Huang remained committed to China, and his contacts with his motherland had never been broken. He would always fly to China to attend an academic meeting or seminar related to his field.

According to Sun, it's not a "random choice" that Huang later chose to go back to China to work, neither was it a "sudden impulse".

"Danian loved science and technology," Davies said. "He never said why he wanted to go back but it was very obvious to me. China was funding high quality science projects and he wanted to be part of it."