Scientist equates hard work with gaming

Driving ambition fuels the passion required for success, Li Yingxue reports.

During high school, Yan Nieng envisioned a career in journalism. Even today, she jokes on her Weibo account that writing short tweets undermines her dream of becoming a literary giant.

However, after more than two decades in scientific research, Yan, now 47, finds the field of science to be an indispensable part of her life.

"I could not imagine myself not being a scientist," she remarks.