Chinese scientist Tu Youyou and two others won the Nobel prize in physiology or medicine for discovering therapies to combat parasites. Together, the three scientists found "therapies that have revolutionized the treatment of some of the most devastating parasitic diseases."

Tu's finding has saved millions of lives. As the first mainland winner of a scientific Nobel prize, Tu's win completely surprised the Chinese, who have long been wondering when the first mainland Nobel laureate in natural science would appear.

Tu is an alumni of Peking University, where she studied at the Health Science Center, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, from 1951 to 1955. Not only is Tu the first mainland Nobel laureate in natural science, she is the first Nobel Laureate who received all her scientific training in the mainland.

Let's backtrack to 40 years ago. Tu accomplished the breakthrough findings without access to any advanced equipment or communication with the outside world. However, over the last 40 years, improvements and innovations have transformed everything. Nowadays, Chinese scientists have the passion to invent. As Premier Li Keqiang said in a laudatory letter, "Tu's winning the prize signifies China's prosperity and progress in science and technology."

Evidently, Chinese scientific research has been playing a leading role in the world. And one can be sure that there is going to be a second or third Tu coming.

Tu's win serves as a reminder to those who are too eager for instant success. Science is never about instant success. There is no way to measure how much you spend on scientific research and compare it with how much reward you get.

Some may question Tu's lack of a doctoral degree, international experience, and title as academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Tu's experience is unique. It is hard to predict whether the next Chinese Nobel laureate may have any of these qualifications. There's no need to label a scientist and to look at the whole scientific community through these kinds of labels.

The fact that Tu lacks these qualifications also reminds us that science should be more accessible to all. Everyone should be able to become a scientist no matter what kind of background he or she comes from, as long as he or she is devoted to scientific research.

There have been discussions about how people who really love science are never aiming at awards. They might not seem to achieve much during their whole lives. But their contributions are infinite. They work hard to prove the wrong way so that the future researcher will be closer to the right one.

For Chinese scientists, a more diverse and flexible measurement and awarding system are needed. A lot of Japanese Nobel laureates came from companies and independent institutions. In the US, companies such as Microsoft hire a lot of talented scientists for their research.

In a recent reform jointly passed and distributed by the General Office of the State Council of the People's Republic of China and the General Office of the Communist Party of China, decisions have already been made on transforming the current measuring system from quantity to quality and innovation.

Any real contribution a research has made to society is also counted. This will allow more space and time for Chinese scientists to devote to their research.

Tu's discovery saved lives around the world. She boosted the confidence of Chinese scientists, who will know a Chinese scientist can be awarded the Nobel Prize in the future.

This is a commentary of the Xinhua News Agency. opinion@globaltimes.com.cn