Calabi's influence on theoretical physics and mathematics has stretched far and wide. A large portion of his publication remains a major part of active research literature. His impact on geometric analysis alone would be already too great to recount here. So I will focus on Kähler geometry, an area in which I have privilege to be involved and where my own research has been greatly shaped by Calabi, starting with my thesis, up to the latest work with my young collaborators on extremal Kaehler metrics. As a former student, my reflections will inevitably be infused with strong personal flavor.

Chen Xiuxiong, founding director of the Center for Geometry and Physics at the University of Science and Technology of China. I graduated with a PhD from the University of Pennsylvania in the United States, under the guidance of renowned geometer Eugenio Calabi. Presented a 45 minute report at the International Congress of Mathematicians in 2002; In November 2018, he was awarded the Viburne Prize by the American Mathematical Society; Received the Simmons Scholar Award in June 2019.