Chinese scientist Chang Meemann was awarded the "Ho Leung Ho Lee Foundation Achievement Prize" on Tuesday for her pioneering work in life sciences.

Chang, a paleontologist at the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, was recognized for her work on vertebrates' migration from sea to land, oil-bearing strata in east China and their sedimentary environment, as well as the lifting and aridification of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

In March, the 82-year-old was also named the 2018 L'Oreal-UNESCO For Women in Science Awards laureate "for her pioneering work on fossil records leading to insights on how aquatic vertebrates adapted to living on land."

In a ceremony held on Tuesday, the Hong-Kong based foundation also awarded 55 scientists with advancement and innovation prizes.

Set up in 1994 by Hong Kong financiers Ho Sin Hang, Leung Kau-Kui, Ho Tim and Lee Quo-Wei to recognize Chinese scientists, the foundation has given awards to 1,306 people so far.