Hong Wang has become the third Chinese-born recipient of the Fields Medal, the most prestigious mathematics award, and the first Chinese woman to earn this honor. The Fields Medals are awarded every four years and recognize outstanding mathematicians under the age of 40.
This year, two mathematicians from China, Hong Wang and Yu Deng, received the award, marking a noteworthy achievement. The Fields Medals, often compared to the Nobel Prizes, were presented at the International Congress of Mathematicians held in Philadelphia.
Hong Wang, originally from Guilin City, China, expressed joy in solving mathematical problems since childhood. Her research, conducted at NYU and France’s Institut des Hautes Études Scientifiques, gained prominence after resolving the Kakeya conjecture alongside the University of British Columbia’s Joshua Zahl. This work has influenced several fields, including harmonic analysis and geometric measure theory.
Yu Deng, hailing from Shenzhen, China, was recognized for his work with axiomatizing physics. His research collaboration with Zaher Hani and Xiao Ma at the University of Michigan advanced the quest to derive basic physical laws from mathematical principles.
Other Fields Medal recipients include American mathematician John Pardon, noted for contributions to topology and geometry, and Canadian Jacob Tsimerman, praised for expanding algebraic geometry frameworks.
Chinese social media celebrated the double win with enthusiasm. Both Wang and Deng received initial education at Peking University before continuing their studies abroad in the United States and Europe. This highlights discussions regarding China’s academic landscape and the movement of talent internationally.
Recognizing the need to enhance research capabilities, initiatives like China’s K-visa and the QiMing project aim to attract global STEM talent. Despite challenges, significant numbers of Chinese scholars are returning to China.
Accompanying the Fields Medal is the cash prize of 15,000 Canadian dollars, but for Yu Deng, the excitement lies in curiosity and solving complex questions.
Other notable IMU awards include Graeme Segal’s Chern Medal and Shayan Oveis Gharan’s Abacus Medal, celebrating achievements across mathematics.
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