Wang Hong and Deng Yu, two Chinese nationals, have been awarded the Fields Medal for their outstanding contributions to mathematics. This is the first time Chinese scholars have received this prestigious award, which is often referred to as the ‘Nobel Prize’ of mathematics.
Background
Wang, 35, is a professor at New York University and the Institut des Hautes Études Scientifiques in France. She was awarded for her work resolving a decades-old problem in harmonic analysis and geometric measure theory. Deng, 37, is a University of Chicago professor who won for his progress on partial differential equations.
The Fields Medal is awarded every four years to outstanding mathematicians under 40 by the International Mathematical Union. The two other winners this year come from Canada and the United States.
Reaction
China’s social media has lit up in celebration of their achievement, with many praising the two scholars for their hard work and dedication. State media and other news sites have also reported on the win, highlighting its significance for China’s bid to become a science and technology powerhouse.
Original reporting: KEYT (Ventura/Santa Barbara) — read the source article.
