Solving conundrum of future math success

The awarding of the Fields Medal — widely regarded as the Nobel Prize of mathematics — to two Chinese nationals has stoked hopes of a golden dawn for the discipline, while also sparking debate about how the country nurtures its academic talent.

Renowned Chinese American mathematician Shing-Tung Yau, a Fields Medal laureate and dean of Tsinghua University's Qiuzhen College, called the news exciting for the Chinese people and a proud moment for Chinese mathematicians.

He commended the awardees' interdisciplinary achievements and expressed hope that young Chinese scholars will achieve major breakthroughs at home, paving the way for the country to become a global powerhouse in mathematics.

"For quite a while, people in the government of America thought that Chinese (mathematicians) will only learn from America; now they will see that we also develop first-class mathematics," he said in an interview with CGTN.

"I hope they learn that Chinese are capable of doing absolutely first-class mathematics, and we could help America, we could help Europe, and vice versa, we welcome them to come over here to help us also."

Presented every four years by the International Mathematical Union, the Fields Medal recognizes mathematicians under the age of 40 for their outstanding contributions.

Deng Yu, 37, a professor at the University of Chicago, together with Ma Xiao and Zaher Hani, made a breakthrough on Hilbert's sixth problem by providing a rigorous mathematical connection between microscopic particle dynamics and macroscopic fluid equations.

Wang Hong, 35, a tenured professor at the Institut des Hautes Etudes Scientifiques in France and a Silver Professor at New York University's Courant Institute School of Mathematics, Computing, and Data Science, resolved with Joshua Zahl the three-dimensional Kakeya conjecture — a mathematical problem unsolved for over a century — using analyses and a geometric theory.

Different paths

Their journeys to global recognition followed markedly different paths.

Deng took the typical route for gifted students in China — winning a gold medal at the International Mathematical Olympiad and gaining admission to an elite mathematics program.

Wang's progress was far more unconventional, Xinhua News Agency reported. Hailing from Guilin in the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region and lacking formal math Olympiad training, she skipped two grades and entered Peking University at the age of 16.

She initially enrolled in the School of Earth and Space Sciences but transferred to the mathematics program, driven by her interest in the discipline.

Tian Gang, a professor of mathematics at Peking University and an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said Wang studied in a highly competitive environment with many brilliant peers.

Tian said the awarding of the Fields Medal to Deng and Wang could inspire a new generation of Chinese students and scholars, instilling in them the confidence to tackle major mathematical problems.

However, he added while Chinese scholars are leading the world in some areas and are on par with top academics in others, the overall pool of mathematical talent in China remains limited.

"I believe there is hope for us in some of the core areas of mathematics," Tian said. "Chinese mathematicians can make even greater contributions to the world."

Yau raised concerns about the emphasis on mathematics competitions and training programs in China, which he believes can be detrimental to the search for genuine talent. Mathematical talent requires a solid foundation, as well as imagination, curiosity and resilience, he said in an interview with The Paper.

He said Tsinghua University's Qiuzhen College, established in 2021 to strengthen the cultivation of the country's mathematical talent, will soon undergo a comprehensive reform of its admissions and examination processes.

The goal is to recruit students who truly love mathematics, rather than those who are motivated by utilitarian goals or simply aim to enter prestigious universities, he said.

Competition system

In China, mathematics competitions remain one of the most visible ways for high school students to demonstrate ability. Since 2020, the Strengthening Foundation Plan has expanded admission pathways for students with strong potential in mathematics and other basic sciences.

However, only a small number of top performers enter university this way.

This competition system has also proved itself on the international stage. China won the 2026 International Mathematical Olympiad, held in Shanghai in July, finishing first overall with all six members earning gold medals and three achieving perfect scores.

At 18, Tang Mengmeng from Jiaxing, Zhejiang province, was among the best high-school mathematics competitors. She placed first at the 24th Chinese Girls' Mathematical Olympiad and won a gold medal at the Chinese Mathematical Olympiad.

Tang began mathematics competition training in high school and devoted about a year to intensive Olympiad preparation. Although she ranked among the country's strongest contestants, she did not join the national training squad and instead entered Tsinghua University through the gaokao, eventually studying electronic engineering.

Tang believes competitions and the gaokao develop different abilities. Olympiad problems reward deep exploration, creativity and persistence.

"You may spend four and a half hours solving just three questions, and even that is not always enough. The gaokao national college entrance exam, by contrast, demands broad knowledge, speed and consistency across multiple subjects," she said.

Despite her achievements, Tang chose not to pursue pure mathematics at university. She was attracted by the growth of technology-related fields and said electronic engineering offers a practical way for her mathematical background to be useful.

"Many mathematics graduates eventually move into areas such as finance, quantitative trading and education rather than pure research. I don't think I'd likely be able to stick with pure math forever," she said.

As technology-driven industries expand, mathematical thinking is becoming increasingly important beyond academic research.

The World Economic Forum's Future of Jobs Report 2025 identified analytical thinking as the most sought-after core skill among employers, with artificial intelligence and big data among the fastest-growing areas.

Mat Tang is vice-president of a Beijing-based game studio and oversees game development and product design.