Mathematicians Wang and Deng Awarded Fields Medals; Yau Cites Chinese Math Maturity

At the opening of the 2026 International Congress of Mathematicians in Philadelphia on July 23, 2026, Chinese mathematicians Wang Hong and Deng Yu were recognized with Fields Medals. This marks the first time two Chinese mathematicians have received the award in the same year, a significant milestone for the country's scientific community.

Renowned mathematician Professor Shing-Tung Yau, a Fields Medal laureate himself and director of the Yau Mathematical Sciences Center at Tsinghua University, stated that the awards represent the overall maturation of the Chinese mathematics field. He noted a shift from earlier generations of Chinese students focusing on specific problems abroad to the current generation handling more advanced mathematical concepts.

Professor Yau expressed optimism that China is entering a critical phase where it can nurture top-tier mathematical talent domestically. He drew parallels with historical scientific development in countries like Italy, France, the UK, Germany, the US, and Japan, where sending students abroad eventually led to breakthroughs cultivated within their home countries. He anticipates China cultivating a significant number of young scholars in the coming decade who will lead global research.

Wang Hong, born in 1991, and Deng Yu, born in 1989, both studied at prestigious institutions including Peking University and MIT, and currently hold professorships in the US and France respectively. Professor Yau has extended invitations for them to return and teach in China, hoping their achievements will inspire domestically trained students to reach similar heights.