Peking University Alumni Awarded Fields Medals

Two alumni from Peking University (PKU), Wang Hong and Deng Yu, have been awarded the Fields Medal for 2026 at the International Congress of Mathematicians (ICM) held in Philadelphia. The award is considered one of the highest honors in mathematics.

Wang and Deng, both graduating from PKU in 2007, represent the first time two alumni from the same graduating class received the medal in the same year. PKU also set a record with 14 representatives invited to speak at the conference, including 10 alumni and 4 faculty members.

Wang is the third woman and the first Chinese woman ever to receive the Fields Medal. She is recognized for her work, alongside Joshua Zahl, in solving the three-dimensional Kakeya conjecture, a significant breakthrough for a long-standing mathematical problem. She currently holds a professorship at Institut des Hautes Études Scientifiques in Paris.

Deng, who began his studies at PKU's School of Mathematical Sciences, went on to complete his undergraduate studies at MIT and later earned his doctorate from Princeton University. His recent work with Ma Xiao and Zaher Hani has achieved a notable advance in solving Hilbert's sixth problem, establishing a rigorous mathematical pathway connecting microscopic particle dynamics with macroscopic kinetic and fluid equations.

The achievements of both mathematicians highlight Peking University's growing prominence in international mathematical research.