Source: Global Times

On May 13, an article from the South China Morning Post stated, "Why China is Becoming Increasingly Attractive to Top Mathematicians," with a subtitle, "Efforts to Encourage More Innovative Thinking and Massive Investment Pay Off." Yiming Mo, director of the Institute of Mathematical Sciences at the University of Hong Kong and vice president of the Hong Kong Academy of Sciences, said that China's investment in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) is attracting top international mathematicians and helping to promote original research. He mentioned that the shift from rote learning to encouraging innovation, along with increasing international cooperation, can drive significant progress in the field of mathematics in China.

Many renowned mathematicians have noted that talented students, better job opportunities, as well as China's growing strength and expanding investment in the field of mathematics are some of the reasons why they choose to come to China. Yiming Mo said, "The assistance provided by mathematicians with international experience is constantly increasing."

Last year, China invested more than 3.6 trillion RMB in research and development, with basic research funding reaching nearly 250 billion RMB, accounting for 6.91% of total R&D expenditure, which represents a 10.5% increase compared to 2023.

"Our group is a very international one. I believe that if Chinese mathematicians have more opportunities to exchange ideas, inspire each other, and discuss mathematics with others, China will flourish in the field of mathematics." Yiming Mo added that research institutions in mainland China and Hong Kong can serve as bridges for communication.

Yiming Mo said, "China's presence in the international mathematical community is clear and tangible." "Due to international exchanges, such as attending various academic conferences, we are seeing many highly original results emerging." He mentioned that China's mathematical education "has a solid foundation at the graduate level," but the importance of striving for originality may only have been fully recognized recently, though they are making efforts to address these shortcomings.

Yiming Mo believes that artificial intelligence technology still has a long way to go in terms of developing imagination and conducting original research like humans. Yiming Mo said, "When working with limited datasets, we try to deduce surprising connections between points, which requires a great deal of imagination. To cultivate imagination, it must be exercised. We assign problems to students not for exams but for fun, which is a good thing." He added that encouraging students to challenge themselves with harder problems is important for nurturing the next generation of mathematicians. "In the examination system, you must achieve zero errors. However, in mathematical research, especially important is that you must take the initiative to try."

Yiming Mo also said that future mathematicians should be encouraged to expand their knowledge beyond mathematics. "They should keep an open mind towards physics, biology, or poetry, so they can have richer imaginations."

"Mathematicians engage in mathematical research because they excel in this field, but this does not mean they are not skilled in other areas." He believed that this helps them develop a broader worldview and see things that others might miss. "Only in a very free academic environment can such ways of thinking be fostered. You must be imaginative, keep an open mind, and remain humble." (By Victoria Bella and Holly Chick, translated by Wang Cong)

Original Article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7504065239207232040/

Disclaimer: This article solely represents the author's personal views. Please express your attitude by clicking the "thumbs up" or "thumbs down" buttons below.