In a first, Chinese woman wins the prestigious Fields Medal

Key Points:

• For the first time, a Chinese woman, Hong Wang, has won the prestigious Fields Medal, making her the third Chinese-born mathematician to receive the award, alongside fellow Chinese winner Yu Deng this year.
• The Fields Medal, often called the Nobel Prize of mathematics, is awarded every four years to mathematicians under 40 for outstanding achievement and potential; this year marks only the third time a woman has won the medal in its 90-year history.
• Hong Wang gained recognition for solving the Kakeya conjecture in three dimensions, while Yu Deng was praised for his work on axiomatizing physics, both conducting research primarily outside China despite starting their education at Peking University.
• The dual Chinese wins sparked pride and reflection on Chinese academic brain drain on social media, with some users questioning why top talent leaves China for the US and calling for reforms in Chinese higher education.
• Alongside international prestige and a cash prize, the Fields Medalists emphasize that their motivation stems from curiosity and the joy of solving complex mathematical problems rather than fame or money.