Maxim Kontsevich gives a lecture at Yanqi Lake Beijing Institute of Mathematical Sciences and Applications in Beijing, capital of China, July 19, 2023. (Tsinghua University/Handout via Xinhua)
BEIJING, July 28 (Xinhua) -- "Basic research in China has developed rapidly in recent years. In mathematics, China not only has traditional advantages but is also playing an increasingly important role," said Fields Medal winner Maxim Kontsevich at an international conference on basic science.
China has made continuous progress in basic science in recent years, especially in quantum physics, which is impressive, Kontsevich told Xinhua at the International Congress of Basic Science held in Beijing from July 16 to 28.
The congress brought together over 800 leading scientists and renowned scholars, including Kontsevich, from home and abroad to promote collaboration and knowledge exchanges. It focused on three branches of basic science: mathematics, theoretical physics, and theoretical computer and information sciences.
A professor at L'Institut des Hautes Etudes Scientifiques in France, Kontsevich won international prizes, such as the Fields Medal, the Henri Poincare Prize, and the Crafoord Prize, by groundbreaking contributions to mathematics and physics.
He said that international cooperation and open sharing are important to promote the development of basic science.
"This conference is a good opportunity for scholars who study basic science. I find it interesting to meet and exchange ideas with scholars globally and learn about the latest progress on the academic front," he added.
In 1998, Kontsevich won the prestigious Fields Medal, which is often described as the Nobel Prize in mathematics.
For scholars about 40 years old, the Fields Medal is an honor and encouragement. But for the younger generation, the more important significance of winning the award is to guide them to the important direction of the development of mathematical research, he said, adding that "winning the award should not be the goal in life."
"There are strong traditional advantages of mathematics in China. Now there are more and more mathematicians in China working in different fields, not to mention that some of them are very talented young people," he commented.
He said he hopes that more young people in China can understand the beauty of mathematics and continue to explore the mathematical world. "Mathematics is between art and science, and it is a beautiful subject, worth exploring and learning about life in general."
He believes that researchers often need several years to grasp the essence of challenges to solve difficult problems in basic science. "Researchers must do their best, concentrate, and spend a fairly long time to make achievements."
"Instead of putting pressure on them, we need to provide more options and possibilities for those who work slowly but study deeply to do long-term research," he said.
He added that mathematics is the foundation of natural science. In the past half-century, mathematics has played an important role in the development and progress of human society, especially the impressively wide application of mathematics in modern information technology.
"It's common in mathematical research to constantly run into problems and not know what to do next. But mathematicians must keep on exploring, not running away from it."
"When you overcome difficulties, solve puzzles, or see new beautiful structures, you will feel a great sense of accomplishment," Kontsevich said. ■
Maxim Kontsevich delivers a report at Tsinghua University in Beijing, capital of China, March 6, 2023. (Tsinghua University/Handout via Xinhua)
