On December 3, 2024, which marks the 20th anniversary of the passing of Shiing-Shen Chern—one of the greatest mathematicians of the 20th century, the "father of global differential geometry" and the founder of Nankai Institute of Mathematics—the first NKU Mathematical Talent Award Ceremony was held at Nankai University. NKU Chair Professors Xiaonan Ma and Shaoming Guo were presented the award as the first recipients.

Attendees of the ceremony included Qingshan Yang, Secretary of the CPC Nankai University Committee, Yulu Chen, President of Nankai University, Wenzhong Zhang, a Distinguished Professor and tenured member of the Board of Trustees of Nankai University, Chairman of Nankai Alumni Business Association, and the founder of Wumart Group and Dmall Inc., Mo-Lin Ge, a member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and professor at Chern Institute of Mathematics (CIM), Zixin Hou, former president of Nankai University, Yiming Long, a member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and professor at CIM, and Weiping Zhang, a member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and professor at CIM. Chengming Bai, Vice President of Nankai University, presided over the ceremony. The award was presented by Qingshan Yang and Wenzhong Zhang.

The NKU Mathematical Talent Award is co-funded by several alumni to bring in and recognize mathematical talents who have made significant achievements in academic research. The establishment of the award says the sincere love and high expectations of the alumni for Nankai University and Nankai's mathematics.

After the ceremony, a meeting on the construction of NKU mathematics discipline was held. Qingshan Yang and Wenzhong Zhang had an in-depth discussion with representatives of the discipline about how to further improve mathematical education, bring in and cultivate more talents with international competitiveness and enhance international academic communication and collaboration. It was stressed at the meeting that it is essential to strengthen basic research, encourage creative thinking and provide more platforms and support for young scholars, in order to jointly promote the development of mathematics in Nankai University and even in the whole country.

Heads and representatives of relevant administrative offices of the university, CIM, School of Mathematical Sciences, Center for Combinatorics and School of Statistics and Data Science of Nankai University were also present at the events.

Resource: NKU News

Translated by: CIM