Debate on nurturing talent rekindled after China's major international accolades

The awarding of the Fields Medal — widely regarded as the Nobel Prize of mathematics — to two Chinese nationals has stoked hopes of a golden dawn for the discipline, while also sparking debate about how the country nurtures its academic talent.

Renowned Chinese American mathematician Shing-Tung Yau, a Fields Medal laureate and dean of Tsinghua University's Qiuzhen College, called the news exciting for the Chinese people and a proud moment for Chinese mathematicians.

He commended the awardees' interdisciplinary achievements and expressed hope that young Chinese scholars will achieve major breakthroughs at home, paving the way for the country to become a global powerhouse in mathematics.

READ MORE: Spirit of math beckons golden age of science

"For quite a while, people in the government of America thought that Chinese (mathematicians) will only learn from America; now they will see that we also develop first-class mathematics," he said in an interview with CGTN.

"I hope they learn that Chinese are capable of doing absolutely first-class mathematics, and we could help America, we could help Europe, and vice versa, we welcome them to come over here to help us also."

Presented every four years by the International Mathematical Union, the Fields Medal recognizes mathematicians under the age of 40 for their outstanding contributions.

Deng Yu, 37, a professor at the University of Chicago, together with Ma Xiao and Zaher Hani, made a breakthrough on Hilbert's sixth problem by providing a rigorous mathematical connection between microscopic particle dynamics and macroscopic fluid equations.

Wang Hong, 35, a tenured professor at the Institut des Hautes Etudes Scientifiques in France and a Silver Professor at New York University's Courant Institute School of Mathematics, Computing, and Data Science, resolved with Joshua Zahl the three-dimensional Kakeya conjecture — a mathematical problem unsolved for over a century — using analyses and a geometric theory.

Different paths

Their journeys to global recognition followed markedly different paths.

Deng took the typical route for gifted students in China — winning a gold medal at the International Mathematical Olympiad and gaining admission to an elite mathematics program.

Wang's progress was far more unconventional, Xinhua News Agency reported. Hailing from Guilin in the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region and lacking formal math Olympiad training, she skipped two grades and entered Peking University at the age of 16.

She initially enrolled in the School of Earth and Space Sciences but transferred to the mathematics program, driven by her interest in the discipline.

Tian Gang, a professor of mathematics at Peking University and an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said Wang studied in a highly competitive environment with many brilliant peers.

Tian said the awarding of the Fields Medal to Deng and Wang could inspire a new generation of Chinese students and scholars, instilling in them the confidence to tackle major mathematical problems.

However, he added while Chinese scholars are leading the world in some areas and are on par with top academics in others, the overall pool of mathematical talent in China remains limited.

"I believe there is hope for us in some of the core areas of mathematics," Tian said. "Chinese mathematicians can make even greater contributions to the world."

Yau raised concerns about the emphasis on mathematics competitions and training programs in China, which he believes can be detrimental to the search for genuine talent. Mathematical talent requires a solid foundation, as well as imagination, curiosity and resilience, he said in an interview with The Paper.

He said Tsinghua University's Qiuzhen College, established in 2021 to strengthen the cultivation of the country's mathematical talent, will soon undergo a comprehensive reform of its admissions and examination processes.

The goal is to recruit students who truly love mathematics, rather than those who are motivated by utilitarian goals or simply aim to enter prestigious universities, he said.

Competition system

In China, mathematics competitions remain one of the most visible ways for high school students to demonstrate ability. Since 2020, the Strengthening Foundation Plan has expanded admission pathways for students with strong potential in mathematics and other basic sciences.

However, only a small number of top performers enter university this way.

This competition system has also proved itself on the international stage. China won the 2026 International Mathematical Olympiad, held in Shanghai in July, finishing first overall with all six members earning gold medals and three achieving perfect scores.

At 18, Tang Mengmeng from Jiaxing, Zhejiang province, was among the best high-school mathematics competitors. She placed first at the 24th Chinese Girls' Mathematical Olympiad and won a gold medal at the Chinese Mathematical Olympiad.

Tang began mathematics competition training in high school and devoted about a year to intensive Olympiad preparation. Although she ranked among the country's strongest contestants, she did not join the national training squad and instead entered Tsinghua University through the gaokao, eventually studying electronic engineering.

Tang believes competitions and the gaokao develop different abilities. Olympiad problems reward deep exploration, creativity and persistence.

"You may spend four and a half hours solving just three questions, and even that is not always enough. The gaokao national college entrance exam, by contrast, demands broad knowledge, speed and consistency across multiple subjects," she said.

Despite her achievements, Tang chose not to pursue pure mathematics at university. She was attracted by the growth of technology-related fields and said electronic engineering offers a practical way for her mathematical background to be useful.

"Many mathematics graduates eventually move into areas such as finance, quantitative trading and education rather than pure research. I don't think I'd likely be able to stick with pure math forever," she said.

As technology-driven industries expand, mathematical thinking is becoming increasingly important beyond academic research.

The World Economic Forum's Future of Jobs Report 2025 identified analytical thinking as the most sought-after core skill among employers, with artificial intelligence and big data among the fastest-growing areas.

Mat Tang is vice-president of a Beijing-based game studio and oversees game development and product design.

But the 2008 Fudan University mathematics graduate did not enter gaming right away. He briefly worked in risk control at a State-owned bank before moving into game development, inspired by a mathematics alumnus in the industry.

"I was fascinated by the way he described game development. I enjoyed playing games myself, and creating virtual worlds through design and technology sounded exciting," said Mat.

In the early stage of his career, Mat focused on game systems and numerical design, building mathematical models for combat systems, in-game economies, and player progression.

"Game development teams were smaller and less specialized at that time. As a mathematics graduate, I was often responsible for anything related to numbers and formulas," he said.

His work involved translating gameplay rules into mathematical models, adjusting parameters and using programming tools to test different scenarios.

For Mat, the lasting value of mathematics lies less in specific formulas than in the way it trains people to approach problems.

"When dealing with complicated problems, it pushes you to make your assumptions clear and explain why a conclusion follows," he said.

"Mathematics research and competitions are paths that only a small number of people pursue. For most people, the value of mathematics lies in applying it to real problems, developing the ability to keep learning and understanding the patterns behind the world," he said.

Beyond medals

Yuan Yuan's 14-year-old son is in a science-track class at a leading secondary school in Shanghai. He began learning mathematics outside school in kindergarten and later performed strongly in competitions.

"At that time, I saw mathematics mainly as a way to help him enter better schools," said 40-year-old Yuan. "Medals, rankings and admission opportunities become visible indicators. It is easy for parents to equate being good at mathematics with winning competitions," she said.

But her perspective changed after her son entered the science-track class, surrounded by many highly capable students. "He realized that being good at math in his previous environment did not necessarily mean standing out here," said Yuan.

For Yuan's son, the transition was challenging. "A lot of the time, he could solve a problem only in the exact way he had learned it. Once the question changed slightly, he struggled to adapt," said Yuan.

His academic scores fluctuated, and his confidence was affected. "The boy who used to sit with a hard problem for an hour or two and light up when he cracked it stopped wanting to think that deeply, because the schoolwork just kept piling up," said Yuan, adding he started to question whether he was actually good at math.

As his school adjusted its competition program, his participation in competitions ended, and he now focuses more on broader math learning.

Yuan's experience reflects a broader debate among Chinese families over how early and seriously children should pursue mathematics.

The tutoring industry itself was reshaped in 2021, when the "double reduction" policy restricted for-profit, curriculum-based tutoring for students from kindergarten through ninth grade.

For more than a decade, Yan Lingling has observed changes in the education landscape, first as a math teacher at TAL Education Group and later as the founder of Factorial Excellence Training. One major shift she has witnessed is that families are beginning to plan mathematics education earlier than before.

"When I first entered the industry, most families started planning mathematics learning around Grade 1. Now some begin as early as kindergarten," said Yan.

Many parents judge mathematical potential through indicators, such as high exam scores, quick classroom responses or strong academic performances. But these signs do not always show whether a child can understand concepts deeply or solve problems independently, Yan said.

"If we look at future potential for advanced mathematics learning, early signs may include strong number sense and quick mathematical thinking. But as children grow, it is equally important to see whether they can understand concepts, solve problems independently and develop good learning habits," said Yan.

Beyond speed and immediate results, persistence also plays an important role.

Yan has also changed her view of how mathematical potential should be judged. Institutions often assess children by whether they have developed certain knowledge systems and problem-solving approaches. However, such assessments may also place children with fewer early learning opportunities at a disadvantage. A child who scores 70 or 80 in primary school mathematics, she said, may not lack ability, but may simply have had fewer opportunities for early guidance.

Parents' attitudes are also changing. "More families are becoming calmer. They are no longer simply pushing children to compete but are trying to match learning resources with their children's abilities," said Yan.

For parents whose children show no immediate strength in mathematics, Yan advises focusing on long-term development.

"Start with learning habits, take things step by step, provide resources that match the child's ability, and take a long-term view rather than expecting immediate results," she said.

Balanced approach

Xu Lu, an associate professor of probability theory and mathematical physics at the Gran Sasso Science Institute in Italy, experienced several educational pathways of Chinese mathematics.

He underwent competition training at No 2 High School of East China Normal University and studied mathematics at Peking University, followed by doctoral studies at the University of Tokyo and postdoctoral research at Paris Dauphine University.

Xu sees mathematics more as a way of understanding the world than a path to academic recognition. "Starting from a limited set of conditions and arriving at a definite conclusion through logical reasoning is deeply rewarding."

Encouraged by his parents and teachers as a young student, he explored increasingly challenging problems beyond regular coursework.

Like many competition students, Xu once hoped to enter Peking University through a recommended admissions pathway, but eventually made it through the gaokao. The experience taught him that goals and pathways are not always the same.

"The biggest difference is the nature of the task. Competition problems are carefully designed, with clear conditions and goals, while research is a much more open-ended process," said Xu.

Researchers must first consider whether a question is meaningful and worth pursuing, he said. "Sometimes the problem itself is not clearly defined, and the direction needs to be adjusted along the way," he said.

Xu believes aptitude for the subject should not be limited to ultimately becoming a mathematician. "Using mathematical methods to solve practical problems, building models, analyzing data and applying mathematics to other fields are also forms of mathematical ability," said Xu.

Competitions cannot measure qualities such as identifying meaningful questions, discovering new directions and remaining patient through uncertainty. "Whether someone is suitable for mathematical research cannot be judged only by competition results," he said.

ALSO READ: Chinese mathematicians Deng Yu, Wang Hong share prestigious Fields Medal

While awards such as the Fields Medal represent some of the most visible achievements, Xu sees them as only one part of mathematical achievement.

"Breakthroughs and top awards are important, but they do not represent all forms of success. Developing useful theories, proposing meaningful questions, explaining existing ideas from new perspectives and helping the growth of future generations are also valuable contributions," said Xu.

He believes mathematical training makes people pay more attention to evidence, question assumptions and consider whether a conclusion truly follows from its conditions.

"Whether someone is suited to mathematics should never be treated as a one-time judgment. A person who continues exploring questions, adjusts their thinking over time and gains genuine satisfaction from the process is often the one who can go further," said Xu.

Contact the writer at sunnyu923@163.com