Wang Yuan
Encyclopedia
Wang Yuan (born 1930), or Yuan Wang, an academician of Chinese Academy of Science, is a renowned Chinese
mathematician
, educator and popular science writer. He is a former president of the Chinese Mathematical Society, and the head of the Institute of Mathematics, Chinese Academy of Sciences.
(or Lanhsi) County, Jinhua
, Zhejiang Province. His father was a magistrate in the local government. Because of the Japanese invasion (the Second Sino-Japanese War
), Wang's family had to move away from Zhejiang Province, and finally arrived at the southeast city Kunming
in Guizhou Province in 1938. 1942, Wang's father rose to the position of Chief Secretary of the Academia Sinica
. 1946 after the Japanese surrender, his family moved to the capital city, Nanjing
.
Wang entered Yingshi University (later merged into National Chekiang University
) (Zhejiang University
) in Hangzhou
, and graduated from the Department of Mathematics, Zhejiang University in 1952. He then earned a position in the Institute of Mathematics, Academia Sinica. Hua Loo Keng (or Hua luogeng
) is considered as his main academic advisor and one of his closest collaborators. 1946-1949, he was the Acting Director of the institute. Wang also studied in the USA for a period of time.
1966, Wang's career was interrupted by the Cultural Revolution
. He was unable to work for more than five years, until 1972. During this time, Wang was harassed and put through interrogation.
1978, Wang was back to his professorship, in the Institute of Mathematics, Chinese Academy of Science. 1980, he was elected to be an academician of Chinese Academy of Science. 1988-1992, he was the president of the Chinese Mathematical Society
.
, especially in the Goldbach Conjecture. Sieve methods and circle methods are often applied by him. He obtained a series of important results in the field of number theory.
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
mathematician
Mathematician
A mathematician is a person whose primary area of study is the field of mathematics. Mathematicians are concerned with quantity, structure, space, and change....
, educator and popular science writer. He is a former president of the Chinese Mathematical Society, and the head of the Institute of Mathematics, Chinese Academy of Sciences.
Life
Wang was born in LanxiLanxi
Lanxi may refer to the following locations in China:*Lanxi, Zhejiang , county-level city of Jinhua, Zhejiang*Lanxi County , of Suihua, Heilongjiang**Lanxi Town , town in and county seat of Lanxi County...
(or Lanhsi) County, Jinhua
Jinhua
Jinhua is a prefecture-level city in central Zhejiang province of Eastern China. It borders the provincial capital of Hangzhou to the northwest, Quzhou to the southwest, Lishui to the south, Taizhou to the east, and Shaoxing to the northeast....
, Zhejiang Province. His father was a magistrate in the local government. Because of the Japanese invasion (the Second Sino-Japanese War
Second Sino-Japanese War
The Second Sino-Japanese War was a military conflict fought primarily between the Republic of China and the Empire of Japan. From 1937 to 1941, China fought Japan with some economic help from Germany , the Soviet Union and the United States...
), Wang's family had to move away from Zhejiang Province, and finally arrived at the southeast city Kunming
Kunming
' is the capital and largest city of Yunnan Province in Southwest China. It was known as Yunnan-Fou until the 1920s. A prefecture-level city, it is the political, economic, communications and cultural centre of Yunnan, and is the seat of the provincial government...
in Guizhou Province in 1938. 1942, Wang's father rose to the position of Chief Secretary of the Academia Sinica
Academia Sinica
The Academia Sinica , headquartered in the Nangang District of Taipei, is the national academy of Taiwan. It supports research activities in a wide variety of disciplines, ranging from mathematical and physical sciences, to life sciences, and to humanities and social sciences.Academia Sinica has...
. 1946 after the Japanese surrender, his family moved to the capital city, Nanjing
Nanjing
' is the capital of Jiangsu province in China and has a prominent place in Chinese history and culture, having been the capital of China on several occasions...
.
Wang entered Yingshi University (later merged into National Chekiang University
Zhejiang University
Zhejiang University , sometimes referred to as Zheda, is a national university in China. Founded in 1897, Zhejiang University is one of China's oldest institutions of higher education...
) (Zhejiang University
Zhejiang University
Zhejiang University , sometimes referred to as Zheda, is a national university in China. Founded in 1897, Zhejiang University is one of China's oldest institutions of higher education...
) in Hangzhou
Hangzhou
Hangzhou , formerly transliterated as Hangchow, is the capital and largest city of Zhejiang Province in Eastern China. Governed as a sub-provincial city, and as of 2010, its entire administrative division or prefecture had a registered population of 8.7 million people...
, and graduated from the Department of Mathematics, Zhejiang University in 1952. He then earned a position in the Institute of Mathematics, Academia Sinica. Hua Loo Keng (or Hua luogeng
Hua Luogeng
Hua Luogeng was a Chinese mathematician born in Jintan, Jiangsu. He was the founder and pioneer in many fields in mathematical research. He wrote more than 200 papers and monographs, many of which became classics. Since his sudden death while delivering a lecture at the University of Tokyo, Japan,...
) is considered as his main academic advisor and one of his closest collaborators. 1946-1949, he was the Acting Director of the institute. Wang also studied in the USA for a period of time.
1966, Wang's career was interrupted by the Cultural Revolution
Cultural Revolution
The Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution, commonly known as the Cultural Revolution , was a socio-political movement that took place in the People's Republic of China from 1966 through 1976...
. He was unable to work for more than five years, until 1972. During this time, Wang was harassed and put through interrogation.
1978, Wang was back to his professorship, in the Institute of Mathematics, Chinese Academy of Science. 1980, he was elected to be an academician of Chinese Academy of Science. 1988-1992, he was the president of the Chinese Mathematical Society
Chinese Mathematical Society
The Chinese Mathematical Society is an academic organization for Chinese mathematicians. It is a member of China Association of Science and Technology.-History:...
.
Research
Wang's study focuses on the area of number theoryNumber theory
Number theory is a branch of pure mathematics devoted primarily to the study of the integers. Number theorists study prime numbers as well...
, especially in the Goldbach Conjecture. Sieve methods and circle methods are often applied by him. He obtained a series of important results in the field of number theory.
External links
- Wang Yuan biography
- Brief Introduction of CMS (Center of Mathematical Sciences)
- Yuan Wang's Home Page, Goldbach Conjecture with photos
- Wang Yuan, from the website of Chinese Academy of Science {[zh icon}}
- Wng Yuan's story, from Sina.com