World laureates sound off in Hainan

Caucher Birkar, 2018 Fields Medal

Caucher Birkar is a mathematician of great originality and depth. His research area of algebraic geometry addresses fundamental questions about the nature of abstract geometric spaces. His work has produced major advances in birational geometry, particularly in a central paradigm known as the Minimal Model Program.

"I don't know the development of basic research in other areas. But in mathematics, China has invested a lot of money in very good centers of mathematics-for example, Tsinghua University, Peking University, the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing and also a center at Fudan University in Shanghai. It's growing very fast I think, and it seems to have a bright future."

"The Chinese government recently issued a regulation to strengthen mathematical science research. It is the right thing to do, because mathematics is the basis of science and technology. Without strong mathematics, it is hard to develop long-term, sustainable science and technology."

"If you want to be successful in technology, you need science, you need to understand physics, chemistry and so on, which also rely on mathematics. Without mathematics, you can't expect to have good science."

"On children's learning, one important thing is not to force children to learn something. Parents can guide them without forcing them. Education should be based on liking, but not based on forcing them to get good grades or get to work."