Free Web NovelChapter 594: Chapter 345: The Laboratory is My Home!
"I,"
"Zhao Yi,"
"do not care about money!"
When Zhao Yi told the reporter that he wanted to establish a foundation and invest a million dollars, part of what he expressed was to clarify that he didn’t care about the "Wolf Skyler Prize" award money.
The idea that a million pounds would make him consider working in Country D was rather wishful thinking.
Moreover, the establishment of a foundation is indeed a good idea.
This could be seen as a charitable donation, but more importantly, it would allow him to utilize his influence to do something.
Zhao Yi has always felt that he should do something for the development of mathematics in China. Depending on the level of his status, he should engage in related activities.
He now stands at the pinnacle of mathematics, the champion in the field of analytic number theory, and has also become the most well-known figure in the world of mathematics.
Perhaps, ’one of the’ could be removed.
If it’s about his influence within China, it’s even more significant.
When one reaches this height, it’s not just about conducting research, there is also a need to do something. However, he was not willing to establish a mathematical institution.
First, it’s too troublesome.
Second, it would greatly limit himself.
Establishing a mathematical institution with himself at the center would mean spending a significant amount of energy on mathematical education, and the returns on investment in education are rather low.
Here, ’returns’ refers not to how much money can be made, but to how many talents are cultivated.
Education is work that requires long-term commitment. Even with considerable energy invested, results are not guaranteed. To establish a mathematical institution, considerable influence, and nurturing a large number of talents may take ten, twenty years or even longer.
He is very young.
Compared to investing energy into mathematical education, he would derive much higher returns from conducting research himself.
Establishing a foundation using his influence would be different. What he contributes is only initial funding and his ’not so useful’ influence. Without making any personal effort, he could benefit many young scholars.
Many theoretical mathematicians in China are forced to work in applied mathematics, or in computer science, engineering, etc., due to--
Life!
We must all live!
Mathematicians must first be able to earn money and live normally before they could invest their energy into their research. freёwebnoѵel.com
The academic system in China is not very friendly to theoretical mathematics because it’s hard to produce results in theoretical mathematics. Some talented mathematicians might not yield any outcome for years, or even decades, but they may have the potential to solve significant mathematical problems.
How could they persist during these years, these decades?
Transforming the system in China would be extremely difficult.
Therefore, establishing a dedicated foundation that provides living allowances and grants to young scholars engaged in theoretical mathematics research could potentially facilitate the work of more talented academics in theoretical mathematics.
"Theoretical mathematics is the most basic, fundamental, and important science." freewёbnoνel.com
"Theoretical mathematics is the driving force behind the development of science. Most people know that Western countries attach great importance to theoretical mathematics. They have many excellent mathematicians and a lot of theoretical physicists, with theoretical physics being a branch of mathematics."
"Theory means principles, represents the most fundamental science, and is the underpinning of all things. Only by establishing a firm foundation and allowing all technologies to trace back to their origins will technology be able to develop stably and rapidly."
"I hope to see more young scholars engaged in theoretical research in the future, rather than envisioning mathematicians as elderly professors or scholars..."
Zhao Yi’s description brought laughter from the journalist, but also instilled genuine admiration.
The reporters were not only surprised about Zhao Yi’s establishment of the foundation, but also about him investing the Shaw Prize money which amounted to a million dollars.
It was not a small sum.
To some billionaires, a million dollars may be insignificant. Their assets were calculated in billions. Zhao Yi, however, is just a scientist, a scholar. Despite being about to ascend to the status of an academician, it does not mean he has great wealth.
Zhao Yi, in simple terms, is a pure scholar whose earnings come mainly from completing projects, receiving academic prizes, and regular wages.
Doing the math, it wouldn’t yield much.
The reporters estimated that Zhao Yi still had some money, perhaps around twenty million, or perhaps a little more, but there wasn’t much of a difference.
A billionaire donating a hundred million is not a big deal.
A scholar with assets in the tens of millions, donating a few million Yuan is quite something.
It’s a matter of proportion, as well as the amount of personal wealth.
Moreover, Zhao Yi is just in his early twenties.
Had it been an old professor, it would be understandable for he might have more money than he could possibly spend in his remaining years. For a young man of just over twenty, with many more years to live and the most exciting time ahead of him, to decide to donate such a sum is truly remarkable.
"Zhao Yi, he’s not like ordinary people!"
"Not only is he a genius, he also disregards wealth. He offhandedly donates a million dollars, willing to contribute to the academic development of our country..."
"He is truly great!"
...
Not long after the interview, the news was reported.
Initially, it was just an exclusive interview with Zhao Yi, presented as a text dialogue, and only posted on the official news site, yet it stirred a lot of attention.
