Over the past few days, almost all of the hotels near Jin Ling University were fully booked.
Not because of Valentine's Day or Christmas, but because of the large number of foreign scholars.
For three days, other than eating and sleeping, Lu Zhou didn't go anywhere. He stayed in the temporary gymnasium lecture hall, answering questions from other scholars about the Grand Unified Theory.
He also asked some questions about Lu Zhou's standard conjectures.
In fact, facing this situation, Deligne didn't know which side he should be surprised for.
Even though when he first read Lu Zhou's Grand Unified Theory thesis, he had a feeling that Lu Zhou's standard conjectures were only one step away from being solved, he didn't expect this day to come so soon.
In fact, he wasn't even prepared for it.
Lu Zhou stood on stage at the report. He only used two hours to completely solve this century-old conjecture.
Jin Ling University campus.
After eating dinner in the cafeteria, the two old men walked along the tree-lined path leading to the observatory.
Professor Sarnak, who was walking next to him, suddenly spoke.
"Only troubled the mathematics world for half a century … Isn't that a bit embarrassing?"
Deligné shook his head and spoke.
"No … That person is an exception. I think all problems solved by him should be discussed separately."
After all, Lu Zhou's standard conjectures had guided the development of algebraic geometry for half a century. Even though it was a bit too "fast", this didn't prevent it from making a contribution to the development of algebraic geometry.
Professor Sarnak smiled bitterly and spoke.
"Makes sense."
At this point, due to different reasons, the two of them fell silent at the same time. Deligné was thinking about the future of the Bourbaki Group of Thought, while Sarnak was thinking about the future of Princeton.
Even though he didn't want to admit it, the center of the mathematics world had shifted. Ever since the establishment of the Future journal series, this trend had become even more obvious.
Professor Sarnak continued to walk along the path for a while before he suddenly spoke.
"I dare say that in ten years, this place will definitely become the center of mathematics in the world."
Upon hearing this, Deligne glanced at him and asked point-blank.
"Do you need ten years?"
Professor Sarnak had an awkward expression on his face. He coughed and spoke.
"… It should still be necessary. The cultivation of a scholar is a long process, and stabilizing the position of a school of thought requires the efforts of countless generations of scholars. Ten years is just a conservative estimate. It might take twenty years or even longer. "
Professor Deligne smiled noncommittally.
Theoretically, that was true.
But I'm afraid he missed one point.
The man was less than thirty years old.
Strictly speaking, the twenty years from thirty to fifty were the true golden years of a scholar's academic career. Ten or twenty years was indeed a relatively conservative estimate, but that was only for general situations.
It didn't apply to him.
As the birthplace of the Grand Unified Theory, as long as someone wanted to spread this discipline, at least in the field of algebraic geometry, the scholars that came from here would forever be at the forefront of the world.
Although the two of them had a certain dispute on the time of the arrival of this day, they reached a consensus on the latter matter.
After thinking for a while, Professor Sarnak suddenly spoke.
"We can discuss with them and exchange a group of students every year."
Professor Deligné raised his eyebrows and said, "A joint training program?"
"Yeah …" Professor Sarnak looked at the undergraduates walking on the tree-lined path and couldn't help but have an envious look on his face. He said, "They're enjoying Professor Lu all to themselves. I'm so jealous."
Professor Deligné seemed to think that what Sarnak said made sense. After thinking for a moment, he nodded.
"I'll go back and talk to the principal."
On the other hand, at the Jin Ling University mathematics department dean's office.
Dean Qin, who was sitting behind his desk, stood up with a smile on his face. He reached out his hand and greeted Old Tang with a smile.
"Old Tang, what brings you here? Please have a seat. Come, let's shake hands."
"Okay, since when are you so polite to me!" Tang Zhiwei pushed his hand away and smiled. He walked to the sofa and sat down. He said, "You look like you've been doing well recently. Did you win the lottery?"
"What lottery? I've been so busy lately." Dean Qin also sat on the sofa and said with a smile, "Do you think I'm doing well? I've lost a few pounds, okay? "
"Oh, I don't think so."
After Lu Zhou returned to Jin Ling University to teach, Old Tang retired from his teaching position. Over the past few years, he basically went to the park in the morning to practice tai chi, and in the afternoon, he sat in the yard playing chess and fishing with other retired old men.
As for mathematics, other than occasionally paying attention to the latest trends, he hadn't been involved in academic matters for a long time.
After all, at his age, it was thanks to his identity as a mathematician that he was able to remain clear-headed.
However, even though Old Tang was just an ordinary professor before his retirement, Dean Qin didn't dare to disrespect him.
Not only because of their personal relationship, but also because he used to teach Academician Lu. Dean Qin had heard that Academician Lu would visit Old Tang every Chinese New Year with gifts.
With Academician Lu's status in China's academic community, even the leaders of the Ministry of Education would treat him with respect, let alone a dean like him.
Of course, Old Tang didn't put on any airs. Instead, he just chatted with Dean Qin about some trivial things.
While Dean Qin was wondering why Old Tang was visiting him, Old Tang picked up the teapot and poured himself another cup of tea. He then suddenly changed the topic.
He then suddenly said, "Old Qin, speaking of which, Jin Ling University has been quite lively lately."
Dean Qin paused for a second and smiled. "It's quite lively. Otherwise, I wouldn't be so busy."
Old Tang smiled and said, "Oh? Then I have to thank you, you're so busy, yet you still have time to chat with an old man like me. "
Dean Qin: "Not at all, you're already an old man, aren't I going to be one soon as well?"
Old Tang: "Of course not. You think you can hide from me? "
Dean Qin smiled and didn't say anything.
He felt like Old Tang was going to say something, so he let Old Tang talk.
Old Tang picked up the teacup and took a sip. After pausing for a moment, he spoke in an emotional tone.
"I recently downloaded the Grand Unified Theory of algebraic geometry thesis and read it. I'm ashamed to say that I've only left my position for less than five years, but I'm already starting to forget about it."
Dean Qin: "Learning is like rowing a boat against the current, it's normal to not advance."
"Yeah." Old Tang sighed softly and paused. He continued, "One day, people like us will grow old. In fact … this day has already arrived."
Dean Qin was a little confused.
"Old Tang, just say what you want to say. If you keep talking in riddles with me, I might not be able to figure it out …"
Professor Tang put down the teacup and said solemnly, "I want to ask you something."
Dean Qin paused for a second.
As far as he could remember, this was the first time that Old Tang had asked him for a favor in such a serious tone.
"… What?"
"Have you heard of Principia Mathematica?"
Dean Qin: "Of course I've heard of it, you're being ridiculous."
As the most famous work of the Bourbaki Group, Principia Mathematica was co-authored by Weil, Didonne, Cartan, Xue Huali, and many other scholars. It had a total of 40 volumes, and it was published in the 1930s. Apparently, it was still being updated.
Even if one wasn't in the field of algebraic geometry, as long as one was a mathematician, there was no way they wouldn't have heard of this famous book that was second only to Euclid's Elements of Geometry.
"I'm not being ridiculous, you misunderstood me." Professor Tang waved his hand and said, "A while ago, when I was bored, I flipped through the history of mathematics. I found out that the origin of the Bourbaki Group is inseparable from Principia Mathematica."
The word Bourbaki was the pseudonym of the author of Principia Mathematica, which referred to a group of mathematical structuralists composed of French mathematicians.
It could be said that the book "Principia of Mathematics" had existed since the Göttingen School of Mathematics until today. It was the mainstream school of European mathematics.
"… The birth of the Bourbaki Group is inseparable from the origin of Principia Mathematica. We can learn a lot from their development process.
"Knowledge isn't just about creation, it's also about inheritance.
"Right now, the world of mathematics is standing at the crossroads of the future. Everything in the future is a new world that no one has ever seen. I propose that we organize a group of scholars with potential to compile a book on the Grand Unified Theory of algebraic geometry and its future development. Then, we can continue to pass it on. "
Just like Principia Mathematica of the Bourbaki Group.
Dean Qin obviously understood Professor Tang's idea, but he was still hesitant.
Even though he had thought about many things over the past few days, including consolidating the influence of this report on the Jin Ling University mathematics department and the future of the Jin Ling University mathematics department, he had never thought about something as far away as this.
Honestly, he didn't even know how much international influence Jin Ling University had.
Writing a book for the future of the mathematics world …
If it was a good story, it would be fine.
If it wasn't a good story, wouldn't it be a joke?
"… Isn't this a bit too radical?"
"Radical? Which academic isn't radical? How can it be mediocre? " Tang Zhiwei heard Dean Qin's concerns and smiled. "Old Qin, I'm not stupid yet, but you're getting more and more stupid. We're scholars, not government officials. Don't believe in mediocre ideas. "
Old Tang looked at the hesitant expression on his face and spoke earnestly.
"The Jin Ling University mathematics department is no longer as influential as it was in the past. Even Yan University and Aurora University don't dare to underestimate us in terms of international influence. But haven't you realized? Even now, we haven't formed a school of thought.
"What is our focus, what is our strength, and what role do we play in the academic community? I'm afraid you've never thought about these things.
"But it's not your fault, you have your concerns. Many times, we use old methods to solve new problems. Even though it's difficult to achieve big results, we definitely won't make big mistakes.
"But the situation is different now. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! If we don't seize this opportunity, others will. We're not the only ones who don't want to fall behind. Do we have to hand over the knowledge we created to others to help us pass on? "
Old Tang didn't say anything else. He leaned back on the sofa and drank his tea while quietly waiting for Dean Qin's reply.
This time, Dean Qin went silent for a long time.
He waited until the steam on the teacup completely dissipated before he spoke.
"… I'll think about it."
"Don't think about it. The older you get, the more hesitant you are. You weren't like this before." Tang Zhiwei patted his thigh and stood up from the sofa. He said, "I'll talk to Academician Lu."
He had never asked his students for anything in his life.
However, for the future of China's mathematics community, he decided to make an exception.
Not to mention, this was a great thing for Lu Zhou.
Maybe he didn't care about his influence anymore.
But if he didn't seize this opportunity, it would be a shame …
Lamp Pen
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