Sure enough, just over fifty seconds later, the call went through, and the next mont, Tian Yanzhen’s full and powerful voice reached his ear.
"Xiao Zhu, you finally called back. If you hadn’t called, I was about to ring you myself."
To be honest, this voice made Zhu Zhengze sowhat emotional.
He noticed that since Academician Tian turned seventy, his personality and voice have increasingly resembled that of his forr ntor, Elder Yuan.
Even though the two had a very unpleasant fallout back then, it beca an indelible part of the history of Huaxia mathematics.
After all, it’s rare for mathematicians of this caliber to have quarrels known to ordinary people...
Of course, Elder Yuan said a lot in public.
If it weren’t for Qiao Yu, these two probably wouldn’t have had any contact until this day.
Feeling emotional inside, Zhu Zhengze quickly explained: "I saw your email first thing in the morning when I got to work. I’ve been busy researching those formulas, and I just finished with so insights, so I dared to call you back."
"What insights do you have?" The other side imdiately asked.
Zhu Zhengze instinctively gave a wry smile: "Too many thoughts! I just can’t fathom how Academician Qiao thought of it.
Such a clever design, I don’t know how to evaluate it. But I am already eager to see Academician Qiao’s related paper.
If Academician Qiao can indeed solve the N-S equations using this thod, it will an not only a significant step towards unification in mathematics but also that the boundaries of mathematics will expand infinitely."
After saying this, Zhu Zhengze paused and tentatively asked: "But this proposition is vast, there should be a lot of work to do. Does Academician Qiao plan to set up a special research group?
To be honest, since I published my last paper, I haven’t figured out a new research direction. If Academician Qiao doesn’t mind, I happen to have ti to lend Academician Qiao a hand..."
If the previous affirmations about Qiao Yu made Tian Yanzhen happy, the last sentence really delighted Old Tian.
One could say that reaching a certain high position makes it hard to hear the truth from people.
After all, human energy is limited, the amount of information you can co into contact with each day is only so much. The higher you stand, the further and broader you can see, but you can’t see the details clearly.
Coupled with having too many things to worry about, in the end, you can only have a trusted team distill the information you need to understand, and just have a general look.
At this level, it’s difficult for the people around to say anything demoralizing to him.
After all, the rules of operation in society at this stage are like this. The views of the superior truly determine the future of the subordinates.
This determines that those who still have aspirations for the future will choose to cater to the likes of the superior.
Without a doubt, Qiao Yu currently holds this status in the mathematics community.
Even though Qiao Yu has declined several invitations to be a reviewer for major world mathematics awards, including the Fields dal, every awards season, the committees evaluating mathematics awards will specifically seek Qiao Yu’s opinion.
And in Huaxia, let’s just say, the entire Academy of Sciences Mathematical and Physical Sciences Division basically follows Qiao Yu’s lead, even though Qiao Yu is generally unwilling to bother with all that nonsense, if he speaks, it definitely carries weight.
This creates a situation where, for many professors and researchers striving upwards in academia, they might not dare to dream of Qiao Yu speaking on their behalf, but they must hope that Qiao Yu doesn’t have a poor impression of them.
In case at so crucial mont in life, like when competing for so award, applying for so project seeking the top position, if Qiao Yu says a word against them, that matter will surely beco derailed.
In such circumstances, it’s naturally difficult to hear the truth.
Especially since most professors who are good at mathematics and can navigate academia smoothly are shrewd individuals.
If they wish, each one can speak more lodiously than singing, but while words can deceive, actions cannot!
Joining a grand project like this implies dedicating years or even over a decade into it.
If results are produced, everyone will be happy. But if not, it ans countless years wasted.
For those with little ability who just want to bask in the shade, wasting over a decade may not matter much.
But with Tian Yanzhen and Elder Yuan’s keen eyes...
Such people only looking to idle ti away wouldn’t even catch their eye, nor would they allow such people the opportunity to get close to Qiao Yu.
Let’s say, even Elder Yuan’s own descendants haven’t had the chance to enter the academic world, because Elder Yuan judged that they simply weren’t fit for it.
So those recomnded and accomplished by the two seniors are still the ones with considerable academic pursuits.
These aspirational individuals surely wouldn’t spend over a decade of pri ti just to coast along with a big shot.
Globally recognized mathematicians typically achieve results between the ages of thirty to fifty. After all, mathematics, unlike engineering, doesn’t benefit as much from experience, which can often be a shackle.
And people after fifty, the brain’s various functions start to degrade rapidly, which indeed makes them unfit for work requiring highly abstract thought.
Take an example: for so ordinary people, choosing a cup of coffee in the afternoon, having a donut, and enjoying a leisurely afternoon tea is just a daily routine.
In their view, a coffee cup and a donut are completely different things.
Functionally, one is a cup, the other is food; in appearance, they are radically different.
But in the eyes of mathematicians, particularly those studying topology, a coffee cup and a donut are essentially the sa thing.
To have this idea, one can understand the very important and famous concept of "hoomorphism" in topology.
First, mathematicians must strip away the physical traits (color, material, size) that ordinary people use for distinction.
Then find the commonality, like both having one hole.
The donut’s hole is in the center, while the coffee cup’s is in the handle.
Next is symbolic representation, using the concept of deficiency in algebraic topology to classify holes; undoubtedly, both have a deficiency of 1.
Then you can use Euler’s characteristic formula to prove that both have the sa topological properties.
This has a specific term called concept distillation, which uses this thod to directly abstract three-dinsional objects into two-dinsional surfaces and transform seemingly unrelated things into computable mathematical models.
As for what this is useful for?
It’s quite useful. From small applications like network connectivity analysis, pore structure research in material sciences, to large ones like machine learning applications for data manifolds and topological conjectures of the universe’s shape...
All require this mode of topological thinking.
To enable machines to comprehend and express accurately the information humans see and hear is inherently an abstract task.
Only this mode of abstract thinking can possibly turn all this into reality.
There’s a saying in Huaxia, that people can’t imagine things they have never seen.
But this phrase doesn’t apply to young and vigorous mathematicians.
Their brains can truly abstract many things that ordinary people cannot even imagine. It is precisely because of this originality that continuous advancents in mathematics are propelled.
This abstract thinking mode is evidently too difficult for elder gentlen over fifty.
Hence, most scholars after reaching a certain age will ntor students and lead teams rather than engage in the frontline of scientific research personally.
Of course, perhaps in most cases, even if the team achieves results, the first author on the paper is still these scholars, but let’s put it this way, the rich experience of encountering setbacks helps the young team mbers avoid detours, which is also a trendous contribution.
Not to ntion that securing project funding relies entirely on the recognition of these big figures.
This is beyond reproach. Such are the operating rules of this world.
Anyone would prefer to believe those who have had past successes rather than those who remain obscure without any honorable achievents proving their capability.
So action always speaks louder than words!
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