Prof. Efim Zelmanov gives a lecture titled "Mathematics: Science or Art"

In the afternoon of May 5, a warm atmosphere pervaded Linshui Lecture Hall on Zijingang Campus of Zhejiang University: Professor Efim Zelmanov from the University of California at San Diego, USA, the 1994 Fields Medalist, delivered a public lecture titled “Mathematics: Science or Art” to over 400 students majored in mathematics and others. Before the start of the lecture, Professor Bao Gang, Dean of the School of Mathematical Sciences of Zhejiang University, and Professor Li Jianshu, Dean of the Mathematical Institute for Advanced Study, made a welcoming speech. Additionally, faculty representatives including Professor Wen Jiwei (Secretary of the Party committee), Professor Sheng Weimin (Deputy Dean of the School of Mathematical Sciences), Yao Chen (Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee) and Professor Cai Tianxin also attended the lecture.

Following a warm applause, Professor Zelmanov began the lecture with the history of proofs in mathematics and discussed the beauty of them. He especially reviewed the history of polynomial root-finding and emphasized the aesthetics of symmetryin Galois Theory. Professor Zelmanov then introduced the concept of finite fields, and enumerated their extensive application in cryptology, graph theory and etc. These lucid explanations enlightened the attendees as to the extensive application of mathematical theories.

In the lecture, Professor Zelmanov also emphasized the cornerstone status of pure mathematics and clarified some common misconceptions about pure mathematics. He made an analogy between mathematics and a planet. Each part of it is interdependent and closely related to each other. Pure mathematics is like air: Although we cannot see it nor smell it, it is integral to the propagation and prosperity of planet.

After the presentation, a Q&A session ensued in which enthusiastic undergraduate and graduate interacted with the world’s leading mathematician. They not only told Professor Zelmanov about the confusion they had met in study and asked for advice, but also asked questions like How to establish interest in mathematics after class, Whether talent is need in learning mathematics？,How to see the lack of rigorous mathematical foundation by machine learning？and so on. After the Q&A, many students remained surrounding Professor Zelmanov and they engaged in passionate discussion for quite some time.

Finally, the lecture was successfully concluded with the audience leaving with a deeper and long-lasting understanding about the beauty and the universal applicability of mathematics, thanks to the vivid and detailed explanation by Professor Zelmanov.