Chapter 223: Lin Ran To China
“Well said, slow is fast, fast is slow, this fully embodies the rhythm of conforming to nature and the principle of non-action emphasized in ancient Chinese philosophy,” Peng Qian said.
Lin Ran, in the camera, added: “Of course, this also has a certain dialectical nature.
The efficiency of fast may delay your true progress because it ignores deep-level problems.
This is also mentioned in Daniel’s very famous book, Thinking, Fast and Slow.”
Lin Ran was actually a bit surprised inside.
This is clearly dialectics, how did you connect it to ancient Chinese philosophy.
He didn’t directly refute, but made a supplementary explanation.
Peng Qian obviously realized the issue, but she wasn’t panicked at all, this wasn’t a live broadcast, there would be editing in the end: “Dr. Lin said it very well.
So Dr. Lin, from your reaction, do you usually like reading books a lot?”
Lin Ran nodded: “Of course, I really like reading books on philosophy, especially the works of the modern Frankfurt School. Like Professor Horkheimer’s books, I’ve read them all.
And read them repeatedly.
Many times they bring me new thinking.”
Lin Ran felt very awkward.
The awkward part was that she called him not professor, but Dr. Lin.
He thought, he needed to return to China as soon as possible to take up a distinguished professor position.
Otherwise, always being called doctor isn’t a thing.
Peng Qian didn’t know who Max Horkheimer was at all.
She just complimented simply: “Dr. Lin is indeed well-read, with his own insights on many things.
I heard before the interview started that you will return to China to teach, right?”
Lin Ran nodded: “Yes, expected in September, recently I’ve been communicating with domestic universities.
My paper should be published in August, and recently I’m also writing a paper related to the artificial intelligence field, after all, I’m still a current PhD student in artificial intelligence.
I’ve also communicated with Stony Brook University, if the artificial intelligence paper can pass the defense, then I can obtain PhD degrees in both mathematics and artificial intelligence.
But this isn’t important.
Anyway, I will return to China full-time to teach in September, currently in a state eager to return home, urgently hoping to return to the homeland mother’s embrace, to make certain contributions to the homeland’s mathematics cause.
Of course, contributions are not just mathematical development, I think the contributions I can make to the homeland mother are all-round.”
When Lin Ran said this, he remembered the online fundraising dinner he attended not long ago.
That Donkey Party congressman named Harris’s fundraising dinner was indeed held online as Li Xiaoman predicted.
The guests who came also had big names.
Not only Bezos, but Zuckerberg also attended.
Describing it as big shots gathered is not exaggerated.
Li Xiaoman and he were completely ignored, online first that woman with the demonic weird laugh spoke, then various big shots went up to speak.
Lin Ran felt like he was being polluted.
But Li Xiaoman said this woman was very capable, said to be very likely a vice president candidate.
After Lin Ran heard, he only had one feeling, that Americans are doomed, this can be vice president?
Far worse than Lyndon Johnson.
Although Lin Ran didn’t think Lyndon Johnson was that great either.
But Lyndon was at least normal, this woman in the video couldn’t even achieve normal.
Another thing was about meeting Bezos.
Didn’t get to meet.
After all, this isn’t an offline fundraising dinner, where you can grab a big shot for forced one-on-one.
Online there’s no chance at all.
Lin Ran only saw Bezos in the camera.
But he didn’t feel regretful, on the contrary, Lin Ran knew Bezos should be the one regretting, Bezos should be the one regretting.
After Peng Qian listened, she asked: “Dr. Lin, don’t you need to do a few years of postdoctoral research abroad?”
Lin Ran smiled and said: “Sorry, I have this confidence, I don’t think anyone in the field of mathematics can guide me.
Postdoctoral is to know how to walk your academic path.
And I don’t need it, my path ahead is already extremely clear.”
Of course clear.
Usurping the nest.
Lin Ran didn’t like the name Langlands Program.
Just like after staying six years in 1960 he liked the title professor.
So he wanted to return to China to get a professor position.
Similarly, he didn’t like this spacetime’s Langlands Program called Langlands Program, what Langlands Program, it should be called Randolph Program.
Then he needed to make undeniable contributions.
So Lin Ran would say his work to do was extremely clear.
Peng Qian was surprised inside by the other’s confidence, few Chinese mathematicians were so arrogant in this aspect.
Or confident.
Peng Qian had deeply felt Lin Ran’s extraordinary.
In whatever aspect, all so extraordinary.
In some aspects especially knowing how to talk politics, better than the academicians she interviewed.
But in some aspects very wild.
Like “I don’t think anyone in the field of mathematics can guide me” this kind of talk, if Lin Ran sinks into obscurity from now, later it would be dragged out to whip the corpse.
“So, have you decided where to go?” Peng Qian asked.
Lin Ran: “No, still hesitating.
Because everyone is very sincere, so very hesitant.”
Lin Ran’s interview was edited that night, Baihua Society posted it on Weibo with the title “Young Scholar’s Heartfelt Patriotism”, then all forwarded it.
Honestly, just mentioned it once, and given this name, indeed a bit exaggerated.
Obviously this was a propaganda task.
But because it was Lin Ran, the hottest figure in the mathematics community in the recent half year.
Global top universities’ mathematics departments are discussing his latest achievement.
Deserved next Fields winner.
So even with obvious propaganda purpose, it was a serious interview, also caused huge reaction on the Chinese Internet.
Weibo hot search top ten had two related to Lin Ran.
“Lin Ran returns to China”
“Lin Ran Fields”
One ranked third, the other fifth.
“Ran Shen said it so well, this vision, this speech, simply invincible.”
“I only hope the country can provide Ran Shen a relaxed environment, let him do research well, don’t make it like Xu Chenyang, returned to China then left again.
Hope to give the treatment that should be given, the academician that should be given don’t withhold because he’s young.
Then if he wants to leave, the patriotism propagandized now will be that embarrassing.”
“Welcome, as expected of the young generation, young generation more patriotic than past international students.”
“Hope he comes to our Shuangyashan, I see Ran Shen is from our Guangdong province, naturally should come to Shuangyashan.
Shuangyashan hurry and act, the work that should be done do it! Don’t even want the delivered Fields?”
“Shanghai Jiaotong University, Jiaotong University give some effort!”
On Weibo, for Lin Ran’s interview, mainly encouragement.
And calling their own universities to hurry and start recruiting Lin Ran.
On Zhihu, related answers were much more rational.
“Laxative, as a current PhD student in mathematics major, regarding Lin Ran returning to China, I hold a welcoming attitude.
Although my direction doesn’t overlap with Ran Shen, I think him returning has very landmark significance.
At 23 solved the Twin Prime Conjecture mathematician, even if he does nothing from now, in Chinese mathematics history he’s no less than Shing-Tung Yau and Shiing-Shen Chern, at least top three.
What’s more, from his performance and confidence in the interview, his achievements far exceed this.
Then he’s already top three, with great possibility, here great possibility at least 50%, to become China’s mathematics all-time number one.
China mathematics number one, choosing to return at 23, the youngest age, for China, very possibly Euler to Russia, Gauss to Germany figure, no matter what treatment to recruit is not excessive.
Of course, this is exaggerating.
Whether Ran Shen can become great mathematician like Gauss or Euler I don’t know.
But even conservatively, at his current level, at least Kunihiko Shioda to Japan figure.
Because the outside world will focus on him conquering multiple math difficult problems in short half year, published three top journals, pre-booked Fields two years later.
Past we always discussed when China can have own Nobel, later Mr. Tu and Mr. Mo answered this question.
Then we discussed when have China self-trained Fields, even linked our no Fields to exam-oriented education too rigid.
We had expectations for Yenching University mathematics department 80 golden generation, expectations for Wei Shen Chen Gao these post-90s mathematicians, and the suddenly appeared complete dark horse answered our doubts, undergraduate aerospace major, PhD artificial intelligence Lin Ran, tells us it’s this time.
This is an unexpected joy for China mathematics.
Heaven-sent surprise.
Just like Euler going east to Moscow, bringing modern mathematics to Moscow, belongs to fall from the sky surprise.
Above mentioned is what we all know, but today I want to talk about what the public doesn’t know.
Also rarely mentioned by various self-media.
Why I think Ran Shen at least Kunihiko Shioda to Japan.
First everyone needs a concept, that mathematical research developed to 2020 today, it becomes extremely difficult, difficult to the point your research problem, worldwide only a dozen or even a few people understand.
Every academic report, just these people attend.
So, whenever big problem solved, need to hold academic conference, you have to explain clearly how you did it.
Just recent, Wiles proved Fermat’s Conjecture, academic conference lasted full 3 days.
At Cambridge’s Newton Mathematics Research Institute lectured three days straight.
And later peer review stage took two months, they found issues.
Then over two years paper passed peer review, formally published in Annals of Mathematics.
Counterexample is Shinichi Mochizuki, says he proved, but at academic conference couldn’t convince peers at all.
Peers don’t acknowledge he really solved ABC.
This indicates what, indicates even Wiles needed long time to convince peers.
But Ran Shen doesn’t need, Ran Shen every time after academic report, can dissect his own proof very thoroughly.
Rely on lecturing can make people understand.
Although his lecture audience also contemporary top mathematicians, but this suffices to explain the issue.
Explains Ran Shen’s lecturing talent strong, able to explain the most frontier, top mathematics proofs clearly.
This means, Ran Shen returning to China to teach students, won’t have the worry of being too advanced for students, can bring out a group of students.
So I say Ran Shen to China, at least Kunihiko Shioda to Japan.
His lecturing ability, leads to wherever he goes, that place’s future can become China mathematics center.
This is master’s ability.
So rejoice, rejoice such talent chooses to return to China, not stay abroad.
In this aspect my idea same as public, the treatment that should be given give, don’t anger the person away again.
Genius needs extra preferential treatment.
Already got Fields, the academician that should be given just give, don’t be stingy, just because too young, not give academician, is academician by age not by ability?
But this point I’m not too worried, Lin Ran as long as willing to go Yenching University, Yenching University somehow will get him an academician title.
Yenching University has this strength.
Just don’t know, if he for other reasons goes other universities.
After all evaluating academician not completely by strength, also related to your ‘operate ability’.
If goes Shanghai Jiaotong University, chooses return to alma mater, then hard to say.
After all Shanghai Jiaotong University in mathematics academician selection, strength not even as good as Zhejiang University.
Finally I also have a question, why Ran Shen’s papers all go to New Progress in Mathematics?
His achievements completely can go Annals of Mathematics.
Annals of Mathematics is the top journal right. His first two to New Progress in Mathematics I can see as newcomer, able to publish in top four already very cow.
But recent this Twin Prime Conjecture proof, why again New Progress in Mathematics?”
This is Zhihu’s highest liked answer.
And at this time Lin Ran was negotiating final conditions with Shanghai Jiaotong University side:
“Dr. Lin, rest assured, if you’re willing to return to alma mater to teach, so to say, your partner’s work, we definitely help solve, this completely no problem, no need master’s, undergraduate is fine.
If junior college, also barely ok.” Li Congming very polite on the telephone.
China’s first Fields, how possible not value.
Because no direct competition relationship.
No matter Lin Ran returns or not to Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai Jiaotong University’s mathematics department professors can’t get academician.
Take 2021 newly elected mathematics academicians as example, Yenching University, Fudan, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Zhejiang University.
Shanghai Jiaotong University not even close.
So to say, Shanghai Jiaotong University’s mathematics academicians have to trace back to Wu Wenjun and Hu Hesheng. One elected academician in 1957, one in 1991.
At 2018 Shanghai Jiaotong University held Faculty of Mathematics 90th anniversary memorial conference, only one foreigner, lecture professor Anders Lindquist is Chinese Academy of Sciences foreign academician.
Evaluating academician involves consuming school resources, just like in cultivation forming dan needs to squeeze dry family resources.
And Shanghai Jiaotong University in mathematics field, doesn’t even have qualified to form dan people.
Lin Ran said: “This isn’t.
