Shing-Tung Yau
Fields Medalist and Professor of Mathematics at Tsinghua University
🌍 American · Born April 4, 1949
About
Shing-Tung Yau is a highly influential Chinese-American mathematician who has made groundbreaking contributions to differential geometry, differential equations, and theoretical physics. Born in Shantou, China, and raised in Hong Kong, Yau moved to the United States for his doctoral studies under Shiing-Shen Chern at the University of California, Berkeley. He is best known for his proof of the Calabi conjecture in 1976, which established the existence of what are now called Calabi-Yau manifolds. These multidimensional spaces form the geometric foundation of string theory in modern physics. In recognition of his work, Yau was awarded the Fields Medal in 1982, the highest honor in mathematics. Over his illustrious career, Yau has held prestigious academic positions at institutions including the Institute for Advanced Study, Stanford University, the University of California, San Diego, and Harvard University, where he served as the William Caspar Graustein Professor of Mathematics. He has also been a driving force in developing mathematical research in China and East Asia, founding several mathematical institutes. In 2022, Yau retired from Harvard and moved to Beijing to lead the Yau Mathematical Sciences Center at Tsinghua University full-time. His numerous other accolades include the National Medal of Science, the Wolf Prize in Mathematics, and the Breakthrough Prize in Mathematics, solidifying his legacy as one of the most prominent mathematicians of the modern era.
Intelligence Summary
PhD from UC Berkeley
Completed his doctoral degree in mathematics under the supervision of Shiing-Shen Chern.
Proof of the Calabi Conjecture
Proved the Calabi conjecture, establishing the existence of Calabi-Yau manifolds, which later became central to string theory.
Awarded the Fields Medal
Received the prestigious Fields Medal for his contributions to differential geometry and partial differential equations.
MacArthur Fellowship
Named a MacArthur Fellow for his creative and groundbreaking contributions to mathematics.
Joined Harvard University
Appointed as a Professor of Mathematics at Harvard University, where he taught for over three decades.
National Medal of Science
Awarded the National Medal of Science by President Bill Clinton for his mathematical achievements.
Wolf Prize in Mathematics
Received the Wolf Prize for his work in geometric analysis that has had a profound impact on geometry and physics.
Joined Tsinghua University Full-time
Retired from Harvard University to become a full-time professor and director of the Yau Mathematical Sciences Center at Tsinghua University.
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All data sourced from verified public references.
Renowned mathematician Shing-Tung Yau joins Tsinghua University full-time
Tsinghua University News
https://www.tsinghua.edu.cn/en/info/1244/11103.htm →