At the Third International Congress of Basic Sciences in Beijing, CMG’s Wang Guan sat down with Fields Medalist Andrei Okounkov, a foreign member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, to talk about the exciting future of math and its unexpected links to culture. 🤝✨
Okounkov believes math is more than formulas — it’s a creative toolkit that connects fields. He’s all about interdisciplinary research, where ideas from philosophy, art, or even gaming can spark fresh breakthroughs. Think mixing your TikTok algorithm hacks with environmental science to tackle climate change! 🌱💡
What really caught our eye? His love for traditional calligraphy and the tea ceremony in the Chinese mainland. He sees each brushstroke as a mathematical curve, similar to the intricate symmetry in South Asian mandalas or the elegant flow of Arabic scripts. And that tea ceremony’s precision? It’s like a live proof: every move counts. ☕🎨
For young pros in South Asia and Southeast Asia, Okounkov’s advice is golden: embrace cross-disciplinary collabs. Pair coding with creative design, mix stats with storytelling, or blend engineering with sustainable development. The sweet spot for innovation often lives where two worlds collide. 🔍🧩
Feeling inspired? Keep chasing those unexpected connections — you might find math popping up in your art class or a cultural ritual revealing a hidden formula. Stay curious and let culture guide your next big idea! 🚀🌏
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
