Peking University Alumni Achieve Fields Medal Recognition at ICM 2026

The International Congress of Mathematicians (ICM) 2026 commenced on July 23 in Philadelphia, USA, and it was a significant day for Peking University (PKU). Two of its distinguished alumni, Wang Hong and Deng Yu, were honored with the Fields Medal, one of the highest accolades in mathematics. This achievement marks a historic moment not only for the recipients but also for Peking University, as it celebrates the first time that two graduates from the same cohort—specifically the class of 2007—were awarded this prestigious honor in the same year.

The announcement was made by the International Mathematical Union (IMU), an organization that bestows the Fields Medal every four years to recognize mathematicians under the age of 40 for their significant contributions and the potential for future achievements. Wang Hong and Deng Yu were among the four mathematicians recognized at this year's event.

Wang's recognition is particularly noteworthy as she becomes only the third woman to ever receive the Fields Medal, as well as the first Chinese woman awarded this honor. Her groundbreaking work, particularly in collaboration with Joshua Zahl, led to the proof of the three-dimensional Kakeya conjecture. This long-standing problem at the intersection of analysis and geometry has challenged mathematicians for decades and has deep connections to various fields within mathematics. Currently, Wang is a tenured professor at the Institut des Hautes Études Scientifiques (IHES), a prestigious research institution in France.

On the other hand, Deng Yu began his studies in the Mathematical Sciences at PKU in 2007 before continuing at MIT for his bachelor's degree. He later earned his doctorate from Princeton University and currently serves as a professor at the University of Chicago. His notable contributions include a significant advancement related to Hilbert's sixth problem, achieved in collaboration with Ma Xiao and Zaher Hani. Their research established a rigorous mathematical framework that connects microscopic particle dynamics with macroscopic kinetic and fluid equations, addressing a challenge first posed over a century ago by the legendary mathematician David Hilbert.

The event was not only a triumph for Wang and Deng but also for PKU as a whole, which sent a record number of participants to the ICM 2026. Notably, the university featured ten alumni and four faculty members among its speakers. This level of representation underscores the growing influence and presence of PKU mathematicians on the global stage, a development that is continually reshaping the landscape of mathematical research.

Wang and Deng may have charted different paths in mathematics since they left PKU, but their journeys began in the same academic environment and just a year apart. Their achievements symbolize the immense talent cultivated at Peking University and its growing reputation in the realm of mathematics.