Chinese Mathematician Wang Hong Wins Fields Medal at 39

A Chinese mathematician just became only the third woman in history to win the Fields Medal, and her secret to cracking a problem that stumped researchers for over 100 years is beautifully simple: never stop thinking, and always ask for help.

Wang Hong received the prestigious honor Thursday at the International Congress of Mathematicians in Philadelphia. Since the Fields Medal launched in 1936, only three women have claimed the prize, often called the Nobel Prize of Mathematics.

Her winning achievement came in February 2025 when she and a collaborator solved the three-dimensional Kakeya conjecture. Mathematicians had been wrestling with this problem since the early 20th century.

Wang's path to excellence started with an obstacle. When she entered Peking University, her grades weren't strong enough for the math program, so she enrolled in Earth and Space Sciences instead. She studied hard, passed a competitive transfer exam, and finally joined the School of Mathematical Sciences to pursue her real passion.

She earned her bachelor's at Peking, a master's from Paris-Saclay University, and a PhD from MIT. Since 2025, she's taught at France's Institute of Advanced Scientific Studies.

Wang says her love for mathematics began in early childhood. That early spark carried her through the tough moments every researcher faces when progress slows to a crawl.

Why This Inspires

Wang shared her strategy for pushing through difficult research periods. She draws pictures to visualize problems, exercises regularly to refresh her mind, and most importantly, talks with collaborators who offer fresh perspectives.

"When progress is very slow, it's very easy to feel discouraged," Wang explained. Her solution combines physical activity to clear her head and collaboration to see problems from new angles.

She credits her success to the outstanding classmates, mentors, and collaborators she met throughout her academic journey. These relationships taught her that international scientific cooperation isn't just helpful, it's essential.

Her advice to young researchers reflects the mindset that carried her to mathematics' highest honor: "When things don't work out immediately, just keep thinking and working hard with the hope that eventually one day it might work."

The Fields Medal recognizes two to four researchers under 40 every four years for outstanding mathematical achievements and future promise. Wang's win celebrates not just her brilliant mind, but her proof that persistence plus collaboration equals breakthrough.