Push math forward

开局“十四五”，数学研究也是重点

Math has always been a staple of education. Algorithms, equations, homework, test after test. Many students must ask themselves: Why do we need math?

数学在教育中一直是主科。算法、方程、作业、一个接一个的考试。很多同学都会问：我们为什么要学数学？

Katherine Johnson (1918-2020), a former NASA mathematician who calculated and analyzed flight paths for many missions, once said: "Some things will drop out of the public eye and go away, but there will always be science, engineering, and technology. And there will always, always be mathematics."

美国前宇航局数学家凯瑟琳·约翰逊曾计算分析了多次任务的飞行轨迹，她表示：“有些东西将淡出公众视野，慢慢消失，但科学、工程学和技术将永存，而数学更是不朽。”

This may be one of the reasons why our country has listed math and its applications as a major national project during the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) period, reported China Daily.

这可能是我国将“数学和应用研究”列入“十四五”国家重点研发计划的原因之一，《中国日报》报道称。

"The policy and financial support for the field of mathematics and applied mathematics will be greatly improved between 2021 and 2025 compared with the past five years – it's unprecedented," said Yuan Yaxiang, a mathematician and academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

“2021-2025年，数学和应用研究领域的政策扶持和财政支持将比过去五年有显著提高，可以说前所未有。”数学家、中国科学院院士袁亚湘表示。

He also stressed that mathematical research matters because it can help overcome current technology bottlenecks.

他还强调，数学研究之所以重要，是因其有助于攻克当前的技术瓶颈。

According to Science and Technology Minister Wang Zhigang, basic scientific research, including mathematics, will have a larger focus during the 14th Five-Year Plan period, with funding expected to reach over 8 percent of all research and development (R and D) expenditure. China will also formulate a 10-year action plan for basic research.

科技部部长王志刚表示，在“十四五”期间，数学等基础科学研究将更受重视。基础研究的投入比重预计在全社会研发投入中的占比达到8%左右。中国也将制定一个基础研究的十年行动方案。

The math project is expected to receive 1.5 billion yuan in funding, according to Yuan. The funding will be used to build new institutions for scientific research and support the current ones with new experimental equipment. At present, China has established 13 applied mathematics centers in Beijing, Shanghai and other regions, according to Xinhua.

袁亚湘表示，国家预计将投入15亿元资助数学项目。这些经费将用于建立新的科研机构，以及为现有机构提供新的实验设备。目前，据新华社报道，中国已在北京、上海等地建立了13个应用数学中心。

More training for young mathematicians has also been urged.

国家也将致力于培养更多的年轻数学家。

This year, Tsinghua University carried out a leading talent training program in math. It recruits hundreds of outstanding middle and senior high school students from across the country to cultivate leading talents in mathematics and related fields.

今年，清华大学推出“数学科学领军人才培养计划”，面向全国招收百名优秀初高中学生，为未来数学及相关领域培养领军人才。

The "strengthening basic disciplines plan", which was launched in 2020 at 36 top universities, also focuses on students with special talents in basic disciplines, including math.

2020年，36所重点高校还启动了“强基计划”，关注在数学等基础学科有独特天赋的学生。

According to the German newspaper Die Welt, China leads the way as far as those with an aptitude for math. Of all those born in China between 2005 and 2009, 24 million have exhibited a talent for math. The number is 1.8 million and 940,000 in Japan and South Korea, respectively. That's why many international companies like Apple have set their research center in China.

德国《世界报》称，中国因拥有这些数学人才而处于领先地位。在2005年至2009年出生的中国孩子中，2400万人展现出了数学天赋，而在日本和韩国，这一数字分别是180万和94万。这也是苹果等诸多跨国企业在中国设立研究中心的原因。