CUHK receives US$1 million donation from Professor Yau Shing-tung to establish mathematics professorship
The University also signs MoU with Tsinghua to strengthen research collaboration
Professor Yau Shing-tung, who has half-century ties with CUHK since his undergraduate years, has endowed US$1 million to establish mathematics professorship at CUHK. “During my time as a student, many mentors profoundly influenced my academic development and research. I hope to give back to my alma mater,” says Professor Yau, who has been supporting young talent at the University over the years.
To commemorate the founding of the “Chiu Chin Yin Early Career Professorship in Mathematics” under CUHK’s The Institute of Mathematical Sciences (IMSCI) and Department of Mathematics, CUHK and Tsinghua University held the inauguration ceremony of the professorship on 24 October. The professorship recognises outstanding faculty member and supporting academic research. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was also signed between the two institutions to strengthen collaboration in nurturing talent, teacher exchanges and scientific research.
Professor Yau is one of the most influential mathematicians of our time. He has received numerous international accolades such as the Fields Medal, Veblen Prize in Geometry and Crafoord PrizeIt. He is now the Dean of Qiuzhen College at Tsinghua University and CUHK’s Distinguished Visiting Professor-at-Large. At the ceremony, Professor Yau Shing-tung recounted his deep connection with CUHK and said: “My late father taught at Chung Chi College and United College, and CUHK is not only my alma mater but also the institution where I taught for many years.”
Professor Yau graduated from CUHK’s Department of Mathematics at Chung Chi College in 1969 and has since made significant contributions to mathematical and scientific research.
Professor Yau hopes to strengthencollaboration in mathematics education and research between Tsinghua and CUHK, and promote the advancement of mathematics by establishing an early career mathematics professorship “Chiu Chin Yin Assistant (or Associate) Professor of Mathematics” in his father’s name. Professor Yang Ziquan was announced as the first Chiu Chin Yin Assistant Professor of Mathematics. Professor Yang’s research focuses on fields of arithmetic geometry and number theory, and he will continue his mathematical research at CUHK.
CUHK Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Rocky S. Tuan said: “It is truly an honour to welcome back Professor Yau to campus today, as we celebrate new initiatives that foster the advancement of scholarship to nurture an innovative and well-educated next generation of leaders, guiding us and the world towards a better and brighter future.”
CUHK Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education) Professor Poon Wai-yin and Professor Yau signed an MoU at the ceremony. The MoU marks a closer cooperation between CUHK and Tsinghua University in fields such as mathematics, applied mathematics, statistics and artificial intelligence. Both institutions will select approximately five undergraduate or graduate students to participate in exchange programmes for one semester or one academic year, during which students will learn from each other or engage in research. It also encourages faculty members and exchange students to collaborate on interdisciplinary joint research projects.
