In July 2023, after several rounds of selection, I was fortunate to be chosen as a representative of Beijing’s youth for “Face to Face with Masters.” I also had the opportunity to engage in one-on-one communication with Master Shing-Tung Yau.

On July 22, 2023, a group of young people with dreams of science entered the prestigious Tsinghua University to participate in a special event for youth at International Congress of Basic Science – “Face to Face with Masters.” This event, filled with scientific thought and an innovative atmosphere, saw nearly 200 teachers and students from various regions engage in dialogue and exchange with nine top international masters in the fields of mathematics and physics, sparking a meeting of minds between young people and science masters.

At the opening of the event, a speech by Mr. Shing-Tung Yau, the chairman of the International Congress of Basic Science, excited the students immensely. Shing-Tung Yau expressed his hope that through communication and interaction, young people would truly see the beauty and truth of science. His speech greatly inspired the students and further strengthened their commitment to pursuing basic science and realizing their scientific dreams.

In addition to Mr. Shing-Tung Yau, the “Face to Face with Masters” event featured eight other world-leading scientists who interacted with the young attendees. Among them were three masters in the field of mathematics: Fields Medalist and professor at Columbia University and University of California, Berkeley, Andrei Okounkov; Fields Medalist and professor at Tsinghua University, Caucher Birkar; and the 2022 Weyl-Wigner Award winner and professor at Tsinghua University, Nicolai Reshetikhin. There were also five masters in the field of physics: the 1998 Wolf Prize winner, Fellow of the Royal Society, member of the National Academy of Sciences, and professor at the University of Bristol, Michael Berry; researcher at the Yanqi Lake Institute of Applied Mathematics, Sergio Cecotti; the 1982 Maxwell Medal winner, Fellow of the Royal Society, and professor at King’s College London, John Ellis; Fellow of the Royal Danish Academy of Sciences and Letters, Fellow of the Finnish Academy of Science and Letters, and director of the Danish Advanced Study Institute, Francesco Sannino; and Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, experimental high-energy physicist, and director of the Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yifang Wang(王贻芳) .

Having close contact with the masters, understanding their growth stories and scientific research experiences, and listening to their scientific views is undoubtedly a valuable experience for young people. Through this event, they can gain a clearer understanding of science, draw inspiration, stimulate innovative thinking, and set higher goals and aspirations.

Having a face-to-face conversation with Mr. Shing-Tung Yau