Peking University Alumni Make History at 2026 International Congress of Mathematicians

Peking University (PKU) alumni Wang Hong and Deng Yu have been awarded the 2026 Fields Medals, marking a historic achievement for the university. Announced by the International Mathematical Union (IMU), the Fields Medal is awarded every four years to outstanding mathematicians under the age of 40. This year, Wang and Deng are among the four honored, highlighting PKU's growing international influence.

Wang is celebrated for solving the three-dimensional Kakeya conjecture, making her only the third woman and the first Chinese woman to receive a Fields Medal. Deng, now a professor at the University of Chicago, played a key role in advancing Hilbert's sixth problem, collaborating with Ma Xiao and Zaher Hani.

Their achievements coincide with another PKU milestone: a record number of attendees at the 2026 ICM, including ten alumni and four faculty members participating as speakers.