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数学与科技数学与科技 丘成桐专家丘成桐专家丘成桐专家丘成桐专家 北京北京北京北京三月二十四日三月二十四日三月二十四日三月二十四日 由于增进中国与其它国由于增进中国与其它国家科技交流而得到中国政家科技交流而得到中国政府表彰,本人深感荣幸。府表彰,本人深感荣幸。我生于汕头我生于汕头,长于香港,长于香港,接受是英国式殖民地教接受是英国式殖民地教育。可幸先父注重中国文化,育。可幸先父注重中国文化,把我送到中文中学就读。把我送到中文中学就读。MathematicsanditsroleMathematicsanditsroleinScienceandTechnologyinScienceandTechnologyProfessorShingTungYauProfessorShingTungYauBeijingBeijingMarch24,March24,ItIt isis a a greatgreat honorhonor forfor meme toto beberecognizedrecognizedbybythetheChineseChinesegovernmentgovernmentononmymyeffortseffortstotopromotepromotescientificscientificinterchangeinterchangebetweenChinaandothercounties.betweenChinaandothercounties.I IwaswasbornbornininsouthsouthChinaChinaandandgrewgrewupupininHongHong Kong.Kong.I I waswas educatededucated underunder thethecolonialcolonial systemsystem setset upup byby thethe British.British.Fortunately,Fortunately,mymy fatherfather waswas proudproud ofofChineseChinese cultureculture andand sentsent meme toto a a ChineseChinesemiddleschool.middleschool.1 1第1页第1页 I I waswas alsoalso educatededucated inin TheThe ChineseChineseUniversityUniversityofofHongHongKong.Kong.WhileWhilemymytrainingtrainingonon mathematicsmathematics andand sciencescience inin HongHong KongKongcouldcouldnotnotbebesaidsaidtotobebegreat,great,I Iwaswasfortunatefortunatetoto learnlearn ChineseChinese cultureculture inin a a reasonablereasonablethoroughmanner.thoroughmanner.TheTheeleganceeleganceofofChineseChineseliteratureliteraturehadhaddeepdeepinfluenceinfluenceononmymythinking.thinking.I Iamamproudproudofofthethedeepdeep andand continuouscontinuous developingdeveloping civilizationcivilizationofof mymy mothermother country.country.WhileWhile I I devoteddevoted mymywholewholelifelifetotostudystudyfundamentalfundamentalscience,science,I Ialsoalsoconsiderconsiderpromotionpromotionofofscience,science,especiallyespeciallyforformymy mothermother country,country,toto bebe a a responsibilityresponsibility ofofmylife.mylife.其后我肄业于香港中文其后我肄业于香港中文大学。相对而言,在那里学大学。相对而言,在那里学到数学和科学知识并不算诸到数学和科学知识并不算诸多,但却对中国文化有了一多,但却对中国文化有了一个 比 较 全 面 理 解。个 比 较 全 面 理 解。中国文化博大精深,对中国文化博大精深,对我有很大影响。我引以自傲我有很大影响。我引以自傲是,祖国源远流长,迄今犹是,祖国源远流长,迄今犹自欣欣向荣文明。我即使一自欣欣向荣文明。我即使一生研究基础科学,但亦以推生研究基础科学,但亦以推广、普及科学为己任,对与广、普及科学为己任,对与祖国相关工作,尤其珍惜。祖国相关工作,尤其珍惜。2 2第2页第2页 WhileWhileI IleftleftHongHongKongKonginin1969,1969,I Ididdidnotnothavehavepassportpassportofofanyanycountry.country.AtAtthatthattime,time,ititwaswas notnot clearclear atat allall thatthat thethe ChineseChinesegovernmentgovernmentwouldwouldbuildbuilda agoodgoodrelationrelationwithwiththetheUnitedUnitedStatState es.s.I Ididdidwatchwatchwithwithgreatgreatjoyjoywhenwhen NixonNixon visitedvisited China.China.InIn 1979,1979,I I waswasinvitedinvitedbybyProfessorProfessorHuaHuatotovisitvisitthetheAcademicAcademicSinica.Sinica.I I learntlearnt a a lotlot fromfrom ProfessorProfessor HuasHuasbookbook whenwhen I I waswas inin highhigh school.school.I I admiredadmiredhimandwasflatteredtobeinvited.himandwasflatteredtobeinvited.19691969年离开香港时,我年离开香港时,我并没有拿英国护照。当初中并没有拿英国护照。当初中国政府是否会和美国修好,国政府是否会和美国修好,还是一个谜。尼克松访华,还是一个谜。尼克松访华,我在电视上看到了,感到十我在电视上看到了,感到十分高兴。分高兴。19791979年华罗庚专家年华罗庚专家邀请我访问中国科学院。早邀请我访问中国科学院。早在中学时,我已经读过不少在中学时,我已经读过不少华先生著作,获益良多,他华先生著作,获益良多,他是我敬佩人物。他来函,令是我敬佩人物。他来函,令我有受宠若惊之感。我有受宠若惊之感。3 3第3页第3页 WhenWhen I I steppedstepped outout fromfrom thethe airplaneairplane inin thetheBeijingBeijingairport,airport,I ItouchedtouchedthethesoilsoilofofBeijingBeijingandandfeltfeltgreatgreatjoyjoytotoreturnreturntotomymymothermothercountry.country.I Iamam proudproud toto saysay thatthat whenwhen I I waswas awardedawarded thetheFieldsFieldsMedalMedalininmathematics,mathematics,I IheldheldnonopassportpassportofofanyanycountrycountryandandshouldshouldcertainlycertainlybebeconsideredasChinese.consideredasChinese.I I diddid putput inin a a lotlot ofof effortsefforts toto helphelp ChineseChinesemathematics.mathematics.OnOnthetheotherotherhand,hand,I IregrettedregrettedveryverymuchmuchthatthatI IstillstillcouldcouldnotnotsettlesettledowndownininChina.China.WhateverWhatever I I havehave donedone forfor ChineseChinese mathematicsmathematicscancanininnonowaywaybebecomparedcomparedwithwiththosethoseChineseChinesewhowhohavehavegrowngrownupupandandstayedstayedherehereororthosethosewhowhoreturnedtoChinaonapermanentbasis.returnedtoChinaonapermanentbasis.甫甫出出机机场场,接接触触到到首首都都泥泥土土,回回到到了了祖祖国国母母亲亲怀怀抱抱,我我心心潮潮澎澎湃湃,激激动动万万分分。回回想想获获颁颁数数学学上上菲菲尔尔兹兹奖奖时时,我我并并无无持持有有任任何何国国家家护护照照,因因此此我我是是以以堂堂堂堂正正正正中中国国人人身身份份去去领奖。领奖。我我为为中中国国数数学学发发展展出出了了不不少少力力。不不无无遗遗憾憾是是,至至今今我我尚尚未未能能回回国国定定居居。当当然然,我我对对中中国国数数学学奉奉献献,与与在在此此间间土土生生土土长长,或或自自海海外外归归来来,长长期期工工作作同同行行相比,是微不足道。相比,是微不足道。4 4第4页第4页 ItItwillwillbebeananexaggerationexaggerationtotoattachattachtootoomuchmuch importanceimportance forfor thosethose whowho holdhold a apermanentpermanent positionposition inin foreignforeign soilsoil toto talktalkaboutdevelopmentofthisgreatcountry.aboutdevelopmentofthisgreatcountry.I I willwill thereforetherefore onlyonly makemake somesomehumblehumblecommentscommentsbasedbasedononmymyobservations.observations.AsAs wewe know,know,ChinaChina hashas developeddevelopededucationeducation systemsystem sincesince ConfuciusConfucius time.time.KnowledgeKnowledge isis accessibleaccessible eveneven toto non-non-nobleman.Itwasabreakthrough.nobleman.Itwasabreakthrough.海海外外学学者者对对国国家家发发展展种种种种意意见见,即即使使每每有有精精警警之之言言,但但也也不不必必奉奉之之为为金金科科玉玉律律,全盘接受。全盘接受。故故此此,本本人人谨谨就就亲亲眼眼所所见见,亲亲耳耳所所闻闻,略略抒抒管管窥窥之之见见,如如有有一一二二中中,则则于于愿愿足足矣。矣。我我国国自自从从孔孔子子开开始始,便便建建立立了了完完整整教教育育体体系系,这这是是大大家家都都知知道道。从从此此教教育育不不再再是是贵贵族族专专利利,这这可可是是件件石石破破天惊大事。天惊大事。5 5第5页第5页 ByBy HanHan dynasty,dynasty,thethe governmentgovernment startedstarted totobuildbuilda asystemsystemtotoselectselecteducatededucatedmanmanandandmanmanwithwith virtuevirtue toto serveserve thethe country.country.EvenEven kidskids ininvillagesvillages havehave potentialpotential toto bebe inin thethe centralcentralgovernment.government.TheThe systemsystem waswas reasonablyreasonably fairfairandand ChinaChina isis unitedunited partiallypartially basedbased onon suchsuchoutreachedoutreachedsystem.system.ItItmaymaybebeinterestinginterestingtotonotenotethatthat eveneven foreignersforeigners werewere ableable toto holdhold highhighpositioninthecourtatthattime.positioninthecourtatthattime.TheThe systemsystem waswas polishedpolished andand becamebecame systemsystemofofexaminations.examinations.TheThescopescopeofofexaminationsexaminationswaswasratherrather largelarge duringduring earlyearly dynasties,dynasties,likelike TangTangdynasty.dynasty.EvenEvenmathematicsmathematicswaswasincludedincludedininthethetest.test.However,However,thethe examinationexamination hashas beenbeen muchmuchmoremorefocusedfocusedininthethepastpastfourfourhundredhundredyears.years.ItItwaswasthoughtthoughtthatthata athoroughthoroughstudystudyofofConfuciusConfuciusthinkingthinkingisisenoughenoughtotorunrunthethegovernment.government.HenceHencethethetesttesthashasbeenbeenfocusedfocusedonona averyverynarrownarrowbandbandofof knowledge.knowledge.TheThe damagedamage toto thethe creativecreativethinkinginChinaisalmostfatal.thinkinginChinaisalmostfatal.及及至至汉汉代代,地地方方举举荐荐贤贤良良文文章章之之士士于于庙庙堂堂,于于是是乡乡党党小小子子,亦亦有有望望大大用用于于朝朝廷廷。这这种种颇颇为为公公允允做做法法,无无远远弗弗届届,整整个个国国家家大大一一统统局局面面,或或多多或或少少亦亦由由此此而而维维系系。值值得得一一提提是是,甚甚至至外外国国人人也也曾曾在在朝朝廷廷供供任任高高职。职。这这种种制制度度逐逐步步演演变变,最最后后便便形形成成考考试试制制度度了了。在在这这种种制制度度早早期期比比如如唐唐代代考考试试范范围围还还是是颇颇为为广广泛泛,数数学学也也包包括括在在内内。但但在在过过去去四四百百年年间间,考考试试范范围围便便大大大大地地缩缩窄窄了了。大大家家认认为为熟熟读读四四书书五五经经,便便足足以以治治国国平平天天下下。因因此此,考考试试知知识识面面变变得得异异常常狭狭窄窄,国国人人思思想想上上原原创创力力在在这这种种钳钳制制下下,遂遂变变得得奄奄奄奄一一息了息了。6 6第6页第6页 ItIt isis importantimportant toto realizerealize thatthat ConfuciusConfuciusconsideredknowledgetobevirtue:consideredknowledgetobevirtue:大學之道,在明明德,大學之道,在明明德,在新民,在止於至善。在新民,在止於至善。ButBut ConfuciusConfucius diddid traintrain studentsstudents ononpracticalpracticalmatter.matter.SomeSomeofofhishisstudentsstudentsbecamebecamediplomats.diplomats.SomeSomeofofthemthembecamebecamebusinessman.businessman.SomeSomeofofthemthembecamebecamegeneral.general.TheTheGreekGreekphilosophersphilosophersSocratesSocratesalsoalsoconsiderconsider knowledgeknowledge toto bebe virtue.virtue.ButButpursuingpursuingofoftruthtruthandandbeautybeautyisisthetheessenceessenceofofGreekGreekeducation.education.InInthisthisdauntingdauntingnewnewworld,world,knowledgeknowledge isis thethe keykey toto humanhuman well-being.well-being.AnyAnygreatgreatcountrycountrywillwillhavehavetotosubstainsubstainlonglongtermterm investmentinvestment inin learning,learning,withoutwithout whichwhichsocialsocial advancementadvancement isis anan emptyempty dream.dream.Knowledgehastobebasedonthefollowing:Knowledgehastobebasedonthefollowing:1.Virtue,Ethics1.Virtue,Ethics2.Knowledgeofhumanity2.Knowledgeofhumanity3.Basicscience3.Basicscience4.AppliedScience4.AppliedScience 主主要要是是,孔孔子子认认为为知知识识是是一一个美德个美德 大学之道,在明明德,大学之道,在明明德,大学之道,在明明德,大学之道,在明明德,在新民,在止于至善。在新民,在止于至善。在新民,在止于至善。在新民,在止于至善。即即使使如如此此,孔孔子子也也传传授授实实际际学学问问。他他门门人人当当中中,有有当当上上外外交交官官,有有作作生生意意,有有做做了了将将军军。希希腊腊哲哲人人苏苏格格拉拉底底也也以以知知识识为为善善。追追求求真真善善美美乃乃是是希希腊腊教教育育宗宗旨旨。在在无无畏畏新新时时代代 (daunting(daunting new new world)world)里里,知知识识乃乃是是人人类类通通往往幸幸福福钥钥匙匙。任任何何大大国国都都必必须须长长期期投投资资于于教教育育,不不这这样样做做,社社会会进进步只能是空谈。知识必须建基于步只能是空谈。知识必须建基于 1.1.道德伦理道德伦理 2.2.人文知识人文知识 3.3.基础科学基础科学 4.4.应用科学应用科学7 7第7页第7页 SinceSince thethe defeatdefeat ofof OpiumOpium warwar inin thethe earlyearlynineteenthnineteenth century,century,ChinaChina realizedrealized itsits ownownweaknessweakness inin modernmodern technologytechnology andand triedtriedseveralseveral timestimes toto modernize.modernize.TheThe majormajordevelopmentdevelopment waswas onon buildingbuilding ships,ships,railways,railways,miningmining andand buildingbuilding weapons.weapons.AfterAfter twotwocenturiescenturiesofoftrialtrialandanderror,error,wewefinallyfinallyseeseea atruetrueopportunityopportunity toto developdevelop ChinaChina intointo a a greatgreatcountry.country.WhileWhileeconomiceconomicgrowthgrowthisisunprecedingunprecedingstrongstrong inin modernmodern ChineseChinese history,history,wewe shouldshouldrememberrememberthatthatthethetruetrueengineengineofofmodernizationmodernizationisis basedbased onon acquisitionacquisition andand applicationapplication ofofknowledge.knowledge.However,However,forfora adevelopingdevelopingcountry,country,knowledgeknowledge isis usuallyusually associatedassociated toto appliedappliedsciencescience only.only.OneOne tendstends toto overemphasizeoveremphasizeshort-termshort-term payoffspayoffs andand ignoresignores long-termlong-termstrength.strength.OneOne shouldshould notenote thatthat FundamentalFundamentalsciencescience isis thethe basebase ofof allall modernmodern technology.technology.ChinasChinas modernizationmodernization shouldshould realizerealize thetheimportanceofbasicscience.importanceofbasicscience.自自十十九九世世纪纪中中鸦鸦片片战战争争失失败败后后,中中国国便便深深深深感感受受到到技技术术落落后后弱弱点点,尝尝试试改改革革、当当代代化化也也不不只只一一次次了了。当当初初主主要要做做法法是是造造船船、筑筑铁铁路路、开开矿矿、生生产产武武器器等等等等。通通过过了了差差不不多多两两个个世世纪纪努努力力与与失失误误,到到了了今今日日,我我们们终终于于看看到到了了中中华华民民族族复复兴兴契契机机。当当前前我我国国经经济济快快速速发发展展,是是近近代代史史上上空空前前。但但是是,我我们们必必须须牢牢切切记记住住,汲汲取取知知识识和和应应用用知知识识,才才是是当当代代化化真正动力。真正动力。然而然而,发展中国家往往认为知识发展中国家往往认为知识只指应用科学而言。人们追求立竿只指应用科学而言。人们追求立竿见影效果见影效果,忽略长期利益。我们必须忽略长期利益。我们必须结识到结识到,只有基础科学只有基础科学,才是当代科才是当代科技之母。中国当代化技之母。中国当代化,必须要意识到必须要意识到基础科学主要性。基础科学主要性。8 8第8页第8页 MichaelMichael AtiyahAtiyah whowho isis presidentpresident ofofRoyalRoyal SocietySociety ofof England,England,toldtold meme thethefollowing:following:ForFor a a countrycountry likelike ChinaChina whichwhich hashasaspirationsaspirations toto becomebecome a a worldworld economiceconomicpower,power,itit cannotcannot bebe lacklack ofof ambition.ambition.CertainlyCertainly thethe JapaneseJapanese whowho startedstarted offoffwithwith thethe planplan ofof justjust copyingcopying thethe westwestsoonsoon changedchanged toto investinvest inin fundamentalfundamentalresearch.research.AlsoAlso thethe USUS isis thethe mostmost advancedadvancedeconomicallyeconomicallyandandisissupportingsupportingfundamentalfundamental researchresearch inin a a bigbig way.way.I IwouldwouldthinkthinkthatthatChinaChinaworldworldbebereceptivereceptivetoto thethe challengechallenge ofof competingcompeting inin allallrespectswithJapanandtheUSA.respectswithJapanandtheUSA.阿阿提提亚亚专专家家 (Michael(Michael Atiyah)Atiyah)担担任任英英国国皇皇家家学学会会会会长长时时,曾曾对对我我说说了了这这番番话话:中中国国既既望望跻跻身身经经济济大大国国之之列列,就就必必须须雄雄心心万万丈丈,志志不不在在小小。日日本本维维新新之之初初,一一意意仿仿效效西西洋洋,但但旋旋即即改改变变方方向,致力发展基础研究。向,致力发展基础研究。美美国国虽虽是是当当今今经经济济最最强强体体,但但它它仍仍然然大大力力注注资资于于科科研研。我我想想中中国国要要与与日日本本,美美国国分分庭庭抗抗礼礼,就就必必须须在在各各方方面面与与它们并驾齐驱。它们并驾齐驱。9 9第9页第9页ThereareseveralimportantbranchesofThereareseveralimportantbranchesofsciencesandtechnologythatwillplaysciencesandtechnologythatwillplayfundamentalroleinthiscentury:fundamentalroleinthiscentury:InformationtechnologyInformationtechnology LifescienceLifescienceEnergyscienceEnergyscienceMaterialscienceMaterialscienceEnvironmentscienceEnvironmentscienceEconomicsandfinanceEconomicsandfinanceSocialscienceSocialscience WhileWhilethesethesebranchesbranchesdodointeractinteractwithwitheacheachother,other,theytheydependdependheavilyheavilyononthethedevelopmentdevelopment ofof fundamentalfundamental sciencescience whowhoprovideprovide thethe principle:principle:whywhy andand howhow thingsthingsactuallyactuallywork.work.InterdependenceInterdependenceofofscientificscientificdisciplinesdisciplinesrecursrecursfrequentlyfrequentlythroughoutthroughouthistory.history.AAsuccessfulsuccessfulmergemergeofofideasideasofoftwotwoapparentlyapparently independentindependent fieldsfields alwaysalways bringsbringsunexpectedglorytobothsubjects.unexpectedglorytobothsubjects.在在这这个个世世纪纪,有有几几门门科科技技会会发挥主线作用,它们包括发挥主线作用,它们包括 信息技术信息技术生命科学生命科学能源科学能源科学 材料科学材料科学环境科学环境科学经济与金融经济与金融社会科学社会科学 这这几几门门学学科科互互相相渗渗入入,它它们们同同样样依依赖赖于于基基础础科科学学发发展展,由由于于后后者者指指出出了了事事物物主主线线原原理理。回回顾顾历历史史,科科技技领领域域互互相相依依赖赖,屡屡见见不不鲜鲜。两两门门看看似似无无关关领领域域,其其中中概概念念一一旦旦能能成成功功地地融融合合,必必定定对对大家都大有好处。大家都大有好处。1010第10页第10页 InInthethenineteenthnineteenthcentury,century,wewesawsawthethegreatgreatsuccesssuccess ofof unificationunification ofof electricityelectricity andandmagnetism.magnetism.InInthethetwentiethtwentiethcentury,century,wewesawsawthethe greatgreat successsuccess ofof applicationapplication ofof quantumquantummechanicsmechanicstotochemistry.chemistry.WeWesawsaw applicationapplicationofofmathematicsmathematicsandandphysicsphysicstotothethebuildingbuildingofofmodernmodern computercomputer whichwhich inin turnturn becomebecome thethefundamentalfundamentaltooltoolofofallallsciencescienceandandtechnology.technology.Nowadays,Nowadays,wewearearewitnessingwitnessingthetheglorygloryofofapplicationapplicationofofphysicalphysicalsciencesciencetotolifelifescience.science.Eachunificationstartedfrombasicscience.Eachunificationstartedfrombasicscience.Bythetimewhenitissuccessful,greatBythetimewhenitissuccessful,greatbreakthroughintechnologywasrewarded.Itbreakthroughintechnologywasrewarded.Itbroughtgreateconomicgrowthforthosebroughtgreateconomicgrowthforthosecountrieswhocountrieswhoinitiatedandenhancedsuchinitiatedandenhancedsuchdevelopment.development.在在十十九九世世纪纪,人人们们看看到到了了电电学学与与磁磁学学结结合合;在在二二十十世世纪纪,人人们们看看到到了了量量子子力力学学在在化化学学上上应应用用,同同时时也也看看到到了了数数学学和和物物理理如如何何应应用用于于当当代代计计算
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