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Foresight Sets the Course, Resolve Carries Us Far— Written upon Wang Hong and Deng Yu Winning the Fields Medal

发布时间：

2026-08-09

Foresight Sets the Course, Resolve Carries Us Far— Written upon Wang Hong and Deng Yu Winning the Fields Medal

Sun Zuodong

Thirty years ago, I once stood at a crossroads choosing research topics. Looking back today, I suddenly realize that many shortcuts which seemed clever and effortless back then turned out to be the longest detours. Observing young pursuers like Wang Hong and Deng Yu, my heart is filled with relief and profound reflection. Having trodden a similar path myself, I can better grasp the rare vision and inner resolve behind their choices.

Many young scholars newly entering academia first learn to cater to evaluation systems: chasing trending research topics, rushing to publish papers, chasing academic titles, and craving quick achievements to take a safe, easy shortcut. Yet Wang Hong and Deng Yu refused to drift with the tide. At a young age, they broke free from the shackles of worldly judgment, turning their gaze toward major unsolved riddles deep within their disciplines.

This choice stemmed not from fleeting enthusiasm, but from foresight far beyond their peers. They discerned the cutting-edge evolution of their fields, refused to cling to trivial short-term gains, and willingly ventured into uncharted academic wilderness trodden by few.

Nevertheless, rarer than vision is the steadfast resolve to immerse oneself in decades of consistent, quiet research.

Picking a major research question may take but a fleeting thought, yet sustaining long-term dedication proves extraordinarily difficult. Over years of research, breakthroughs year after year are rare; more often, scholars trudge forward silently for ages on end. Wang Hong delved into the three-dimensional Kakeya conjecture, while Deng Yu devoted himself to partial differential equations. For long stretches, they produced no eye-catching results, yet never diverted their course.

We must understand that talent merely grants entry to research. It is breadth of vision and far-sighted perspective that determine how far one’s academic journey stretches. Do not blindly chase fleeting research fads, which mostly amount to incremental improvements on existing theories; uncharted frontiers are the fertile ground for original innovation. Never crave speed and fame in all pursuits—papers and titles are merely scenery along the way, not the ultimate destination of scholarly inquiry.

True foresight does not mean picking random difficult problems blindly; it means discerning the evolution of a discipline and anticipating directions where breakthroughs will emerge in the future. Identifying the right research track is only the starting point; settling into sustained in-depth research is the most vital spiritual practice for any researcher. We must calmly accept long periods yielding no visible outcomes. Nearly all landmark breakthroughs are born from lonely, uncelebrated trudges through unrecognized years.

Do not merely retread paths others have already paved. Dare to step into untapped academic territory, and you stand a chance to forge entirely new research frontiers. Amid a restless, impetuous environment, guard your original heart and resist being swept away by fame and fortune—steadfast resolve is the most precious quality a researcher can possess. Incremental refinement only perfects existing theoretical frameworks, while original innovation holds the power to reshape entire disciplinary paradigms.

Scientific research is inherently an expedition spanning decades. Anchor your path with foresight and keep moving forward with unwavering resolve; time will ultimately deliver the finest rewards.

Research is never a 100-meter dash, but an expedition stretching over ten years, even several decades. Exceptional talent is merely a stepping stone, and momentary inspiration nothing more than a fleeting spark. Only foresight can illuminate the road ahead, and only resolve can sustain your footsteps. Possessing both is the only way to unravel long-locked academic mysteries.

We researchers spend our entire lives exploring the unknown. It is a great blessing for the scientific community to witness the younger generation embracing such vision and perseverance, committing themselves to transformative original innovation rather than drowning themselves in cutthroat competition over trivial incremental studies.

May they hold fast to their original aspirations, endure solitude, and fear no long winding roads. Blaze new trails with foresight, reach academic summits with unyielding resolve, continue deepening research in their respective fields, and consistently deliver landmark achievements bearing the mark of Chinese scholars.

Every one of us traveling through life—whether engaged in scientific research or not—equally needs this same foresight and resolve to counter the pervasive impetuosity of our times.