If Wu Wenjun, the winner of the highest national science and technology award, hadn't seen it with his own eyes, you might not have imagined that this handsome, optimistic and cheerful old gentleman in front of him was a famous mathematician who was over eighty years old: he walked briskly, even the young man sometimes couldn't catch up; Quick thinking, a little careless can't keep up with his ideas. 200 1 02 19, 82-year-old Wu Wenjun won the highest national science and technology award * * * * * * *, and this usually low-key scientist suddenly became a news figure attracting worldwide attention. (1) Although he was an outstanding mathematician, Wu Wenjun liked reading history books when he was a child, but he didn't have much interest in mathematics. When I was a sophomore, I once lost interest in mathematics and even wanted to drop out of school. For a teacher named Wu, this is a wonderful course, which has changed his view on mathematics. He studied hard in the third and fourth grades of college and laid the foundation of modern mathematics. After graduating from college, it was in War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, and Wu Wenjun taught silently in middle school for five years. Since then, his acquaintance with Chen Shengshen, a master of mathematics, has enabled him to embark on the road of topological research, and he has quickly made his mark in this field with his genius and skills, which is out of control. In the past half century, he has made pioneering world-class contributions in topology, mathematical mechanization and the history of Chinese mathematics. His achievements miraculously shortened the gap between modern mathematics in China and the world, and greatly increased the ambition of China people. Wu Wenjun's home, located in the hinterland of Zhongguancun, is unpretentious, with five bedrooms almost full of books. Ancient and modern schoolbags are surrounded by an old cane chair, a peeled desk and two computers. This is Wu Wenjun's workshop. Wu Wenjun's 78-year-old wife, Chen Pihe, presented a stack of awards: the first outstanding scientist award of the Qiushi Science and Technology Foundation, the Chen Jiageng Prize in Mathematical Science, and the Mathematics Award of the Third World Academy of Sciences ... "This is the eighth time he has won the grand prize". "Plum blossoms come from bitter cold." Hand in hand through nearly half a century of ups and downs, Chen Pihe knows Wu Wenjun best, and saying a few words seems to be the best annotation for his life. "He is a scholar, and he is only engaged in learning." Gladiolus, tortoise shell bamboo ... green makes the room full of warmth and warmth. Although the mahogany furniture acquired in 1950s and 1960s is obsolete, the design is still exquisite, which witnessed the ups and downs of this family and Mr. Wu's road to climbing science: even in 1960s and 1970s, Wu Wenjun, which was hit by the impact, still took time out to engage in scientific research. Scientific thinking never stops, and the pace of innovation never stops. (2) In the eyes of Gao Xiaoshan, a student in Wu Wenjun and director of the Research Center for Mathematical Mechanization of Chinese Academy of Sciences, "Mr. Wu is a typical scientist and a model of innovation. He is good at grasping the essence of the problem. We respect him not only because he is old, but also because of his character and knowledge. " As early as half a century ago, Mr. Wu continued to promote the basic troubled topology research around the world. 45 years ago, from 65438 to 0956, 37-year-old Wu Wenjun, together with Hua and Qian Xuesen, won the "highest science and technology award" at that time-the first prize of the National Natural Science. The following year, he became the youngest member of China Academy of Sciences. "If you change a person, you can eat for a lifetime." Gao Xiaoshan said, "But Mr. Wu, who has already succeeded, has not stopped there, but has been attacking the unknown field of mathematics and has always been at the forefront of this team." Studying the history of Chinese mathematics and experiencing the great power of computers in the factory, he tirelessly pondered the direction of mathematics development. Wu Wenjun was deeply touched: "An immeasurable aspect that has a decisive influence on the future development of mathematics is the influence of computers on mathematics. In the near future, electronic computers will be as indispensable to mathematicians as microscopes are to biologists and telescopes to astronomers. 1976, Wu Wenjun, who was nearly sixty years old, gave up his excellent topology research and began to climb the second peak of his academic career-mathematical mechanization at the age of having grandchildren. Realizing the mechanization of mental labor is Wu Wenjun's ideal and pursuit. He said: "In the industrial age, it was mainly the mechanization of manual labor. This is the computer age. Mechanization of mental labor can be put on the agenda. The mechanization of mathematical research is the starting point of the mechanization of mental labor, because the mathematical expression is very accurate and concise. We want to open this situation. " 1977, the mechanized proof of Wu Wenjun's plane geometry theorem was successful for the first time. Since then, a mathematical road completely developed by China people has been presented to the world. For decades, Wu Wenjun not only founded Wu Formula, Wu Instruction Class, Wu Instruction Embedding Class, Wu Method and Wu Zhongxin, but also formed Wu School. This new field, pioneered by China people for the first time in the history of modern mathematics, has attracted many mathematicians from all over the world to study it. Because "it takes several days to manually calculate thousands of proofs, and the computer 1 second can complete it." There is no math prize in the Nobel Prize. People usually regard the Fields Medal as the Nobel Prize in mathematics. Wu Wenjun's work was cited by five Fields Prize winners, three of whom also used Wu Wenjun's method. Until the last two years, there are still Fields Prize winners quoting Wu Wenjun's classic achievements. (3) Wu Wenjun, who walked out of the workshop, lived a simple life and treated people kindly. He wears simple clothes, is cheerful and optimistic, walks in the street, and is completely one of ordinary people. Mr. Wu in life often "shines". I once went to Hong Kong to attend a seminar and went out to play during the break. Wu Wenjun, who is over 70 years old, actually got on the roller coaster and had a good time. Another time in Australia, he "naughty" wrapped a python around his neck, scaring others back again and again. These amazing moves have become a much-told story in the field of mathematics and are still talked about by people today. On one occasion, several young people in the center of mathematical mechanization asked Wu Wenjun for the secret of health and longevity. He said, I believe Churchill's words, don't stand if you can sit, don't sit if you can lie down, let life be as light and dull as possible, and don't be disturbed by unnecessary troubles. He often warns young people to concentrate on their work and not daydream all day. Being indifferent to self-control, attaching importance to work and being indifferent to fame and fortune may be the secret for Wu Wenjun to keep its innovative vitality forever. "He not only loves his own * * * *, but also loves a colorful life." For decades, watching Go games, historical novels, historical movies and other hobbies, accompanied by mathematical research, have been following Wu Wenjun to this day. His wife said he was "playful", but Wu Wenjun explained that reading history books and watching historical films would help my academic research. Watching Go matches has cultivated my overall concept and strategic vision. Although the chess pieces in Go are small, it is important for every player to go wherever he goes. The so-called "one wrong step, the whole game is lost." So is our research. Only with development vision, strategic vision and overall concept can we achieve great things. Basic research is "curiosity-driven research". Perhaps it is because of his childlike innocence and curiosity that Wu Wenjun was "driven" to gallop freely in the kingdom of mathematics, winning every battle. Nanshan pine is not old, and the East China Sea flows forever. Wu Wenjun still maintains vigorous research vitality. As the "academic guidance" of the national key basic planning "Mathematical Mechanization" project, he pointed out a new research direction for the project team in the mid-term evaluation of the project not long ago. He repeatedly said: "Our goal is very clear, that is, to promote the mechanization of mathematics, and let the mechanization thought shine in every corner of mathematics as China's mathematical tradition." For this goal and the greater development of mathematics in China, on the evening of February 19, 20065438, Wu Wenjun, who had just stepped off the podium, set off immediately.