Peking University, Oct. 19, 2010: With the theme of “view the world in an N-dimensional perspective,” Peking University unveiled its 13th Math Cultural Festival (MCF) on Oct. 14. Prof. Wang Changping, Dean of School of Mathematical Sciences (SMS), Prof. Liu Huarong, Party Secretary of SMS, Prof. Zhang Gongqing, Member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Sun Liqiang, Deputy Secretary of PKU Youth League Committee attended the opening ceremony in PKU Hall.
Prof. Wang Changping delivered an opening speech, in which he shared his understanding of the theme. “We should use an N-dimensional perspective to view the university education,” he pointed out. “We prefer an all-around way to cultivate talents to a specified education merely focusing on one’s major, even though the latter is significant; extra-curricular activities like the cultural festival play an important role in education as knowledge-teaching does.”
Prof. Wang Changping's opening remark
Prof. Liu Huarong awarding the students
Prof. Liu Huarong awarded the “Academic Star of Hope of Peking University” to Zhang Ruixun and Zhang Biyuan, two students who have won the Finalist in MCM (Mathematical Contest in Modeling) and showed impressive ability in scientific research.
Sun Liqiang also gave a delivery to express his expectation for SMC–discovery and responsibility, meaning to "discover the vast world of math, mind, and self, while taking on the responsibility of an SMSer.”
Prof. Zhang Gongqing's keynote lecture
In the opening ceremony, Prof. Zhang Gongqing made the first lecture of the MCF concerning the "mathematical career.” Begun with the nature of math, the lecture unrolled a profound picture of mathematical science, from the basic character and developing direction of math, to the math subject itself. Zhang explained the magnitude of mathematical education, whose importance “lies in not only the knowledge itself, but also the wide applications in IT, astronomy, finance, and even politics.” He mentioned particularly that the mathematical education is a way to shape a scientific character and a spirit to explore the truth rather than mere education for knowledge.
The MCF 2010 will last till Oct. 31. In addition to traditional items like lecture series, innovations are made such as promotion of mathematical culture at the Triangle, drama plays, cards games, and sports tournament, offering a mathematical feast to PKU students.
Extended Reading:
Translated by: Li Nuoya
Edited by: Jacques
Source: PKU News (Chinese)
