Deputy PM Nguyen Thien Nhan said if Vietnam establishes a ‘new model’ higher mathematics institute, Fields Medalist Dr. Ngo Bao Chau may be its first director. Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan told the online paper Dan Tri that if Vietnam establishes a ‘new model’ higher mathematics institute, Fields Medalist Dr. Ngo Bao Chau may be its first director.

Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan

Dan tri: How did you feel when you heard that Professor Chau had won the Fields Medal?

Deputy PM Nguyen Thien Nhan: We learned one month ago that Professor Ngo Bao Chau would be one of four to receive the medal. I am proud that Vietnam has a citizen who has reached the world’s highest level in mathematics. All Vietnamese scientists can be proud.

Dan tri: What is the outlook for Vietnamese mathematics after this?

Nguyen Thien Nhan: Vietnam has ranked between fifth and tenth in the world in high school mathematics. Three years ago, in 2007, Vietnamese youth won three high prizes at the International Mathematics Olympiad.

Education Ministry and other Government officials have conferred with our own and foreign leading mathematicians to ask how to raise Vietnam’s mathematics level in the world. The scientists say Vietnam now ranks 60^th in the world, though we have the 12^th largest population.

If we do not make big changes, we were told, we will not be able to have sustainable development in national mathematics. That’s why the Government has decided to deploy a national focus programme on mathematics development for the next 10 years.

One proposal under consideration is establishment of an advanced mathematics institute which will not follow the traditional way, but will follow a new model. The heads of the institute will be leading foreign mathematicians as well as Vietnamese who have international qualifications. Interaction with foreign scientists will create opportunities for our own most gifted mathematicians to upgrade their level of work.

If Professor Ngo Bao Chau had not won the Fields Medal, some might object that he is too young to head an institute, so maybe we’d have to look for a foreigner. Now, however, no one could doubt that Professor Chau completely has the ability to lead the advanced mathematics institute that we plan to set up.

Dan tri: Though Vietnam is a developing country, foreign scientists highly appreciate its potential in basic sciences, including mathematics. What do we need to do to “awaken” the potentials?

DPM Nhan: We have many eminent mathematicians and specialists in physics, chemistry and biology – people who have been highly appreciated by the international community. However, Professor Chau is the only one who have reached the pinnacle in scientific research.

To repeat, to develop mathematics, Vietnam should not follow the old system. There must be a national strategy for mathematics skills development that will aim both to develop mathematics talents in the general schools and to upgrade the level of mathematics work at universities. We need to create opportunities for our mathematicians who have the capacity to work at international level.

If we go this way, Ngo Bao Chau, once a brilliant student here in Hanoi, who subsequently was trained at the best centres in foreign countries, would cooperate to develop domestic mathematicians. I think that the method can bring good effects.

Dan tri: Could you tell us more about the national key mathematics programme for 2010-2020? What are the biggest challenges?

DPM Nhan: The programme has been built up with the participation of domestic mathematicians and in consultation with foreign mathematicians. Its aim is to upgrade Vietnam’s mathematics ranking in the world.

By 2020, we aim to double the number of scientific articles that are published in international journals. We will strive to ensure that 70 percent of university mathematics teachers are PhD’s. We will have established the Advanced Mathematics Institute and one or two other universities which have high level in mathematics in the region.

Source: Dan tri