Wen-Tsun Wu: His Life and Legacy

Abstract

Professor Wen-Tsun Wu passed away on May 7, 2017, a few days ahead of his 98th birthday. Wu is one of the most influential Chinese mathematicians and computer scientists. In his early years, he made fundamental contributions to algebraic topology. In the late 1970s, Wu proposed the Wu's method of geometric theorem proving and founded the school of Mathematics Mechanization. His study on the ancient Chinese mathematics opened a new era in the field of history of Chinese mathematics. He also made contributions in the area of algebraic geometry, invariant theory, complex geometry, and game theory. His legacy consists not only of his academic work but also of several generations of scientists who learned from him the joy and enthusiasm of scientific research and the way to go about it.