On September 22nd, Ma Zhiming, academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Dean of the School of Statistics and Data Sciences of Nankai University, attended the Science and Nankai theme forum. With the theme of Mathematics in the Era of Big Data and Artificial Intelligence, Ma Zhiming brought the first lesson of the semester to the 2020 freshmen of the School of Statistics and Data Sciences in the auditorium of the main building. This is also the first lecture of the Science and Nankai theme forum this year.

Representatives of the freshmen of the science experimental class (Mathematical Sciences and Big Data), all staff and representatives of graduate students of the college attended the lecture. The lecture was presided over by the person in charge of the School of Statistics and Data Sciences.

From the ten major challenges in the field of mathematics in the Post-Shannon era to the importance of statistics and mathematics in the Big Data and Artificial Intelligence era, and to the understanding of the essence of Artificial Intelligence by entrepreneurs such as Zhengfei Ren and Wenwei Xu, academician Ma Zhiming explained the close relationship between the AI era and mathematics by combining the history and the present, putting forward the urgent need for excellent talents of basic disciplines such as mathematics and statistics in the contemporary society.

After introducing the basic principles of channel coding, decoding and the schematic diagram of mathematical communication, academician Ma Zhiming explained the Shannon theorem. He mentioned that the Shannon theorem provides directional and theoretical guarantee for scholars to find the best communication coding scheme. To the teachers and students at the scene, academician Ma Zhiming conveyed the message that thoughts and methods of mathematics and statistics are relevant in the era of Big Data and Artificial intelligence, hoping that students can have a good command of the basic knowledge and be ready to meet the opportunities and the challenges of the new era.

Seeking the truth and being honest is the motto of academician Ma Zhiming. During the dialogue, he recalled and related the profound influence of the older generations of scientists, such as Mr. Baolu Xu, Mr. Shouren Wang, academician Jia’an Yan. It is hoped that young students can inherit and carry forward the rigorous academic attitude and fine style of studying of the older generations of scientists, remaining true to their original aspirations and pursue scientific research in an earnest way, so as to make greater contributions to the development of mathematics and statistics in China and even to the development of science, which is relevant to all human beings.

During the activity, academician Ma Zhiming presented A Model of Moral Articles—Collection of Commemorative Works of Mr. Baolu Xu to the new staff of the college, and together with the person in charge of the Research and Work Department of the Party committee, presented the book Science and Integrity to the representatives of freshmen of Party members. He said, “I hope young teachers can take Mr. Baolu Xu as an example, impart knowledge and cultivate people. I also hope that students are realistic, practical, make continuing innovation and strive to be excellent talents with both integrity and ability.

Ma Zhiming, academician of Chinese Academy of Sciences, academician of Academy of Sciences for Developing Countries, Dean of the School of Statistics and Data Science of Nankai University. He was the the 8th and 10th chairman of the Probability and Statistics Branch of the Chinese Mathematical Association.

Ma Zhiming is academician of Chinese Academy of Sciences, academician of Academy of Sciences for Developing Countries, Dean of the School of Statistics and Data Science of Nankai University. He has been the 8th and 10th chairman of the Probability and Statistics Branch of the Chinese Mathematical Association. He has been also the chairman of the Organizing Committee of the International Mathematicians' Congress in 2002, Executive Member of the Committee of the International Mathematical Union from 2002 to 2006, and vice chairman of the Executive Committee of the International Mathematical Union from 2007 to 2010. In 2007, he has been elected as a member of the International Society for Mathematical Statistics (IMS). Since 2017, he has been an expert member of the National Textbook Committee. He was invited to give a forty-five-minute report in the International Congress of Mathematician in 1994, the fifth mathematician after Luogeng Hua, Jingrun Chen, Kang Feng and Wenjun Wu from mainland China. He has been the winner of the Max-Planck Research Award, the first prize of Natural Science Award of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the second prize of National Natural Science Award, Xingshen Chen Mathematics Award, Outstanding Young Scholar Award for Seeking Truth, He Liang He Li Award, Luogeng Hua Mathematics Award etc.

(Reported by Jingqiu Hao, Translated by Shujuan Chen, Edited by Davide Francolino and JianjingYun)