IMO is not about mathematical research, it is just an exam. Too many exams have curbed children's interest in mathematics — when they take exams every day, they lose interest in mathematics itself. I'm not advocating the abolition of exams, but I think children have spent too much time preparing for exams, which is a blow to their interest in mathematics.
True knowledge is about achieving things ahead of others, accomplishing things on one's own path. Take myself as an example — I have always been very interested in the history of mathematics, and to learn the growth process of great mathematicians, to me, is very meaningful. As I constantly deepened my understanding of many interesting issues, (my) mathematics gradually developed.
Particularly, many media outlets often portray mathematicians as weirdos, but that's unfair. There are tens of thousands of mathematicians around the world, and most of them are ordinary people. They love literature and they play the piano. One of my friends is good at climbing mountains, and even has a mountain named after him. When telling the stories of mathematicians, it is important to note that they are mortals, and thoughtful scholars.
Many physicists and biologists are engaged in science popularization. Do mathematicians also need to raise awareness?
Pop science is good, but many mathematicians, especially the first-class ones, are unwilling to spend time on it. Yet, I still recommend top mathematicians to do pop science, because in that way, they allow more people to access, understand, and learn mathematics.
What are your suggestions for popularizing mathematics?
Besides stories of mathematicians, there are many interesting formulas in mathematics that apply in daily life. If you learn some group theory in mathematics, it will be easier to get the desired results with a Rubik's Cube without taking chances, which can make one the focus at parties. If you understand the Bernoulli Equation, you will know that the faster water flows through a pipe, the lower the pressure on the pipe. All these can be tested with materials that can be found everywhere, allowing people to intuitively understand them.
Mathematics is also rather practical, like in investment and stock trading. I have some friends who use mathematical methods to make investments, and the models they have made can always accurately predict the rise and fall of a stock, which has earned them a lot of money. Actually, most successful investment companies hire mathematicians in decision-making roles, because their tools, such as statistics and probability theory, are rather useful. If mathematicians can tell these stories in pop science, that will be very attractive to readers.
