30^th Anniversary of the Morningside Center of Mathematics

The Morningside Center of Mathematics was formally established in June of 1996, after nearly one year of discussion and preparation amongst President Lu Yongxiang of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Professor S.T.Yau of Harvard University and Mr. Ronnie Chan, the Chairman of the Morningside Group. The goal of the MCM is to gradually become a thriving center of mathematical research, which provides training young, talented mathematicians while fostering extensive mathematical exchange, both within the center itself and throughout the mathematical community at large. It was expected that, after many years of strenuous effort, the MCM would emerge as a vital institution for mathematical research and education in China, as well as establish itself as a key actor on the world stage, much like the Institute for Advanced Study at Princeton.

In 1997, the MCM initiated six projects exploring topics such as arithmetic algebraic geometry, geometric analysis, and partial differential equations. In the following year, in addition to pursuing these six expansive projects, the MCM hosted the first International Congress of Chinese Mathematicians in Beijing, which brought over four hundred mathematicians from outside of Asia, Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan. Moreover, it assisted the selection committee in deciding on the recipients of the two gold medal and four silver medal winners of the newly created Morningside Prize of Mathematics. Additionally, the Morningside building, which was financially supported by both the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Morningside Group, was completed in 1998.