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(2)Marching Towards Science
In 1956, the state formulated the 12-Year Program for the Development of Science and Technology. While ensuring a coordinated development of major aspects of mathematical research, the Institute of Mathematics prioritized the development of differential equations, probability and statistics, which were closely related to the national economy and national defence. It also set up the research groups on functional analysis and mathematical logic to intensify the theoretical study of relevant subjects. In 1957, Professor Xiong Qinglai, who returned from France, founded the research group of the theory of functions. In this period, the research work related to mechanics and computer development managed affairs on their own to build the Institute of Mechanics and the Institute of Computing Technology of the CAS. Encouraged by the 12-Year Program for the Development of Science and Technology, the institute started its march towards science.
In 1956, China granted the first National Natural Science Award. Of the three top prizes, the Institute of Mathematics won two.
The institute was temporarily moved to Xiyuan Hotel in 1957. In the next year, it was moved to Zhongguancun (the northern building of the Institute of Computing Technology).
In 1961, research divisions were set up according to subjects, including "four branches" (number theory, algebra, geometry, topology), function theory, differential equations, functional analysis, mathematical logic, theoretical physics, probability and statistics. The Division of Operations was formed with related groups in the Institute of Mechanics and the Institute of Mathematics proposed by Qian Xuesen, Hua Luogeng and Xu Guozhi. In 1962, responding to the needs of our country, the Division of Control Theory was established under the leadership of Guan Zhaozhi and Song Jian. Later, the Division of Mechanics was reestablished. The research work in various directions carried forward rapidly. From 1961 to 1965, following the policy of gaining both achievements and talents, the institute had a relatively stable developing period preparing for the future.
After the "cultural revolution" started in 1966, all research stopped. In 1972, Premier Zhou Enlai gave instruction on intensifying basic research, so mathematical research started again. In 1973, Chen Jingrun made public his result on the Goldbach conjecture. In 1975, Yang Le and Zhang Guanghou published their result on the value distribution theory. The finite element algorithm, founded by Feng Kang et al. in the early 1960s independently of the West, was applied widely in many branches of the national economy and national defence. These were the symbolic achievements of mathematical research of our institute's scientists who had been working at an extremely difficult time. |
