The math prodigy with the highest IQ in the world also has a headache because of... money

(Dan Tri) - The US cut in research budget has affected mathematical genius Terence Tao. Mr. Terence took to social media to share about the difficult situation he is facing.

Professor Terence Tao (50 years old) is one of the world's most outstanding mathematicians. He recently shared on social media that his laboratory at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) is having serious difficulties in maintaining research projects.

Research funding for many universities in the US is being cut under the new direction of the Government . Even if research activities still receive funding, the disbursement speed is not as fast as before.

Mathematician Terence Tao (Photo: SCMP).

Currently, not only UCLA but many other top universities in the US are also affected by the federal government's policy of cutting funding for research activities in universities.

This move was made by the US Government at the same time as reducing the functions and scale of operations of the US Department of Education .

“The delay in disbursing research funding has had a significant impact on me,” said mathematician Terence Tao. “I have almost no resources left to support my PhD students. I had already requested that my salary be suspended for the summer months to prioritize supporting my PhD students. But my salary is still suspended.”

Tao also expressed concern about the future of UCLA’s Institute of Pure and Applied Mathematics, which is “waiting” for a $25 million grant from the government. Tao warned that the Institute of Pure and Applied Mathematics “does not have the resources to invest in new long-term projects.”

“My experiments on applying new technology in the mathematical research process are currently carried out by myself and a few unpaid volunteers,” said Mr. Terence Tao.

In fact, the reduction of funding from the federal government has had a huge impact on research activities at universities in the US, such as project stagnation and scientists falling into psychological instability. The case of mathematician Terence Tao is just one example.

Mr. Terence Tao holds dual Australian and American citizenship. He was born in 1975 in Australia to a family of Chinese descent.

Terence Tao won a gold medal at the International Mathematical Olympiad at the age of 13, became a math professor at UCLA at the age of 24, and won the prestigious Fields Medal in mathematics at the age of 31. With an IQ of 230, Terence Tao is known as one of the people with the highest IQ in the world.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/giao-duc/than-dong-toan-hoc-co-iq-cao-nhat-the-gioi-cung-dau-dau-vi-tien-20250807065149568.htm