Archive · 26 Jun 2025
Kakeya Conjecture Solver Joshua Zahl Moves to China's Nankai University
Joshua Zahl, a brilliant mathematician, cracked a 100-year-old math puzzle called the Kakeya conjecture.
This is a big deal in the math world!
Now, he's moving from Canada to China to work at Nankai University.
He will be a professor there.
He worked with another mathematician named Wang Hong to solve the problem.
They published their solution in several papers.
Zahl's mentor was very impressed with the solution.
They might even win a special math prize called the Fields Medal soon!
Mathematician Joshua Zahl, who solved the Kakeya conjecture, is moving to China.
Zahl will take a full-time position at Nankai University's Chern Institute of Mathematics (CIM).
He will serve as a chair professor at the university.
Zahl and Wang Hong's solution to the Kakeya conjecture is detailed in three articles.
Zahl and Wang are eligible for the Fields Medal in 2026.
- Who
- Joshua Zahl, along with Wang Hong, solved the Kakeya conjecture.
- What
- Mathematician Joshua Zahl is moving to China after solving the Kakeya conjecture.
- When
- Zahl is set to leave the University of British Columbia (UBC) and take a full-time position recently.
- Where
- Zahl is moving from Canada to China, specifically Nankai University's Chern Institute of Mathematics (CIM).
- Why
- To take a full-time professorship at Nankai University.
- Mathematician
- Joshua Zahl
- New Position
- Chair Professor at Nankai University
- Institute
- Chern Institute of Mathematics (CIM)
- Mathematical Achievement
- Solved Kakeya conjecture
- Co-worker
- Wang Hong
- Awards
- Up for Fields Medal in 2026