Ngô Bảo Châu: The Man Who Nearly Turned Down the Prestigious 2010 Fields Medal 🏅
Discover the inspiring story of Ngô Bảo Châu, a mathematician who almost declined the world’s most esteemed award. Plus, learn how seeking therapy can be a sign of strength with BetterHelp’s special offer.

Tom Rocks Maths
5.0K views • Jul 23, 2025

About this video
Going to therapy is a sign of strength, not weakness. My paid partner BetterHelp makes therapy simple, with 10% off your first month to help you get started: https://betterhelp.com/tomrocksmaths
Oxbridge Mathematician Dr Tom Crawford talks to 2010 Fields Medal recipient Ngô Bảo Châu, the Francis and Rose Yuen Distinguished Service Professor at the University of Chicago.
Recorded at the 2024 Heidelberg Laureate Forum. Thanks to the Heidelberg Laureate Forum Foundation.
Thanks to BetterHelp for being the paid partner in this video.
Other videos recorded at the 11th HLF.
Gerd Faltings (1986 Fields Medal): https://youtu.be/FVULa2yjUe0
Klein Bottles: https://youtu.be/gjbJB-YM7Rg
Po-Shen Loh: https://youtu.be/WTs5jpwqW4A
Martin Hairer: https://youtu.be/Ae9lTCUzJjE
Produced by Dr Tom Crawford at the University of Oxford. Tom is Public Engagement Lead at the Oxford University Department for Continuing Education: https://www.conted.ox.ac.uk/profiles/tom-crawford
For more maths content check out Tom's website https://tomrocksmaths.com/
You can also follow Tom on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @tomrocksmaths.
https://www.facebook.com/tomrocksmaths/
https://twitter.com/tomrocksmaths
https://www.instagram.com/tomrocksmaths/
With thanks to:
University of Oxford
Oxford University Department for Continuing Education
Oxford Lifelong Learning
Heidelberg Laureate Forum Foundation
All images used under a "fair use" policy for educational purposes. The copyright remains with the respective owner. Links to original images below.
The Mathematical Intelligencer: https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Ngo-Bao-Chau-receives-the-Fields-Medal-at-ICM-2010_fig5_343497653
Bao Binh Duong: https://baobinhduong.vn/en/vietnamese-professor-ngo-bao-chau-wins-fields-medal-a10684.html
International Science Council: https://council.science/profile/laszlo-lovasz/
Bao Nhan Dan: https://special.nhandan.vn/kham-thien-bombing-50-years-en/index.html
Bao Nguoi Lao Dong: https://nld.com.vn/giao-duc-khoa-hoc/doi-canh-gia-dinh-2010081903000213.htm
Bao Anh Viet Nam: https://vietnam.vnanet.vn/english/tin-tuc/professor-ngo-bao-chau-%E2%80%93-a-world-ranked-mathematician-7951.html
Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rocq
Bao Tuoi Tre: https://tuoitre.vn/ngo-bao-chau-buoc-len-dinh-cao-toan-hoc-54873.htm
Dan Komoda/Institute for Advanced Study: https://www.quantamagazine.org/robert-langlands-mathematical-visionary-wins-the-abel-prize-20180320/
Support Tom's work via Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/tomrocksmaths
Oxbridge Mathematician Dr Tom Crawford talks to 2010 Fields Medal recipient Ngô Bảo Châu, the Francis and Rose Yuen Distinguished Service Professor at the University of Chicago.
Recorded at the 2024 Heidelberg Laureate Forum. Thanks to the Heidelberg Laureate Forum Foundation.
Thanks to BetterHelp for being the paid partner in this video.
Other videos recorded at the 11th HLF.
Gerd Faltings (1986 Fields Medal): https://youtu.be/FVULa2yjUe0
Klein Bottles: https://youtu.be/gjbJB-YM7Rg
Po-Shen Loh: https://youtu.be/WTs5jpwqW4A
Martin Hairer: https://youtu.be/Ae9lTCUzJjE
Produced by Dr Tom Crawford at the University of Oxford. Tom is Public Engagement Lead at the Oxford University Department for Continuing Education: https://www.conted.ox.ac.uk/profiles/tom-crawford
For more maths content check out Tom's website https://tomrocksmaths.com/
You can also follow Tom on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @tomrocksmaths.
https://www.facebook.com/tomrocksmaths/
https://twitter.com/tomrocksmaths
https://www.instagram.com/tomrocksmaths/
With thanks to:
University of Oxford
Oxford University Department for Continuing Education
Oxford Lifelong Learning
Heidelberg Laureate Forum Foundation
All images used under a "fair use" policy for educational purposes. The copyright remains with the respective owner. Links to original images below.
The Mathematical Intelligencer: https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Ngo-Bao-Chau-receives-the-Fields-Medal-at-ICM-2010_fig5_343497653
Bao Binh Duong: https://baobinhduong.vn/en/vietnamese-professor-ngo-bao-chau-wins-fields-medal-a10684.html
International Science Council: https://council.science/profile/laszlo-lovasz/
Bao Nhan Dan: https://special.nhandan.vn/kham-thien-bombing-50-years-en/index.html
Bao Nguoi Lao Dong: https://nld.com.vn/giao-duc-khoa-hoc/doi-canh-gia-dinh-2010081903000213.htm
Bao Anh Viet Nam: https://vietnam.vnanet.vn/english/tin-tuc/professor-ngo-bao-chau-%E2%80%93-a-world-ranked-mathematician-7951.html
Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rocq
Bao Tuoi Tre: https://tuoitre.vn/ngo-bao-chau-buoc-len-dinh-cao-toan-hoc-54873.htm
Dan Komoda/Institute for Advanced Study: https://www.quantamagazine.org/robert-langlands-mathematical-visionary-wins-the-abel-prize-20180320/
Support Tom's work via Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/tomrocksmaths
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Video Information
Views
5.0K
Likes
162
Duration
28:22
Published
Jul 23, 2025
User Reviews
4.6
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