The professor recently passed away, the person who had great contributions to bringing Vietnamese Mathematics to the world.

Professor Le Dung Trang, an important part of the Vietnamese mathematical memory, passed away in Pau (France) on the evening of November 19, at the age of 78. He left behind a rich scientific legacy and was a source of inspiration for many generations of Vietnamese mathematicians.

Educational journey

Professor Le Dung Trang was born in 1947 in Saigon, Vietnam, and followed his family to France in 1949. From a young age, he showed a passion for Mathematics and studied at prestigious schools in France. In 1971, at the age of 24, Le Dung Trang defended his Doctor of Science (Doctorat d'Etat) thesis under the guidance of two famous mathematicians, Claude Chevalley and Pierre Deligne - who later received the Fields Medal (1978) and the Abel Prize (2013). He was one of the youngest doctors in France at that time.

His academic career spans several countries. He has taught at the University of Paris 7, the Polytechnic University of Paris and the University of Marseille I, and was Head of the Mathematics Department of the ICTP Theoretical Physics Centre in Trieste from 2002 to 2009. He has been a member of the World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) since 1993.

Professor Le Dung Trang was introduced to participate in the teaching program and seminar on Higher Mathematics at Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú (PUCP) - a prestigious university in Peru. Photo: *Puntoedu.pucp.edu.pe*

Beginning of love with Mathematics

In a 2015 interview with the Worldwide Center of Mathematics , Professor Le Dung Trang shared the moment he realized that Mathematics was his path. While studying at École Polytechnique, he took many math exams and realized his own abilities. Thanks to the Math seminars, especially the sessions on Hironaka's singularities, he gradually shaped his research direction and deep passion for this field.

He admitted that, at first, his goal was not to become famous but just to find interesting mathematical problems. Through his self-study efforts, he built basic tools to help other mathematicians study problems related to special structures.

International engagement and contributions to Vietnamese Mathematics

Although he became famous in France, Professor Le Dung Trang always turned to his homeland. Since the 1970s, he used his own personal funds to teach in Vietnam. In 1974, at the invitation of Professor Ta Quang Buu, he and other international mathematicians came to Vietnam to organize a series of lectures on mathematical issues at Hanoi University of Science and Technology.

One of his important contributions was helping Vietnam join the International Mathematical Union (IMU) in 1974. He actively mobilized funds and connected with mathematicians in the US, France and Japan to support Vietnam to attend the International Congress of Mathematicians in Vancouver, Canada. Thanks to that, many young Vietnamese mathematicians were given the opportunity to study abroad and access the international mathematical community.

In his speech at the 2012 Vietnam-France Mathematics Conference, Professor Le Dung Trang emphasized the initial difficulties in organizing classes, seminars and inviting international lecturers to Vietnam, from visa application, room booking, to logistics. These efforts have contributed to laying the foundation for long-term cooperation between the two mathematics communities.

Research career

Professor's main research areas are singularities in geometry and Hodge theory. He has done many important works, developed new research tools, and contributed to expanding the knowledge of other mathematicians in the world. Despite his many achievements, he humbly believes that his contributions are only the foundation for future generations to continue to develop.

For many years, he continued his research after retirement, working at universities in Brazil and continuing his international academic exchanges. He always emphasized the importance of self-study and independent research in Mathematics, as well as the constant effort to improve one's own abilities.

Legacy and influence

Professor Le Dung Trang is a typical example of the combination of talent, personal effort and responsibility for the homeland. He not only contributed to improving the quality of mathematical research in Vietnam but also opened up opportunities to connect with the international scientific community. His name is associated with bringing Vietnamese mathematics to the international arena, training many generations of young mathematicians, and at the same time building a foundation for long-term cooperation between Vietnam and France as well as other countries.

Today, Professor Le Dung Trang's legacy still exists in his research works, classes and international cooperation programs, inspiring generations of Vietnamese mathematicians to continue reaching out to the world.

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/giao-su-vua-qua-doi-la-nguoi-co-cong-rat-lon-dua-toan-hoc-viet-nam-ra-the-gioi-2465303.html