Doctor of Mathematics twice achieved perfect score in Olympic, became President

Before entering politics, Dr. Nicușor Daniel Dan was prominent not in parliament, but in the international mathematical community. At the age of 55, he won the second round of Romania’s presidential election on Sunday, defeating far-right candidate George Simion, according to The Guardian.

Mathematical genius with outstanding achievements

According to Firstpost, Nicușor Daniel Dan was born on December 20, 1969 in the city of Fagaras, Brasov County, Central Romania. Since high school, he showed outstanding talent in Mathematics.

In two consecutive years 1987-1988, Nicușor Dan got perfect scores and won the gold medal at the International Mathematical Olympiad. (Screenshot from IMO website)

According to the official website of the International Mathematical Olympiad, Nicușor Dan won gold medals in 1987 and 1988. On both occasions, he achieved a perfect score of 42/42 - an achievement that placed him among the best young mathematicians in the world at that time.

He continued to pursue his passion at the University of Bucharest, then studied abroad in France, earned a master's degree at the prestigious École Normale Supérieure and defended his doctoral thesis in Mathematics at the University of Paris 13.

Photo of Professor Ngo Bao Chau with Nicușor Dan in a post on his personal page on May 14, 2024. (Screenshot)

In particular, Nicușor Dan is a close friend of Professor Ngo Bao Chau - a famous Vietnamese mathematician who won the prestigious Fields Prize.

In an article posted on May 14, 2024 on his personal page, Professor Ngo Bao Chau shared a photo with this friend and wrote: “Nicușor Dan won two gold medals at the International Mathematical Olympiad with perfect scores for Romania before going to study in France - where we became close friends. After defending his doctoral thesis, he returned to Bucharest to work at the Institute of Mathematics.”

Near the end of the post, the mathematician added: “Last night, we had dinner with his family in a modest apartment in a low-income housing complex.”

Previously, in a 2021 article, Professor Ngo Bao Chau said that he and Nicușor Dan studied together at the École Normale nearly three decades ago. “I was both surprised and not surprised by his success in politics . It is rare for a scientist to succeed in politics - two fields that require sometimes opposite qualities,” Professor Ngo Bao Chau wrote.

On June 2, 2024, Dr. Nicușor Dan's Youtube channel also posted a video with the following message: "I and my close friend - mathematician Ngo Bao Chau, who won the Fields Medal in 2010 and is currently the dean of the University of Chicago, reminisced about old memories. Recently, Chau was in Bucharest to attend a scientific conference at the Institute of Mathematics of the Romanian Academy of Sciences."

Mr. Nicușor Dan talks with Professor Ngo Bao Chau in a video posted on the Youtube channel of the new President of Romania on June 2, 2024. (Screenshot)

Having met Mr. Nicușor Dan at an international competition in Romania, Professor Poh Shen Loh, former coach of the US national math team, shared on LinkedIn on May 20: "My biggest impression of him is not only his quick thinking, but also his sincere listening. He really takes the time to understand other people's points of view - not just shaking hands and smiling politely. He is not only good at math but also has the ability to face and handle the most complex problems of life - like human nature".

From academics to social and political activism

According to ABC News, in the late 1990s, Nicușor Dan returned to Romania with the desire to change the country. “I started organizing meetings with international students, discussing what could be done to ensure Romania was on the right track,” he shared on his official website.

He then worked as a mathematics researcher at the Romanian Academy - the country's leading scientific institution.

Romania's new president is a PhD in Mathematics. (Photo: Xinhua News)

He also contributed to the establishment of the Bucharest Higher Pedagogical University, an educational institution modeled after the French Ecole Normale Supérieure, to meet the learning needs of domestic students according to international standards.

In the 2000s, Nicușor Dan became better known for his social work in the capital, especially in the field of planning and protecting public spaces. He is the founder of the Save Bucharest Association, which has won many lawsuits related to illegal real estate projects or those that affect architectural heritage.

In 2016, he entered politics, founding the USR (Union to Save Romania) party, and then became Mayor of Bucharest in 2020, re-elected in 2023. During his term, he prioritized improving infrastructure, especially the heating system for the capital's residents.

In May 2025, Nicușor Dan won the presidential election as an independent candidate. He pledged to promote European integration, financial reform and fight corruption - goals that are popular with many young and educated voters.

Although he has little experience in foreign affairs, he is considered a leader with a solid academic background, systematic thinking and clear political views. Nicușor Dan's victory marks the first time in Romania's history that a mathematician has become the head of state, an inspiring role model for those who believe that intelligence and kindness can go hand in hand to make great changes.

(Source: Vietnamnet)

Link: https://vietnamnet.vn/tien-si-toan-hoc-tung-gianh-2-hcv-olypic-toan-quoc-te-tro-thanh-tong-thong-2403214.html

Source: https://vtcnews.vn/hai-lan-mathematics-tien-si-dat-diem-tuyet-doi-olympic-tro-thanh-tong-thong-ar944496.html