Independent Academic Advisory Notice: NingHe Education has no official affiliation or endorsement with the S.-T. Yau High School Science Award organizing committee. All competition registrations must be completed via the official portal at yau-awards.com. NingHe provides independent academic research mentorship and advisor matching.
About the Award
Founded in 2008 by Fields Medalist Shing-Tung Yau and hosted by Tsinghua University (Yau Mathematical Sciences Center), the S.-T. Yau High School Science Award spans six disciplines: Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Computer Science, and Economic & Financial Modeling. With divisions across Mainland China, Hong Kong/Macau/Taiwan, North America, the UK, and Asia, more than 500 international scientists serve on its review and advisory panels.
We focus specifically on the Mathematics Division. Mathematical evaluation prioritizes disciplinary relevance, originality of ideas, and rigor of mathematical derivations — the exact capabilities cultivated through 1-on-1 faculty mentorship: mastering analytical tools, close reading of primary literature, independent proof construction, and formal LaTeX writing. According to official award records, over half of award-winning secondary students have matriculated at leading institutions including Harvard, MIT, Yale, Princeton, Tsinghua, and Peking University.
Competition Schedule
Below is the 2026 Mainland China division schedule (verified against the official Yau Award portal). North America and Asia divisions follow their respective regional calendars.
Register on the official website (yau-awards.com) individually or in teams of 1–3 students from the same secondary school, select Mathematics, and submit the PDF research report.
The organizing committee reviews registration materials and submitted research reports for formal compliance and academic integrity.
Regional panels evaluate entries on mathematical relevance, originality of approach, and rigor of proofs, followed by oral defense interviews.
Each discipline awards 1 Gold, 1 Silver, 3 Bronze, and 5 Honorable Mentions, alongside 1 overall Grand Science Gold Award.
How NingHe Helps
Mentors guide students 1-on-1 through topic scoping, literature reading, mathematical derivations, LaTeX writing, and mock defense — while the research report remains strictly the student’s own work.
Mentors evaluate the student’s readiness in calculus, linear algebra, proof writing, and literature reading, then formulate a tractable research question aligned with the award’s criteria of mathematical relevance, originality, and rigor.
Access our network of PhD and postdoctoral mentors across pure mathematics, applied mathematics, and mathematical statistics for 1-on-1 supervision and official competition Advisor endorsement.
Initial sessions build vector calculus and differential geometry foundations, followed by mentor-guided reading of classical papers (such as Gage–Hamilton), where students compute proofs independently before presenting them in session.
Guide students in typesetting their work in LaTeX / Overleaf according to official Yau Award structure (title page, abstract, keywords, table of contents, theorems, proofs, bibliography, and acknowledgments).
Conduct mock academic defenses tailored to regional and final rounds, training students to articulate their mathematical ideas clearly and respond to committee questioning.
FAQ
The program consists of 20 weekly 1-on-1 sessions. Early sessions build vector calculus and curve geometry foundations; next, the mentor guides close reading of classical papers while the student works through calculations before each session; finally, the student leads a specific research question and writes the paper in LaTeX. All derivations and writing are completed by the student under mentor guidance.
NingHe is an independent academic mentoring institution providing faculty research guidance and defense preparation. Official registration and submission take place directly on yau-awards.com.
Foundational calculus (including multivariable/vector calculus) is recommended. The mentor first evaluates your readiness in calculus, linear algebra, proof writing, and English mathematical reading, and dedicates early sessions to bridging any foundational gaps.
The core curriculum spans 20 weeks. With the Mainland China division submission deadline on September 15, starting by March or April allows a comfortable pace; students may also begin ~12 months ahead targeting the following year’s cycle for deeper mathematical exploration.
Get Started
Schedule a free 1-on-1 evaluation: our mentor team will assess your mathematical readiness and design a structured 20-week research roadmap with you.
