Internationalization

Edward Witten has been living the high life these past two years, traveling the world with his wife and having already circled the globe. This is his second time exploring the world map.

Witten was quite wealthy; he held a tenured professorship at the Princeton Institute for Advanced Study and published seventeen academic books in his lifetime, the best-selling being "Superstring Theory" published in 1987.

The United States has very strict protection of intellectual property rights, Witten, which has been selling academic monographs for decades, is now living a life of easy money.

Scholars who do pure theoretical research can also live very glamorous lives; Witten is a prime example.

Shen Qi knew that it would be difficult to sway Witten with material temptations like money. To invite a top-tier figure, a more reliable approach would be based on emotion and sentiment. "Edward, do you remember that morning five years ago? I was wandering aimlessly on the lawn in front of the Institute of Institute for Advanced Study, completely lost. It was you who pulled me back on track. You are the most important mentor and friend in my life."

"Let's get down to business," Witten said succinctly.

Shen Qi said frankly, "I would like to invite you to be Visiting Professor in my department. I will speak with the university, and they will definitely agree. I hope you can provide us with assistance in physics, Mathematical Physics, and other related fields."

"I'll think about it. See you at PKU in about a week... Irene, is it our number yet? Qi, that's all for now, bye-bye." Witten sounded very busy on the phone. The background noise resembled the noisy environment of a restaurant. Hong Kong people were speaking Cantonese, and Witten and his wife were queuing for food.

Wealthy American seniors know how to enjoy life; they travel the world after retirement. The Witten couple are probably in Hong Kong waiting to have afternoon tea.

A week later, Witten and his wife arrived at Yenching University as scheduled.

Today is Saturday. Shen Qi is showing Witten around the Shen Qi Mathematical and Physical Research Center by himself. "Edward, this is my territory, not bad, right?"

Witten said, "It's large enough, about twice the size of the Princeton Institute for Advanced Study."

"Edward, what have you thought about my proposal from last week?" Shen Qi asked.

"Visiting Professor, huh? That's interesting. What exactly do you need me to do?"

"NS Equations, we're preparing to officially launch an attack on this project. Edward, we need your advice."

"The Navier-Stokes equation, is it? I think that should be fine." This was Witten's way of expressing his opinion. After all, the old man was a sentimental person. When Shen Qi got married, he flew all the way from the United States to China to attend the wedding, which showed Shen Qi's status in Witten old man's heart.

"Wow, cool." Shen Qi was quite happy. His center was about to welcome a powerful ally, which meant that the center had taken a solid step on the road to internationalization.

"In fact, the Navier-Stokes equations will be led and advanced by our center's mathematics team," Shen Qi briefly introduced the center's organizational structure.

"It would actually be better if a mathematics team were in charge of this project." Witten agreed that mathematicians should be the main force in tackling the Navier-Stokes equations.

Shen Qi continued, "Three physics problems have been troubling me. First, the lifetime of the proton. Second, the Black Hole Information Paradox. Third, the explanation of the fundamental degrees of freedom in M-theory. These are all Theoretical Physics problems that our center's physics team will study in depth. The third problem is one that you, Edward, are most familiar with."

The third question was closely related to String Theory. Witten asked, "Qi, what do you want to do?"

Shen Qi smiled and said, "I want to answer this question, together with you, Edward."

"Are you serious?" Witten suddenly trembled, probably because the old man was feeling a bit young again.

Witten's masterpiece, Superstring Theory, is hailed as the bible of Theoretical Physics, drawing countless physicists to study it late into the night.

The saying "critically acclaimed but commercially unsuccessful" might perfectly describe Witten.

Even though Witten holds a godfather-like status in the Theoretical Physics community, he has never won a Nobel Prize.

Over the years, the old man has almost become indifferent to it all.

But life can be unpredictable sometimes. When you're full of anticipation, she remains indifferent. Just when you're approaching a state of abstinence, she teases you, reigniting your desire.

Shen Qi decided to study the interpretation of the basic degrees of freedom of M-theory with Witten, and Witten was smitten.

The two chatted and laughed as they went up to the second floor. Witten discovered that the second floor was a laboratory, but there wasn't a single piece of equipment related to Proton Lifetime, Black Hole Information Paradox, or M-theory.

"This place is full of equipment for materials preparation and testing," Witten said.

"As you can see, yes, it's all experimental equipment related to Condensed Matter Physics materials. You know Edward, I also have to do some application projects, otherwise I can't support so many excellent employees," Shen Qi explained, leading Witten up to the third floor.

Half of the rooms on the third floor were empty, while the other half were decorated in a very casual style, with a coffee shop, gym, calligraphy and painting room, chess and card room, and audio-visual entertainment room, making it feel like an entertainment club.

"It seems you treat your employees very well," Witten praised.

"Unfortunately, apart from the coffee shop, the other entertainment and leisure facilities are used very little. They're too busy, too busy to relax. This isn't the situation I wanted to see." Shen Qi shook his head and smiled helplessly; he himself was quite busy.

"Hey, this café is decorated in the style of the Princeton Mathematics Department café." Witten strolled around the café.

"Do you like it here, Edward?"

"The hardware is fantastic, but it feels like it lacks a certain human touch," Witten concluded.

You're absolutely right. The academic atmosphere of the Princeton Mathematics Department is cultivated over time by a dozen or so Fields Medal laureates who gather together for coffee every day... Shen Qi and Witten arrived on the fourth floor. He said, "My office is on the fourth floor, Edward. Visiting Professor don't need to stay at Yenching University every month. Your office is also on the fourth floor. You can work here during your time at Yenching University. I wonder if you're satisfied?"

"Looks pretty good... Good heavens, how come you have animals here? Monkeys?" Witten was looking around with great interest when he suddenly noticed a few monkeys, which surprised him.

Shen Qi explained, "They are laboratory animals, they are great heroes."

Witten's question was, "Strange, why do Navier-Stokes equations, M-theory, or Condensed Matter Physics need laboratory animals?"

"Because this laboratory is Chemistry Laboratory, it is currently mainly used for drug research." Shen Qi led Witten to Laboratory 401.

Looking at the room full of chemical instruments and raw materials, Witten was shocked. "Qi, are you really going to study chemistry, drugs, and monkeys?"

"Do you think I'm joking? I still have to study the Mathematical Grand Unification. To be honest, Edward, I'm under a lot of pressure, so I desperately need your help. Even if you can only stay at Yenching University for two months a year, it will be a huge help to me."

"NS equations, M-theory, Proton Lifetime, Black Hole Information Paradox, Condensed Matter Physics, chemical synthesis, drug preparation, monkeys, the Mathematical Grand Unification..." Witten connected all the information and arrived at a startling conclusion. "I know, Qi, you want to rule the world before you turn forty."