On the afternoon of July 7, 2008, Turing Award Winner, computer science theorist, professor of Tsinghua University, Andrew Chi-chih Yao gave a vivid speech----China's Road to Turing Award.

At the beginning of the speech, Prof. Yao posed two questions: 1. Is it possible to have a top discipline of computer science in China? 2. Is it possible to cultivate a Turing Award Winner in China? In the following speech, with simple language and vivid pictures, Prof. Yao analyzed our advantages, combined with his own experience and his practice in Tsinghua University during these past four years, showing that the answer to the two questions above is "Yes"! He said: "The answer is affirmative. Tsinghua is doing this!"

Prof. Yao demonstrated that, in China, the discussions on top universities mainly concentrated on culture and system. Therefore, what has been seen is usually negative factors, and the positive ones are often ignored. The importance of top universities is the aggregation of top disciplines, top undergraduate and graduate students and top research results. China has its own advantage in this regard.

Prof. Yao talked about current development of computer science, particularly analyzed the advantages of computer science in Tsinghua University and its international impact, then he mentioned the importance of theoretical computer science. He noted that the function of theoretical computer science is to use mathematical tool to explore a new field, which has wide-range commercial application, providing a scientific basis for computer science. How to win Turing Award? Prof. Yao emphasized the importance of scientific creativity, with vivid metaphor, lots of examples and his own experience. He also introduced The Princeton’s Road to Turing Award. The department of computer science was founded in 1985 in Princeton University, and more than a half faculty studied theory. In the following years, more talents on theory were invited. During these few years, the department of computer science in Princeton had become top 10 in the world. The experience of Princeton shows that, firstly, discipline development is very important, and theoretical computer science could become the backbone. A top discipline may help other disciplines to earn enough time to become top ones. Secondly, top universities do not necessarily have all-round development. Shortcomings are common, but we need to pay more attention to our strong point with confidence.

How to make a China's road to the Turing Award? Prof. Yao thinks of two strategies. One is the system reform from top to bottom, and this strategy needs prudence. The other strategy is from bottom to top, which means from top personal research to top team research, to top professional field research and to top computer science development. "In Tsinghua University, we use both strategies." He looked back the practice of China's road to the Turing Award that he's been through from 2004.

In the past four years, Prof. Yao led a chair professor team consisting of 10 brilliant scholars, and founded Tsinghua university Microsoft special Pilot Computer Science class. Ten core courses are designed, in order to give instructions to undergraduate students. In 2007, the Institute for Theoretical Computer Science (ITCS) was founded, and another chair professor team consisting of 20 top scholars was set up, in order to improve education quality. In 2008, pre-research class was set up as well, and the students of this class are all selected from brilliant and outstanding students. They will receive personal cultivation from top scholars all over the world. So far, 8 PhD students graduated from the chair professor team, and 20 PhD students will graduate in the following years. The students from ITCS have made great research results and their paper have been published in top conferences. ITCS has become the top 10 institutes in theoretical computer science.

Looking back the past four years, Prof. Yao have a lot of confidence in China's road to the Turing Award, and he said: "With the help and support of Ministries and Tsinghua University, our answer must be affirmative!"

After the speech, Prof. Yao answered many questions posed by teachers and students in Tsinghua University.

This talk is the fourteenth talk in Tsinghua Forum. The director of Academy Committee, Qian Yi hosted the forum. Secretary of party committee in Tsinghua University Chen Xi, and associate principal Chen Xu attended this forum.