Dashun Wang
Dashun Wang is a physicist, professor at Northwestern University, known for his studies in the «science of science,» a field of research that uses large amounts of data and tools from complexity science to analyse how scientific and creative ideas arise and spread. On 3 November 2026 he received the Lagrange – CRT Foundation Prize 2026 in Turin, the foremost international award for the science of complex systems and data, established and funded by the CRT Foundation (Fondazione CRT) and coordinated by the ISI Foundation [1].
Education and research career
Trained as a physicist, during his doctorate Wang chose to apply the methods used to study atoms and molecules to the analysis of people and groups. This path led him towards computational social science and, later, towards applying those same tools to the study of science itself [1].
In the course of his research he has analysed millions of scientific papers, patents, software products, grants and academic careers. His work shows that scientific progress depends not only on individual talent, but also on collaboration, the organisation of research groups and funding systems [1].
«Hot streaks»: periods of greatest creativity
Together with his research group, Wang has identified and studied so-called «hot streaks» — periods in a career when an individual's most successful work is concentrated — studying not only scientists but also artists and film directors. According to his analyses, about 90% of the scientists, 91% of the artists and 82% of the directors examined experienced at least one «hot streak» during their career, such as Albert Einstein's «miracle year» in 1905 or the period Peter Jackson went through while making The Lord of the Rings [1].
One of the insights behind these studies came from an observation Wang made at the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam: before moving to Arles in 1888, Vincent van Gogh's output was highly varied in subject, style and technique; afterwards it became more focused, and it was precisely then that the painter's «hot streak» began. According to Wang, the shift from exploring different ideas and styles to delving deeper into a promising area generally coincides with the start of these periods of greater creativity [1].
The Lagrange – CRT Foundation Prize
The Lagrange – CRT Foundation Prize, awarded in Turin, is the foremost international award for the science of complex systems and data. It was established and is funded by the CRT Foundation and coordinated by the ISI Foundation; the 2026 edition was awarded to Dashun Wang for his contributions to the development of the «science of science» [1].
Timeline
- — Physicist Dashun Wang, of Northwestern University, receives the Lagrange – CRT Foundation Prize 2026 in Turin for the science of complex systems and data. → TorinoOggi
Sources
- TorinoOggi — 3 November 2026