Wu Wenjun, born in Shanghai in May 1919, was graduated from Shanghai Jiaotong University in 1940. In 1947, he went to France for advanced study in University of Strassbourg. In 1949, he obtained his national doctor's degree of France. In 1957, he was elected as an academician of China Academy Sciences (CAS). In 1990, he was elected as an academician of the Third World Academy of Sciences.

From 1952 to 1979, he served as the vice president of CAS Institute of Mathematics. From 1979 to now, he was the vice president of CAS Division of Mathematics & Physics, honored president and researcher. In 1984, he was elected as president of the Chinese Society of Mathematicians.

Wu is a famous mathematician. His research work covered a wide area of mathematics. As a disciplinary precursor, Wu made monumental contributions to the field of topology by introducing Wu's imbedding and characteristic classes and establishing Wu's Formulae, Wu's character category and Wu's qian category, which have been widely accepted by his counterparts and had exerted worldwide influence.

In the late 1970s, with the rapid development of computer technology, he enriched his prolific personal career by opening a new horizon in mathematics mechanization. In the field of mathematics mechanization, Wu suggested a computerized method for proving geometrical theorems, known as Wu's method in the international community. In line with the conventional approach in traditional Chinese mathematics, a geometric problem is converted into an algebraic problem. Different from the logical approach, Wu's approach realizes highly effective proving of geometric theorems on a portable calculator, displaying an unmatched superiority in computational effectiveness. His work in this aspect is widely known as a harbinger in automated reasoning and in 1997, he was conferred a Herbrand Prize for Distinguished Contributions to Automated Reasoning.

Because of his meritorious service and creative work, he won a top prize of the 1956 National Awards for Natural Sciences, the first of its kind in the history of the People's Republic of China. In 1993, he was conferred with a prize from Chen Jiageng (Tan Kah-kee) Awards for Mathematics & Physics, and in the next year, he became a laureate of the prize for outstanding scientists granted by Hong Kong's Qiushi S&T Foundation. In 1993, he received the Herbrand Award for Distinguished Contributions to Automated Reasoning.

As one of the two laureates for China's Supreme Scientific and Technological Award, Prof. Wu Wenjun received the country's top award in science and technology in 2000. Wu loves his motherland China. He's scientist of nobility, a distinguished person in mathematics. In more than 50 years, he worked at the frontier of mathematic research and achieved a lot of original progress.