For comparison, subsequent polymath projects have had a hard time coming to completion without the presence of a particularly strong and/or famous central mathematician. (The mini-polymaths were advertised by Tao, IIRC.)
Do you think that Tao or Gowers’ mathematical talent was critical for the polymath project that you personally participated in? (Focusing on it because you probably know more about it than other ones.)
For comparison, subsequent polymath projects have had a hard time coming to completion without the presence of a particularly strong and/or famous central mathematician. (The mini-polymaths were advertised by Tao, IIRC.)
Do you think that Tao or Gowers’ mathematical talent was critical for the polymath project that you personally participated in? (Focusing on it because you probably know more about it than other ones.)
Yes.