The 2014 Zeeman Medal is awarded to MARCUS DU SAUTOY of the University of Oxford for his contributions to the public understanding of the mathematical sciences.
Marcus du Sautoy has, since 2008, held the Charles Simonyi chair for the Public Understanding of Science at the University of Oxford. In fact he has been communicating mathematics to the general public for more than 20 years with considerable intensity and impact. Of particular note is his talent for engaging young people and inspiring them to follow mathematics.
His emphasis is to show the beauty of mathematics to wide audiences. This proves to be a powerful motivator for many people, young and old alike. Du Sautoy has used all kinds of media to promote mathematics including appearing on and presenting radio and TV programmes, writing popular books and contributing to theatrical productions. Du Sautoy has shown particular skill in finding ways of explaining concepts of mathematics to audiences without specialist knowledge and who often believe the mathematical sciences are something for experts alone. Examples are programmes such as School of Hard Sums and TalkSport as well as news programmes on the World Service, BBC Radio 4, 5 Live and local radio. In 2006 du Sautoy become only the third mathematician to deliver the Royal Institution Christmas Lectures, which were widely regarded as exceptional.
Du Sautoy has a particular talent for music and the creative arts. He took part in the Maestro at the Opera series on BBC2 in 2012. Though not about mathematics this appearance demonstrated to the viewing public that mathematicians have broad interests and talents. His play X&Y which grew out of his collaboration with Complicité Theatre Company’s production of A Disappearing Number is an illuminating, thrilling work of theatre with maths genuinely at its core. His work with audiences exploring the mathematics in Mozart’s Magic Flute is similarly remarkable as a piece of mathematical communication.
Du Sautoy’s popular books have also been exceptionally well-received and have brought mathematics to wide audiences. His The Music of the Primes has been translated into 11 languages and sold more than 100,000 copies.
In addition to his work with public engagement du Sautoy has had a distinguished research career in the mathematical sciences. His research career has been marked by invitations to lecture at high profile international conferences, publication in leading journals and prestigious prizes. His academic research has straddled many areas of mathematics including group theory, number theory, model theory and algebraic geometry. His primary focus is on zeta functions of groups, functions first introduced by Grunewald, Segal and Smith in 1988. Du Sautoy’s research has transformed the study of these zeta functions, revealing hidden depths and unexpected applications.
