The President of the Norwegian Academy of Sciences and Letters, Kirsti Strøm Bull, today announced the winners of the 2015 Abel Prize – considered by many to be the ‘Nobel Prize’ for mathematics.
The annual prize, which carries a monetary award of 6 million Norwegian kroner (approximately £514,000) was granted to John F Nash Jr and Louis Nirenberg for “striking and seminal contributions to the theory of partial differential equations and its applications to geometric analysis.”
Nash and Nirenberg were described at a press conference in Oslo this morning as ‘two mathematical giants of the twentieth century’. Explaining how they came to their decision, the Abel Committee said, “Their breakthroughs have developed into versatile and robust techniques that have become essential tools for the study of nonlinear partial differential equations. Their impact can be felt in all branches of the theory.”
“Far from being confined to the solutions of the problems for which they were devised,” the Committee added, “the results proven by Nash and Nirenberg have become very useful tools and have found tremendous applications in further contexts.”
Nash, aged 86, spent his career at Princeton University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Nirenberg, aged 90, meanwhile worked at New York University’s Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences. Despite not formally collaborating on any papers, the Academy said, they influenced each other greatly during the 1950s and, as a result, their work remains of unparalleled relevance today.
Professor Terry Lyons FRS, President of the London Mathematical Society welcomed today’s announcement, saying, “John Forbes Nash and Louis Nirenberg have, since the 1950s, been changing the mathematics we use to model the world around us. Both have played deep and foundational roles in developing the area known as partial differential equations – the “equations” we use to model diffusive behaviour and relationships. Today this area is one of the cornerstones of modern mathematics. Translated through numerical methods, it is also one of the most significant in terms of applications. It is tremendous that they are so honoured.”
Professor Elizabeth Mansfield, Vice-President, Learned Society, of the Institute of Mathematics and its Applications (IMA), also welcomed the news, adding, ”The IMA congratulates this year’s winners. This is a prestigious award for seminal work that has proved to be among the best of the best.”
The winners will formally receive the prize from His Majesty King Harald V of Norway at a ceremony in Oslo on 19 May.
ENDS
Notes to Editors
1 The Niels Henrik Abel Memorial Fund was established on 1 January 2002 to award the Abel Prize for outstanding scientific work in the field of mathematics. The prize was awarded for the first time on 3 June 2003. For more information please consult the Abel Prize website www.abelprize.no (English)
2 The London Mathematical Society (LMS) is the UK’s learned Society for mathematics. Founded in 1865 for the promotion and extension of mathematical knowledge, the Society is concerned with all branches of mathematics and its applications. It is an independent and self-financing charity, incorporated under Royal Charter, with a membership of over 2600 drawn from all parts of the UK and overseas. Its principle activities are the organisation of scientific meetings and conferences, the publication of journals and books, the provision of financial support for mathematical activities, and the contribution to public debates on issues and policy matters relating to mathematics research and education. It works collaboratively with other mathematical bodies worldwide. It is the UK adhering body to the International Mathematical Union (IMU).
In 2015 the Society commemorates its 150th Anniversary with a large programme of events aimed at celebrating the contributions of mathematics to the UK, both historically and in a modern context. For more information, visit www.lms.ac.uk/2015
3 The Institute of Mathematics and its Applications (IMA) is the learned and professional society for mathematics. It promotes mathematics research, education and careers, and the use of mathematics in business, industry and commerce. Amongst its activities the IMA produces academic journals, organises conferences, and engages with government. Founded in 1964, the Institute has 5,000 members. Forty percent of members are employed in education (schools through to universities), and the other 60% work in commercial, industrial and governmental organisations. In 1990 the Institute was incorporated by Royal Charter and was subsequently granted the right to award Chartered Mathematician designation.
Contact
Dr John Johnston, London Mathematical Society
Phone: + 20 7927 0804
Mobile: + 7851 779215
E-mail: john.johnston@lms.ac.uk
