Professors Elliot Reeve and Mark Braverman of Princeton University were honored today by the International Mathematical Union (IMU) in Helsinki, Finland, for their outstanding contributions to mathematics and related fields.
Lieb, Eugene Higgins Emeritus Professor of Physics and Emeritus Professor of Mathematical Physics, was awarded the Karl Friedrich Gauss Prize. information theory”.
Braverman, a professor of computer science, was awarded the Abacus Medal for “breakthrough work in developing a framework for inferring communication protocols using the theory of information complexity, or information theory.” did.
The award was announced at the same ceremony that June Hugh, a professor of mathematics at Princeton University, was awarded the Fields Medal., It is sometimes called the “Nobel Prize of mathematics.”
wide range of applications
The Gauss Prize awarded to Leeb, named after a German mathematician and physicist, was awarded jointly by the German Mathematics Union (DMV) for outstanding mathematical contributions that have found important applications outside the field. I admit Lieb was honored for his contributions to physics, chemistry, and pure mathematics.
“Reminiscent of Gauss and other 18th and 19th century giants, Eliot H. Reeve, driven by problems and applications of physics, went far beyond his original motives to create elegant and basic mathematical structures. We figured it out,” the IMU citation said. “In doing so, Reeve introduced concepts that went beyond his original discipline to shape an entire field of mathematics research, with a transformative impact on physics and chemistry.”
At the awards ceremony, the audience saw Lieb talk about his career and watch a video summarizing his research.
“Elliot Reeve has been a major figure in mathematical physics for the last 70 years,” said Igor Rodnianski, professor and chairman of the mathematics department at Reeve’s alma mater. Mathematical physics including quantum mechanics, statistical physics, computational chemistry, etc.
“With his influence on mathematical physics, analysis and algebra, Elliott Reeve has directly and indirectly influenced, shaped and guided several generations of mathematical physicists. Congratulations to Elliott on winning an award,” Rodnianski said.
“Elliot is a legend,” said physics department chair Herman Berlinde. “Throughout his long career, Elliott has had a unique ability to ask fundamental questions about common physical systems and find accurate and beautiful results about them. long before it was recognized.
“While thinking about physical problems, he discovered a wealth of unexpected new mathematical structures. He has had a great impact on all areas of theoretical science, including development, and I am truly honored to have him as a colleague.
Lieb said it was a surprise and a pleasure to receive the Gauss Prize. In November he received the Erwin Schrödinger Institute for Mathematics and Physics Medal, and in January he received his APS Medal for his Exceptional Achievement in Research from the American Physical Society.
Originally wanting to be an electrical engineer, Reeve decided to pursue physics during his first year as an undergraduate at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He graduated in 1953 and received his Ph.D. three years later. He holds a PhD in Mathematical Physics from the University of Birmingham, UK.
His career moved to IBM, where he met young colleagues who wanted to approach physics “from a mathematical angle”. He attended several colleges, including Northeastern University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, before joining Princeton University in 1975, eventually moving to an honorary position in 2017, but continuing his work. increase.
“I’m working on my dissertation now,” he said.
Information Science Award
Braverman is the first recipient of the Abacus Medal, which honors outstanding achievements in the mathematical aspects of computer science. The Soroban Prize is a continuation of the Rolf Nevanlinna Prize awarded from 1982 to 2018.
“Mark Braverman led the development of the Theory of Information Complexity, an interactive analogue of Shannon’s Information Theory,” his citation states. “In addition to his work on information complexity, Braverman has contributed to a variety of fields at the interface between his science of theoretical computing and mathematical sciences.”
Braverman, whose research focuses on connections between theoretical computer science and other fields, said the Abacus Medal is a great honor for himself and his research group. He added that it is a “huge responsibility for the field ahead.”
The IMU played a profiling video of Braverman. In this video, his children explain the principles of his work.
Braverman was born in Russia, which was part of the Soviet Union. His family moved to Israel and then to Canada. He received his Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Computers from the Technion (Israel Institute of Technology) in 2001. He received his PhD in Computer Science from the University of Toronto in 2008. He spent two years as a postdoctoral researcher at the Microsoft Research New England lab and one year at the University of Toronto as an undergraduate, before joining the undergraduate at Princeton University in 2011 and being promoted to full-time position. 2015 Professor.
Referring to the many honors Bravermann has received since winning the Mathematical Olympiad gold medal at the age of 16, Jennifer Rexford, Dean of the Computer Science Department, said:
“Our modern networked life relies on communication protocols that allow multiple computers to work together to compute answers to important questions,” said Rexford. “Mark’s seminal research lays the groundwork for understanding how multiple parties can work together effectively and minimize the amount of information they need to share to complete a task.”
Gordon YS Wu Professor of Engineering and Professor of Computer Science Rexford said Princeton University’s computer science department has a long history of fundamental research in computing. “As computers and her science play a greater role in every field and every human endeavor, it’s more important than ever to push the frontiers of this field,” she said.
Liz Fuller-Wright contributed to this story.
