Printer-friendly versionThe Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Science has awarded the Lorentz Medal to Edward Witten, Charles Simonyi Professor in the School of Natural Sciences, for his pioneering contributions to the mathematical description of fundamental forces and elementary particles, including contributions to string theory. The medal, presented at ceremonies in Amsterdam in June, is awarded every four years to a scientist in recognition of important contributions to theoretical physics. Witten has also been awarded the Isaac Newton medal by the Institute of Physics for his many profound contributions that have transformed areas of particle theory, quantum field theory, and general relativity. Introduced in 2008, the medal is awarded annually internationally for outstanding contributions to physics. Witten received the award in London on July 2 at a meeting of the Institute of Physics at which he will give the Isaac Newton lecture on “String Theory and the Universe.”
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Thomas Spencer, Professor in the School of Mathematics, is among the seventy-two new members elected to the National Academy of Sciences. Members are selected for their distinguished and continuing achievements in original research. Established in 1863 by a congressional act of incorporation signed by Abraham Lincoln, the National Academy serves as an official adviser to the federal government, upon request, in any matter of science or technology.
The Institute for Advanced Study and Carnegie Corporation of New York together have established the Opportunity Equation initiative, which promotes equity and excellence in mathematics and science education for all students by engaging national and local decision makers and thought leaders to:
o Establish common mathematics and science standards that are fewer, clearer and higher, coupled with high-quality assessments
o Improve math and science teaching —and methods to recruit, prepare, support and manage the nation’s teaching talent
o Redesign schools and systems to deliver math and science learning more effectively
The initiative was created to carry out the recommendations in the Carnegie Corporation of New York-Institute for Advanced Study Commission on Mathematics and Science Education report entitled The Opportunity Equation: Transforming Mathematics and Science Education for Citizenship and the Global Economy.
The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters has awarded the 2010 Abel Prize to John Torrence Tate, former Member (1959) in the School of Mathematics, for his vast and lasting impact on the theory of numbers. Tate is Professor Emeritus of Mathematics at the University of Texas at Austin.
Avishai Margalit, George F. Kennan Professor in the School of Historical Studies, has been awarded the 2010 Israel Prize in Philosophy. The award was announced by Israel’s Education Minister Gideon Sa’ar. The Israel Prize committee cited Margalit as one of the most important philosophers in Israel and throughout the world. The prize, considered Israel’s most distinguished award, will be presented in a state ceremony in Jerusalem, in the presence of the President, the Prime Minister, the Knesset chairperson, and the Supreme Court president.
The 2010 Wolf Prize in Mathematics will be awarded to Shing-Tung Yau, formerly a Professor, from 1980-84, and a Member, from 1971-72 and from 1979-80, in the Institute's School of Mathematics. He will share the prize with Dennis Sullivan, former Visitor (1968-70) in the School of Mathematics. Yau, William Caspar Graustein Professor of Mathematics at Harvard University, was selected for his work in geometric analysis, and Sullivan, Professor of Mathematics at the State University of New York at Stony Brook, was selected for contributions to algebraic topology and conformal dynamics.