School of Mathematics

All three recipients of the 2026 International Congress of Basic Science (ICBS) Medal in Mathematics have links to the Institute’s School of Mathematics: Claire Voisin, Distinguished Visiting Professor (2014–15); frequent IAS scholar Horng-Tzer Yau; and Shou-Wu Zhang, Member (1991–92). Xiao-Gang Wen, Member (1990–91) and IBM Einstein Fellow (2022–23) in the School of Natural Sciences, was also recognized with a Physics Medal.

Welcoming participants from 18 countries, the 2026 Park City Mathematics Institute outreach initiative once again transformed Park City, Utah, into a thriving nexus for mathematical discovery. 

A recent article in Scientific American spotlights the work of Ishan Levy, Visiting Professor in the School of Mathematics, who, building on a “tour de force” contribution co-authored by Robert and Luisa Fernholz Professor Akshay Venkatesh, has “found a new framework that goes a long way toward proving” the Cohen-Lenstra conjecture.

A recent article in Town Topics highlights a common bond between three of the four Fields Medal winners announced at the 2026 International Congress of Mathematicians: ties to IAS. Drawing on an interview with Director and Leon Levy Professor David Nirenberg, the article goes on to emphasize the unparalleled research conditions at IAS that foster this level of excellence. 

Three of the four winners of this year’s Fields Medal, often called the Nobel Prize of Mathematics, are affiliated with the Institute's School of Mathematics: Jacob Tsimerman, Ashvin B. Chhabra and Daniela Bonafede-Chhabra Member and Distinguished Visiting Professor; Hong Wang, Member (2019–21); and John Pardon, Visitor (2016–17). With these additions, IAS scholars have now won 49 of the 68 total Fields Medals awarded since 1936.

Three of the four winners of this year’s Fields Medal, often called the Nobel Prize of Mathematics, are affiliated with the Institute's School of Mathematics: Jacob Tsimerman, Ashvin B. Chhabra and Daniela Bonafede-Chhabra Member and Distinguished Visiting Professor; Hong Wang, Member (2019–21); and John Pardon, Visitor (2016–17). With these additions, IAS scholars have now won 49 of the 68 total Fields Medals awarded since 1936.

In a recent article for Be Giant, Jacob Tsimerman, Distinguished Visiting Professor in the School of Mathematics, is profiled for his groundbreaking proof of the André-Oort conjecture and his lifelong passion for puzzles. The contributions made to Tsimerman's breakthrough by Peter Sarnak and Jonathan Pila, Professor Emeritus and Member in the School, respectively, are also highlighted.

"Universal mathematician" Akshay Venkatesh, Robert and Luisa Fernholz Professor in the School of Mathematics, has been named alongside Member (1986–87, 1992–3) Ruth Charney and Member (2007–08) Catharina Stroppel as an honorary member of the London Mathematical Society (LMS). Three further IAS scholars were announced as recipients of the 2026 LMS Prizes.

Tim Roughgarden, a world-renowned authority in the field of algorithmic game theory, has joined the Institute for Advanced Study as a Professor in the School of Mathematics, effective July 1, 2026. Described as "an intellectual leader in algorithms and optimization," Roughgarden's appointment will strengthen the study of a core area of theoretical computer science at IAS.