Russian-French mathematician receives the Abel Prize

Historical archive

Published under: Stoltenberg's 2nd Government

Publisher: Ministry of Education and Research

News story | Date: 26/03/2009 | Last updated: 06/04/2009

The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters has decided to award the Abel Prize for 2009 to the Russian-French mathematician Mikhail Leonidovich Gromov (65) for “his revolutionary contributions to geometry”.

The Abel Prize recognizes contributions of extraordinary depth and influence to the mathematical sciences and has been awarded annually since 2003. It carries a cash award of NOK 6,000,000 (close to € 700,000, US$ 950,000). Mikhail L. Gromov will receive the Abel Prize from His Majesty King Harald at an award ceremony in Oslo, Norway, May 19.

- With its deep and unusually original ideas Gromov has had great influence on modern mathematics. Gromov is therefore a worthy winner of the prize, says Minister of Higher Education and Research Tora Aasland.

- The Abel Prize gives us the opportunity to honor an outstanding mathematician and to examine the importance of mathematical research. I hope that the awarding of the prize to Gromov will stimulate interest in mathematics among children and adolescents. This is also important objectives, said Minister Aasland.

Link to the Abel Prize website