The Fields Medal is an international prize awarded to mathematicians under 40 years of age for outstanding contributions to mathematics. It is considered the highest honor a mathematician can receive. Here are some fun and facts about the Fields Medal:
1) The Fields Medal is often referred to as the "Nobel Prize of Mathematics." However, there are several key differences between the two awards. The Fields Medal is awarded every four years, while the Nobel Prizes are awarded annually. The Fields Medal is also a much younger award, having been first awarded in 1936, while the Nobel Prizes were first awarded in 1901.
2) The Fields Medal is named after Canadian mathematician John Charles Fields. Fields was a professor of mathematics at the University of Toronto and was instrumental in establishing the International Mathematical Union (IMU), the organization that awards the Fields Medal.
3) The Fields Medal is a gold medal with a diameter of 63.5 millimeters and a weight of 169 grams. The obverse of the medal depicts a portrait of the ancient Greek mathematician Archimedes, while the reverse bears the inscription "CONGREGATI EX TOTO ORBE MATHEMATICI OB SCRIPTA INSIGNIA TRIBUERE," which means "The mathematicians having congregated from the whole world awarded (this medal) because of outstanding writings."
4) The Fields Medal is accompanied by a monetary prize of CA$15,000. This prize was established in 2006 and is funded by the Fields Institute, a research institute in Toronto dedicated to mathematics.
5) The Fields Medal is awarded at the International Congress of Mathematicians (ICM), which is held every four years. The ICM is a major event for mathematicians from around the world, and the Fields Medal ceremony is one of the highlights of the congress.
6) There have been 64 Fields Medalists since the award was first given in 1936. The first medalist was Finnish mathematician Lars Ahlfors, and the most recent medalist was French mathematician Hugo Duminil-Copin, who was awarded the medal in 2022.
7) Only one woman has ever been awarded the Fields Medal. Maryam Mirzakhani, an Iranian mathematician, was awarded the medal in 2014.
8) The Fields Medal is a prestigious award that is highly coveted by mathematicians around the world. It is considered a mark of exceptional talent and achievement, and it can open doors to new opportunities and collaborations.
I hope you found these facts about the Fields Medal interesting!
Sources
blog.kleinproject.org/?p=4574
