Abel Prize to Atiyah and Singer

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers on the awarding of the Abel Prize to Michael Atiyah and Isadore Singer, focusing on the significance of the Atiyah-Singer Index Theorem and the implications of the Abel Prize in relation to the Fields Medal. The conversation touches on the nature of these awards, their criteria, and the historical context of mathematical achievements.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Historical

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants note that the Abel Prize aims to replicate the prestige of the Nobel Prize for mathematics.
  • It is mentioned that the Abel Prize is awarded without age restrictions, unlike the Fields Medal, which is limited to mathematicians under 40.
  • There is a question regarding whether Atiyah and Singer are the first recipients of the Abel Prize, with a participant clarifying that this is the second year of the prize's existence.
  • One participant expresses skepticism about the necessity of the Abel Prize, questioning the distinction between it and the Nobel Prize, particularly in terms of lifetime achievement recognition.
  • Another participant reflects on the competitive nature of the Fields Medal year in which Atiyah received his award, suggesting that other mathematicians may have had significant contributions as well.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the significance and necessity of the Abel Prize compared to the Fields Medal, indicating that multiple competing perspectives remain on the topic.

Contextual Notes

Some discussions involve assumptions about the criteria and implications of the awards, as well as the historical context of the achievements recognized by these prizes.

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The creators/discoverers of the celebrated Atiyah-Singer Index Theorem have been awarded the http://www.abelprisen.no/en/ , which aims to duplicate the celebrity of the Nobel, for mathematics.

Singer was once asked politely by a reporter if he could explain the Atiyah-Singer index theorem in simple words for the newspaper's readers. Singer replied "No I can't"
 
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38 years after he [Atiyah] was awarded the Fields Medal for it. Not bad.
 
Are Atiyeh and Singer the first recipients of this prize?
 
It seems this is the second year of its existence. Serre got it last year.

Where does this put the Fields medal though? That is often thought of as Nobel of mathematics.
 
matt grime said:
Where does this put the Fields medal though? That is often thought of as Nobel of mathematics.

The Fields medal is awarded to mathematicians under the age of 40. There is no age restriction on the Abel prize as far as I know. This means you can get awarded if you do outstanding work after the age of 40. It also provides the jury with an opportunity for a longer and perhaps better perspective on which mathematics turned out to be really important.
 
Atiyah and SInger aren't being rewarded for work after the age of 40. (I thought it was 36 for the Fields Medal). And moreoever, the Nobel prizes aren't awarded for lifetime achivement or long term impact either. So why the need for the new parallel?

Not that anyone should think I am dismissing the achievements of Atiyah and Singer (though in their Fields medal year there were also Grothendieck, Cohen and Smale as a pause for thought, and at least one of those has arguably contributed more to mathematics, but I'm biased to the algebro-geometric not the analytic so I wouldn't trust me).
 

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