American wins Abel Prize

The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters awarded its Abel Prize in mathematics to an American professor at New York University on Thursday. The prize honors the memory of Norwegian mathematician Niels Henrik Abel.

Peter D Lax, age 78, won the prize "for his groundbreaking contributions to the theory and application of partial differential equations and to the computation of their solutions," according to the academy.

The Hungarian-born professor has been called the most versatile mathematician of his generation. The academy said he has had "a profound influence" through his research, writings, a lifelong commitment to education and generosity to younger mathematicians.

Lax will receive the prize from Norway's King Harald at a ceremony on May 24 in the University of Oslo's Aula on the downtown campus, a tradition-rich auditorium featuring murals by artist Edvard Munch. The Aula was formerly the site of the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony, but it was later moved to Oslo's City Hall.

The prize ceremony will be followed by a banquet at the Akershus Castle and Fortress, which will also be attended by King Harald.

 

.....

 

Lax Péter a Trefort Gimnáziumba járt, 1941-ben került ki Amerikába. Az Abel díj valami iszonyú nagy dolog, Nobel díjjal ér fel. Az elsőt Jean Pierre Serre kapta, a másodikat Michael Atiyah és Isadore Singer.