Born: 1977 (Tehran, Iran)
Died: 2017
Biography:
Maryam Mirzakhani (Persian: مریم میرزاخانی, pronounced [mæɾˈjæm miːɾzɑːxɑːˈniː]; 12 May 1977 – 14 July 2017) was an Iranian mathematician and a professor of mathematics at Stanford University. Her research topics included Teichmüller theory, hyperbolic geometry, ergodic theory, and symplectic geometry.
Mirzakhani was born on May 12, 1977, in Tehran, Iran. As a child, she attended Tehran Farzanegan School, which was part of the National Organization for Development of Exceptional Talents (NODET). Her exceptional mathematical skills became evident in her junior and senior years of high school when she won the gold medal for mathematics in the Iranian National Olympiad. This achievement allowed her to bypass the national college entrance exam.
In 1994, Mirzakhani made history by becoming the first Iranian woman to win a gold medal at the International Mathematical Olympiad in Hong Kong, scoring an impressive 41 out of 42 points. The following year, in Toronto, she achieved a full score and won two gold medals in the International Mathematical Olympiad, making her the first Iranian to achieve such a feat.
During her time in high school and the International Mathematical Olympiad, Mirzakhani formed a close friendship and collaboration with Roya Beheshti Zavareh, a fellow mathematician and Olympiad silver medalist. Together, they became the first women to compete in the Iranian National Mathematical Olympiad, with Mirzakhani winning a gold medal and Zavareh winning a silver medal in 1995.
In 1998, tragedy struck when Mirzakhani and Zavareh were involved in a bus accident on their way back from a conference. The accident resulted in the loss of seven lives, all of whom were Sharif University students. Mirzakhani and Zavareh were among the few survivors, and this incident is considered a national tragedy in Iran.
Despite the challenges she faced, Mirzakhani persevered and went on to obtain a Bachelor of Science in mathematics from the Sharif University of Technology in 1999. During her time there, she received recognition from the American Mathematical Society for her work in developing a simple proof of the theorem of Schur.
Mirzakhani then pursued her graduate studies in the United States, earning a PhD in mathematics from Harvard University in 2004. She worked under the supervision of Curtis T. McMullen, a Fields Medalist. At Harvard, Mirzakhani was known for her determination and relentless questioning, which set her apart.
In her career as a mathematician, Mirzakhani made significant contributions to several areas of mathematics, including the dynamics and geometry of Riemann surfaces and their moduli spaces. Her research in Teichmüller theory, hyperbolic geometry, ergodic theory, and symplectic geometry earned her international recognition and admiration from her peers.
Mirzakhani’s groundbreaking work and exceptional talent were recognized in 2014 when she became the first Iranian and one of the first two women ever to receive the prestigious Fields Medal, often referred to as the Nobel Prize of mathematics. The award committee specifically cited her contributions to the dynamics and geometry of Riemann surfaces and their moduli spaces.
Tragically, at the height of her career, Mirzakhani passed away on July 14, 2017, at the age of 40, after battling breast cancer. Her untimely death was a great loss to the mathematics community and to the world. Mirzakhani’s legacy continues to inspire future generations, especially women, to pursue careers in mathematics and make significant contributions to the field.
Awards:
– Fields Medal (2014)