News and Notes: Mathematics professor awarded Abel Prize

Mathematics professor Yakov Sinai was awarded the 2014 Abel Prize by the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters today for his more than 50-year career in mathematics, the Office of Communications reported. The Abel Prize was first awarded in 2003 and includes a $1 million prize.

The academy described Sinai, a member of the University faculty since 1993, as one of the most influential mathematicians of the twentieth century, noting his work in mathematical physics and probability theory. They also noted that many mathematical processes and equations are named after Sinai, including Kolmogorov-Sinai entropy, Sinai’s billiards, Sinai’s random walk, Sinai-Ruelle-Bowen measures and Pirogov-Sinai theory.

At a departmental reception in his honor, Sinai credited his colleagues and the academic environment at the University for inspiring him to earn the award.

Sinai was announced as the 2014 Abel Prize recipient in Oslo on Wednesday by the president of the Norwegian Academy of Science. He will accept the prize from the Crown Prince of Norway during a May 20 ceremony in Oslo.