Bush to honor mathematics professor Stein with National Medal of Science

University mathematics professor Elias Stein will receive the National Medal of Science next month at the White House. Stein is one of 15 scientists selected nationally for the award, the National Science Board announced last week.

"I was very, very happy about it," Stein said. "It's not something that one can expect."

Like many scientific honors, the national medal is based not on a breakthrough or an exceptional year of work, but rather on an entire career.

"It's not an MVP award," Stein said.

He is being honored for his work on harmonic analysis — a branch of pure mathematics relevant to physics, Stein explained.

Harmonic analysis began as the study of wave motion as an example of the mathematical functions which govern those movements.

Much of Stein's work has been to expand the simple, one-dimensional oscillations into two, three and four dimensions. These higher dimensions allow for movement of the functions in infinitely greater directions and for curvature.

Through these expansions, the connections with other sciences are made, though these branchings are of little interest to Stein.

"I'm not driven by the applications, but the field has always been stimulated by the applications," he added.

There are about 10 medal recipients each year, Stein said, noting that this year's higher number is probably the result of the award's not being given last year.

President Bush will award Stein and the 14 other medalists in a ceremony at the White House on June 13. Stein said he hopes to be able to bring his wife, two children and three grandchildren with him to enjoy the ceremony.

The National Medal of Science is the nation's highest scientific honor. Honorees are chosen by a 12-member committee which reviews the nominations and recommends recipients to the president.