2004 Nemmers Prize in Mathematics Recipient

Mikhael L. Gromov

For his work in Riemannian geometry, which revolutionized the subject; his theory of pseudoholomorphic curves in symplectic manifolds; his solution of the problem of groups of polynomial growth; and his construction of the theory of hyperbolic groups

Mikhael L. Gromov is professor of mathematics at the Institut des Hautes Études Scientifiques, Bures-sur-Yvette, France, and Jay Gould Professor of Mathematics at the Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences at New York University.

The Selection Committee for the mathematics prize recognized Gromov "for his work in Riemannian geometry, which revolutionized the subject; his theory of pseudoholomorphic curves in symplectic manifolds; his solution of the problem of groups of polynomial growth; and his construction of the theory of hyperbolic groups." His work has been revolutionary in a number of basic areas of modern geometry.

Reflecting his extraordinary creativity, Gromov's work is both elegant and immediately relevant to problems in applied mathematics and mathematical physics. Gromov's work on symplectic manifolds has played a central role in the development of string theory, one of the most promising unified field theories of theoretical physics. He is a true successor to great geometers of the past, such as Felix Klein, who lectured at Northwestern in 1893.

Gromov is the recipient of numerous distinguished awards, including the Kyoto Prize (2002), the Balzan Prize (1999), the Leroy P. Steele Prize (1997), the Lobatchewski Medal (1997), the Wolf Prize (1993), the Prix UAP (1989), Elie Cartan Prize (1984), Oswald Veblen Prize in Geometry (1981), and the Moscow Mathematical Society Prize (1971). He also holds an honorary doctorate from the University of Geneva (1992). He was invited to give addresses to four International Conferences of Mathematicians, including a plenary lecture in 1986.

He is an overseas member of the National Academy of Sciences, The American Academy of Arts and Sciences and a member of the Academy of Sciences (Paris).

Before joining the Institut des Hautes Études Scientifiques in 1982, Gromov was a member of the faculty at Leningrad University, the State University of New York at Stony Brook and the Universite de Paris VI. He obtained his master's, doctorate and state doctor's degree from Leningrad University.