There is a common misconception about the Nobel Prize and mathematics: There is no Nobel Prize for Mathematics. Unlike other prestigious disciplines such as Physics, Chemistry, Medicine, Literature, and Peace, mathematics was not included in the original Nobel Prize categories established by Alfred Nobel in 1895. Various myths circulate about why Nobel chose not to include a category for mathematics, but none of them are substantiated by historical evidence.

Although there isn’t a Nobel Prize for mathematics, the field has its own highly prestigious awards. Let’s explore some of these significant recognitions and the mathematicians who have won them.

Major Awards in Mathematics

Several awards in the field of mathematics carry the prestige similar to that of a Nobel Prize. Some of the most important ones are:

1. Fields Medal
2. Abel Prize
3. Chern Medal
4. Clay Millennium Prizes

1. Fields Medal

The Fields Medal, often referred to as the “Nobel Prize of Mathematics,” honors mathematicians under the age of 40 every four years for their significant contributions to the field. Canadian mathematician John Charles Fields established the award in 1936, making it one of the most prestigious honors a mathematician can receive.

Notable Fields Medal winners are:

1. Maryam Mirzakhani (2014)
2. Terence Tao (2006)
3. Grigori Perelman (2006)
4. Cédric Villani (2010)

2. Abel Prize

Every year, the King of Norway awards one or more mathematicians who have been outstanding in this or other areas with the Abel Prize. The prize was established in 2001 and has come to be regarded as a lifetime award, particularly because it has become one of the most highly regarded prizes in recent years.

Notable Abel Prize winners are:

1. Andrew Wiles (2016)
2. Robert Langlands (2018)
3. Karen Uhlenbeck (2019)

3. Chern Medal

The International Mathematical Union (IMU) awards the Chern Medal every four years in recognition of lifetime achievements in mathematics.

Notable Chern Medal winners are:

1. Phillip Griffiths (2014)

4. Clay Millennium Prizes

The Clay Mathematics Institute announced seven “Millennium Prize Problems” in 2000, offering a $1 million prize for the solution of each. These problems represent some of the most challenging unsolved questions in mathematics.

Why Is There No Nobel Prize for Mathematics?

1. Personal Reasons: There’s a legend that Nobel did not create a mathematics prize because a mathematician was romantically involved with a woman Nobel loved. This theory is largely considered a myth with no historical evidence.
2. Practicality: Another plausible reason is that Nobel wanted his prizes to focus on fields with practical applications. Many saw mathematics, though foundational to many sciences, as lacking the immediate real-world impact that fields like physics, chemistry, and medicine had.
3. Existing Prizes: Some argue that Nobel may have felt mathematics already had adequate recognition through other awards, such as those offered by European academies at the time.

Conclusion

While there is no Nobel Prize for Mathematics, the field is rich with its own prestigious awards, such as the Fields Medal, Abel Prize, and others. These prizes honor the incredible contributions mathematicians have made to science, technology, and our understanding of the world. Some of the greatest minds in history, such as Terence Tao, Andrew Wiles, and Maryam Mirzakhani, have been recognized by these awards for their groundbreaking work, which continues to inspire future generations of mathematicians.