Ramanujan and Abel

Abel and Ramanujan meet in Mumbai, India

Professor Dipendra Prasad, Dean, School of Mathematics, TIFR, and President of the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters, Professor Nils Christian Stenseth, will give the opening speeches. In 2012 two mathematical jubilees will be celebrated. On 22 December it is 125 years since Srinivasa Ramanujan was born. The Ramanujan Mathematical Society has planned a series of mathematical activities throughout the year to celebrate. The 10th anniversary of the Abel Prize will be celebrated in connection with the award ceremony in Oslo, Norway, in May. The double jubilee will be marked at Tata Institute of Fundamental Research.

Ramanujan Prize
Professor Philibert Nang (44), École Normale Supérieure, Laboratoire de Recherche en Mathématiques, Libreville, Gabon, receives the Ramanujan Prize in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the algebraic theory of D-modules. The Prize is also in recognition of Dr. Nang's determined pursuit of high level research while engaged in an academic career in his home country of Gabon, Africa. It is hoped that his example will inspire other young African mathematicians working at the highest levels while based in Africa.

The Ramanujan Prize is awarded jointly by the Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics, the Niels Henrik Abel Memorial Fund, and the International Mathematical Union. The Ramanujan Prize carries a $15,000 cash award. The Prize is awarded annually to a researcher from a developing country less than 45 years of age. 
 
Abel symposium
Professor M. S. Raghunathan has invited his fellow Abel Committee members to give lectures at Tata Institute of Fundamental Research ahead of the final committee meeting in Mumbai. The lectures will be given in this order:
Noga Alon, Tel Aviv University, Israel
Ragni Piene, University of Oslo, Norway (Chair)
David Donoho, Stanford University, USA
Terence Tao, UCLA, Los Angeles, USA

Terence Tao, who recently was awarded the Crafoord Prize in Mathematics by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, will give a public lecture as the last part of the Abel symposium. The symposium is jointly organized by the School of Mathematics and the Centre for Theoretical Studies, both departments of TIFR.

H.E. Ms. Ann Ollestad, Ambassador of Norway to India, will host a reception for specially invited guests at Hotel Trident Nariman Point in Mumbai after the Abel symposium.

The President of the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters, Nils Christian Stenseth, will announce the winner of the 2012 Abel Prize on the 21st of March. The Abel Laureate will receive the Prize at an award ceremony in Oslo, Norway, on the 22nd of May. 

Call for nominations for the 2012 Ramanujan Prize

The deadline for receipt of nominations for the 2012 Prize is 1 April 2012. Nominations should be sent to math@ictp.it describing the work of the nominee in adequate detail. The winner will be selected by 15 June. The award ceremony will take place at ICTP in September.

Philibert Nang from Gabon wins the 2011 Ramanujan Prize

Professor Philibert Nang (44), École Normale Supérieure, Laboratoire de Recherche en Mathématiques, Libreville, Gabon, has been named the winner of the 2011 Ramanujan Prize for Young Mathematicians from Developing Countries. Philibert Nang will receive the prize at an award ceremony at Tata Institute in Mumbai, India on the 23rd of February.

Abel committee meeting and seminar in India

The Abel Committee is in the process of evaluating candidates for 2012 Abel Prize. The committee will meet in Mumbai, India 24-25 February 2012. The committee members will the day before give lectures at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research.

Abel Conference in honor of John Milnor

In honor of the 2011 Abel Prize Laureate John Milnor, IMA (Institute for Mathematics and its Application) will host a three day mathematical conference at the University of Minnesota. The conference will be held January 30 to February 1, 2012.

Agreement to support mathematics initiatives in Norway and Africa

Petroleum Geo-Services (PGS) and the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters have signed a cooperation agreement regarding support for measures to increase interest in mathematics in general and to improve competence in mathematics both in Norway and in developing countries. The agreement has an annual budget of NOK 3 million over a period of 5 years, starting in 2012.