“A reward that is a little difficult to bear”

The Abel Prize, the equivalent of the Nobel Prize for mathematics, is awarded on Wednesday March 20 to Frenchman Michel Talagrand. The researcher, former research director at the CNRS, is rewarded for all of his work in the vast field of probability. He is the fifth Frenchman to receive this Abel Prize from the Norwegian Academy of Sciences. He will receive his prize in Oslo on May 21.

For Michel Talagrand, he is “impossible“to explain his research to the general public. They notably address stochastic processes, the concentration of measurements and even spin glasses. So many notions which are not within the reach of most people.”I helped to clarify points that are quite fundamental and whose understanding will help future generations“, prefers to say the 72-year-old researcher, born in Béziers in 1952.

“The beauty of mathematics”

Michel Talagrand has already received other prestigious international awards. But the Abel Prize, he would not have “never dreamed for a single second of receiving it“.”I was told this by surprise. My brain shut down for five seconds in surprise. I called my wife since she has supported my work for many years by never bothering me and she deserved to be the first to hear the news. he confided on Wednesday March 20 on France Inter. “It’s a somewhat difficult reward to carry, I almost don’t sleep at night, I sweat,” he adds. He believes he has “got much more than (he) deserves”.

The name of Michel Talagrand is added to a long list of researchers who have long championed the excellence of the French mathematical school. The former research director at CNRS admits his pleasure in having embraced this subject. “The beauty of mathematics is that it is difficult to penetrate. But once you penetrate it, it becomes easier“, confides Michel Talagrand. He finally recognizes that “the rewards are enormous on a lifetime scale“.