A British professor who conducted postdoctoral research at the University of Montreal won Tuesday the most prestigious prize in mathematics, the Fields medal. The Montreal colleagues of the winner, James Maynard, are full of praise for this 35-year-old researcher, considered one of the most promising of his generation.
“It is certain that the quality of his work made him a very strong candidate”, estimates the professor of mathematics Andrew Granville. Two projects carried out in close collaboration with UdeM researchers have earned him this distinction, dubbed the Nobel Prize in mathematics.
Between the years 2013 and 2014, then under the supervision of Mr. Granville, the postdoctoral fellow demonstrated two major theorems concerning the gaps, small or large, between consecutive prime numbers. “It was absolutely beautiful! Perhaps the most interesting idea I’ve seen in my career,” says Mr. Granville, speaking of the techniques developed by his emulator.
“He quickly became a rising star,” says Dimitris Koukoulopoulos, professor at the Center for Mathematical Research at UdeM. He remains a close associate and friend of Mr. Maynard. The rise of the young number theorist continued in 2019, when the two researchers elucidated a conjecture almost 80 years old.
“I’m glad our work together allowed him to win the Fields Medal,” said Koukoulopoulos. According to him, it is primarily Mr. Maynard’s propensity to tackle the most difficult problems that differentiates him from other mathematicians of his generation. “He is not afraid, even if the greatest mathematicians have already worked [sur ces problèmes]. He always comes up with new ideas,” he explains.
“He is a very positive influence in the field. “, adds Mr. Koukoulopoulos, insisting on the endearing and sympathetic character of the medalist. “I think he is an inspiration for young researchers,” he says.
The Fields Medal recognizes the outstanding contributions of four mathematicians under the age of 40. The prize awarded to four-year-olds comes with a scholarship of 15,000 Canadian dollars. The Ukrainian Maryna Viazovska, one of the recipients of the 2022 vintage, is the second woman to receive this distinction created in 1936. The Frenchman Hugo Duminil-Copin and the American June Huh complete the podium this year.