Maryam Mirzakhani

Maryam Mirzakhani was the first and still to this day is the only woman to be awarded the Fields Medal. Mirzakhani was acknowledged in 2014, "for her outstanding contributions to the dynamics and geometry of Riemann surfaces and their moduli spaces." Tragically, she died only 3 years later in 2017 at the age of 40. Yet, she continues to be an inspiration and role model for young men and women in mathematics all over the world. For the Virtual HLF 2020, her life and her lasting impact will be highlighted by an exhibition, a new movie and a panel discussion.

 

Virtual Exhibition "Remember Maryam Mirzakhani"

As a tribute to Maryam Mirzakhani, the Committee for Women in Mathematics (CWM) created the exhibition for the World Meeting for Women in Mathematics during the ICM 2018 in Rio de Janeiro. It has since traveled to several venues and consists of 18 panels that portray Mirzakhani’s life and mathematical works. During the Virtual HLF 2020, we are glad to present a virtual version of this exhibition that enables all participants to be inspired by an amazing mathematician and human being. Curator of the exhibition: Thais Jordao. Designer: Rafael Meireles Barroso.

 

Panel Discussion "Theorems and initiatives inspired by Maryam Mirzakhani" (livestreamed)

Maryam Mirzakhani is an inspiration for many reasons and the panel aims to analyze a few of them. Vincent Delecroix (France) will present one of the theorems he proved recently with his collaborators using Maryam Mirzakhani's ideas. Hélène Barcelo (USA) will present the Mathematical Science Research Institute’s initiative to create a special chair named after Maryam Mirzakhani, and Andrea Vera-Gajardo (Chile) will describe the May 12 Initiative, celebrating women in mathematics every year on Maryam Mirzakhani’s birthday. Finally, two young researchers Sorelle Toukam Tchoumegne (Cameroon) and Georges-Philippe Gadoury-Sansfaçon (Canada) will give testimonies of her influence on their lives. The panel discussion is hosted by Marie-Françoise Roy (France).

 

Movie "Secrets of the Surface – The Mathematical Vision of Maryam Mirzakhani"

A documentary film by George Csicsery, 2020