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The Legacy of Shiing-Shen Chern

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The Legacy of Shiing-Shen Chern August 21, 2010 Remembering Daughter’s reminis- Panel discussion on Chern 2 cences on Chern 3 school mathematics 4 The Legacy of Shiing-Shen Chern he Chern Medal Award was established of study. He obtained fundamental results Tin 2009 in the memory of the outstand- in all the major aspects of modern geometry ing Chinese mathematician Shiing-Shen and founded the area of global differential Chern (1911 – 2004). It was awarded for geometry. His work exhibited keen aes- the first time yesterday at the 2010 Interna- thetic tastes in his selection of problems tional Congress of Mathematicians (ICM and in his breadth exemplified the intercon- 2010) at Hyderabad, India. It will subse- nectivity of modern geometry and all of its quently be awarded every four years at the aspects. quadrennial ICMs. Today, these aspects have become funda- The Award will be given to an individual mental to many areas of mathematics and whose accomplishments warrant the high- The face of the genius even theoretical physics with the concepts est level of recognition for outstanding of ‘Chern Classes’ and ‘Chern-Simons In- achievements in the field of mathematics. Louis Nirenberg of Courant Institute of variants’ becoming highly significant in All persons, regardless of age or vocation, Mathematical Sciences, New York Univer- gauge theory and string theory. are eligible for the Medal. The award con- sity (NYU). There was a separate ceremony sists of a gold medal and a cash prize of on August 20, to commemorate S. S. Prof. Chern’s name has an earlier Indian US$ 250,000. In addition, each Medalist Chern, who devoted his life to mathematics, connection as well. In the late 1940s, Homi may nominate one or more organizations to both in active research and education, and Bhabha had made an offer of faculty posi- receive funding totaling US$ 250,000, for in nurturing the field whenever the opportu- tion at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Re- the support of research, education, or other nity arose. search (TIFR) to Prof. Chern.This was at outreach programmes in the field of mathe- the initiative of Prof. D. D. Kosambi, himself matics. This is called the “Organization Prof. Chern was one of the greatest geome- an eminent geometer those days before he Award”. The prize is jointly awarded by the ters of the 20th century. In the 1930s and moved to other areas of study. But appar- International Mathematical Union (IMU) and the 40s, Prof. Chern took the then dominant ently Prof. Chern declined that offer and the Chern Medal Foundation (CMF). The field of differential geometry, which deals moved to the University of Chicago in 1949 CMF funds the award. with the mathematical description of geo- where he served till 1960 before moving to metrical shapes, including those in many University of California, Berkeley, where he The Chern Medal for 2010 was awarded to dimensions, and turned into a vibrant area remained till 1979. Accolades Paid to Chern at Congress n event of the morning of August 20 was divoted to paying trib- presentation, May Chu made another small video presentation Aute to S.S Chern and his work. Speaking on the Chern Medal where many other mathematicians as well as friends and family Award, László Lovász said that this Award lays emphasis on the members reminisced about Chern. This part of the event ended achievement of the awardee and puts those mathematicians who with a lecture by Prof. Robert Bryant on the mathematical work of are worthy of this as an example to the world. The Chern Award Chern especially highlighting some parts which are no as well- was instituted by Chern’s family. It’s a financial grant of half a million known. dollars split into two parts ‒ half of which is a gift to the recipient of the prize and the other half at his disposal for philanthropic pur- Chern’s publishing career according to Bryant spread across six poses and for supporting good causes in mathematical life. May decades. Chern, as is well-known is a foundational figure in 20th Chu, Shiing-Shen-Chern’s century mathematics. He also high- daughter, thanked Simons for his lighted that Chern’s work is rooted financial support (which is two- “Chern was one in classical differential geometry thirds of the amount) and for his of the founda‐ and that Chern provided excellent steady and warm guidance in ideas that led to the development making this Medal a reality. onal fathers of global topology and analysis. of 20th century Chern made contributions to sev- Simons was unable to be pres- eral branches like integral geome- ent at this ICM but spoke with the mathemacs” try, complex geometry, Riemannian delegates through video in the - Robert Bryant geometry and Finsler geometry form of a conversation with Den- which is not as well appreciated as nis Sullivan. After Simons's video some of his other work. REFLEXIONS August 21,Saturday James Harris Simons – mathematician, money manager and munificent millionaire !""#$%&'%()*+,&#, here was a brief period I thought I mons Foundation’ which backs research in ‘Tmight like to be a Rabbi, but it fortu- basic science and mathematics.The foun- nately came and went.’ (James Simons’ in dation financed two-thirds of the investe- an interview with Seed magazine) ment towards the Chern prize. A new program has been launched in 2009 with a James Harris Simons was born in 1938 in funding of US$ 40 million per year, to sup- Massachusetts and is a mathematician who port ‘research in mathematics and theoret- became the founder and CEO of ‘Renais- ical aspects of areas related to sance Technologies Corporation’ in 1982. In mathematics’. Seventy Simons Postdoc- October 2009, he announced his retirement Chern Simons toral Fellowships were created. The Foun- as of 01 January 2010 from active manage- dation also funds autism research. ment of the firm in order to focus more on During these few years I was working on his philanthropic pursuits. minimal varieties, when I had something Simons has been instrumental in creating that of being global, I would call him up – Avalon Park, a nature preserve in Stony He is known for his collaboration with math- another global theorem...’ Brook. Nepalese health care is supported ematician S. S. Chern in creating the by the Nick Simons Institute. Simons also Chern-Simons theory which has applica- Simons’ highly successful Renaissance founded ‘Math for America’ in 2004 which tions in theoretical physics also. The Chern Technologies investment fund employs focuses on improving public schools’ math Medal Award was presented for the first mathematical models to analyze and exe- education, and supports and trains math time in this International Congress of Math- cute trades. The company employs people teachers. ematicians, at the opening ceremony on from various countries irrespective of August 19, in memory of Shiing-Shen- whether they are from academia or industry. The donation to the Simon Center for Chern. Simons has also worked on the It has made Simons one of the world’s rich- Geometry and Physics at the Stony Brook Poincaré conjecture, which was solved by est men – he uses this fortune to support University is reported to be the ‘largest ever Grigori Perelman. research. gift to any public college or university in New York state’. Simons’ belief was that the At a conference, Simons is reported to have He and his wife are the founders of ‘The Si- new center will give many of the world’s talked on his relationship with Chern: best mathematicians and physicists ‘When I was there (at Berkeley), he the opportunity to work and interact in was always very encouraging and later an environment and an architecture on, when I proved some theorem in carefully designed to enhance minimal varieties I called him and progress. showed him this theorem. He said, “Oh, global! Global theorem is very These are just a few of the achieve- good. It’s rare to have a nice global ments of this multifaceted personality. theorem.” Boy that was very very en- Only the future will reveal what the couraging. I just wanted to run home ‘minister for math’ still has up his and prove a million global theorems. sleeve. Chern – Your Memory! People Reminisce imons: I was at Berkeley. cided to leave mathematics, but with a large head! SIn walked a tall Chinese Chern said, “After all, he’s not Some tidbits about Robert Bryant: He was just with a tweed jacket. I asked David Hilbert”! In the fall of Chern someone who that was and you 1972, when Chern came to the able to see lots of calculations! could have knocked me down IAS and was leaving for Berke- Chern knows calligraphy. In Philip Griffiths: Elie Cartan with a feather when I learnt it ley, he asked me to drive him to Weil's book `Number theory: was the leading geometer of was Chern. I had supposed the airport instead of Andre an approach through history early 20th century and his tra- that Chern was short for Cher- Weil, saying that we could keep dition was continued by Chern. From Hammurapi to Le- nofsky or something! talking on the way and that Weil gendre', there is a frontispiece could come behind with the Calvin C.Moore: It is impossi- of a warhorse from the tomb In 1968, I stumbled upon a bags! ble to imagine differential of emperor Tai-Zong and a three-manifold invariant and geometry without Chern and calligraphy by Chern which showed it to Chern who said, I met Chern last in September the Gauss-Bonnet theorem for means something like `the old “That is a special case.
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