Oslo, 20 March – The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters announced today that the 2024 Abel Prize has been awarded to French mathematician Michel Talagrand for his groundbreaking contributions to probability theory and functional analysis, and for their outstanding applications in mathematical physics and statistical mechanics.
"Talagrand's work has transformed probability, functional analysis, and mathematical statistics, with immense impact on mathematics and its applications," said Academy President Lise Øvreås in a press release on the academy's website. Abel Committee Chair Helge Holden described him as an "outstanding mathematician" and "a superb problem solver."
Born in France in 1952, Talagrand earned his PhD in mathematics from Pierre and Marie Curie University in 1977. In 2019, he was awarded the Shaw Prize in Mathematical Sciences for his profound contributions to probability and high-dimensional geometry, with rigorous results on concentration inequalities, suprema of random processes, and spin glasses.
Talagrand is the fifth French mathematician to win the Abel Prize since its inception, the BBC reports.
Named after 19th-century Norwegian mathematician Niels Henrik Abel, whose groundbreaking discoveries have become staples of textbooks, the Abel Prize was established by the Norwegian government in 2002 to commemorate the 200th anniversary of his birth. The international prize recognizes the most distinguished mathematicians and has been awarded annually since 2003. This year's ceremony will be held in Oslo, Norway, on 21 May.
