Maryna Viazovska was one of four recipients of the Fields medal, one of the most prestigious accolades in mathematics, becoming just the second woman to be honored since the award was first given in 1936.

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One of the top awards is the Fields medal.

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The International Mathematics Union gives the Fields Medal to four researchers under the age of 40 every four years, making it one of the most prestigious prizes for mathematics.

Viazovska is best known for her work on packing spheres in eight dimensions.

The University of Oxford's James Maynard and the Institute of Advanced Scientific Studies in France's Hugo Duminil-Copin were both recognized for their work on prime numbers.

Mark Braverman is best known for his work on the amount it costs to perform a computational task, which is why he received the IMU's Abacus Medal.

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The accomplishments of people early on in their careers are what the Fields Medal is about. It is one of the most prestigious awards a mathematician can get. Winning a top academic award can open new doors and help secure future funding. White men are disproportionately represented and there is poor representation for women.

There are two Since 1936, how many women have received a Fields medal? The first woman to win a prize for her work on complex geometry and dynamic systems was a professor at the University of California, Berkeley. The first Iranian to win the prize was 40 years old when she died from breast cancer.

Surprising Fact

The first recipient of the Abacus medal is Braverman. The Rolf Nevanlinna Prize was given to honor the Finn. Nevanlinna was a Nazi sympathizer and collaborated with the Nazis during World War 2.

Why is progress so slow? The nature.