Thursday, 02 September 2021
Fields Medal winner Caucher Birkar, who studied mathematics at the University of Nottingham after escaping the war between Iraq and Iran has been made an Honorary Professor.
Former PhD Mathematics student Caucher Birkar was awarded the highest honour in mathematics three years ago when he received the prestigious Fields Medal. This honorary professorship is recognition of his achievements during his academic career that started at the University of Nottingham.
L to R: Professor Ivan Fesenko, Professor Caucher Birkar, Vice-Chancellor Professor Shearer West and Professor Paul Houston at the celebration event for Caucher's Fields Medal achievement
Caucher Birkar grew up in the Kurdish region of western Iran in a rural subsistence farming village and is now a Professor of Mathematics in the Yau Mathematical Sciences Center, Tsinghua University, Beijing (on leave fromUniversity of Cambridge). In his final year as an undergraduate at the University of Tehran, Caucher Birkar came to England where he sought political asylum.
Caucher studied at Nottingham under the supervision of Ivan Fesenko, Professor of Pure Mathematics in the School of Mathematical Sciences. His talent and passion for the subject quickly became apparent and he was awarded a London Mathematical Society grant as the most promising PhD student in Mathematics and an EPSRC postdoc fellowship soon became his first breakthrough.
In his role as Honorary Professor Caucher will deliver two lectures per year, one of which will be suitable for a general audience.
Houston, Head of the School of Mathematical Sciences at the University of Nottingham said: “We’re delighted to be appointing Caucher as an Honorary Professor today at the place where he started his career and developed and expanded his knowledge of mathematics. His achievements in the face of such adversity are remarkable and he is a shining example of what can be achieved with passion and determination. I hope that seeing what Caucher has achieved will inspire a new generation of mathematics students to aim just as high.
I am very honoured to have been offered this appointment. I hope that this creates a strong link between Nottingham, Cambridge, and Tsinghua.
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More information is available from Professor Paul Houston on Paul.houston@nottingham.ac.uk
Notes to editors:
About the University of Nottingham
Ranked 32 in Europe and 16th in the UK by the QS World University Rankings: Europe 2024, the University of Nottingham is a founding member of the Russell Group of research-intensive universities. Studying at the University of Nottingham is a life-changing experience, and we pride ourselves on unlocking the potential of our students. We have a pioneering spirit, expressed in the vision of our founder Sir Jesse Boot, which has seen us lead the way in establishing campuses in China and Malaysia - part of a globally connected network of education, research and industrial engagement.
Nottingham was crowned Sports University of the Year by The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024 – the third time it has been given the honour since 2018 – and by the Daily Mail University Guide 2024.
The university is among the best universities in the UK for the strength of our research, positioned seventh for research power in the UK according to REF 2021. The birthplace of discoveries such as MRI and ibuprofen, our innovations transform lives and tackle global problems such as sustainable food supplies, ending modern slavery, developing greener transport, and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
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