The Hebrew University of Jerusalem's Prof. Harry Furstenberg is to be awarded the 2007 Wolf Prize in Mathematics. The announcement was made Monday by Minister of Education, Prof. Yuli Tamir, who is the chairperson of the Wolf Foundation Council.
According to Tamir, Furstenberg was chosen "for his profound contributions to ergodic theory, probability, topological dynamics, analysis on symmetric spaces and homogenous flows."
The Israel-based Wolf Foundation was established by the late German-born inventor, diplomat and philanthropist, Dr. Ricardo Wolf. Five annual prizes of $100,000 have been awarded each year since 1978, and they are considered among the world's top honors. The prizes are awarded in five different fields to outstanding scientists and artists "for achievements in the interest of mankind and friendly relations among peoples." To date, a total of 232 scientists and artists from 22 countries have been honored.
Born in Germany in 1935, Furstenberg received his PhD from Princeton University. Since 1965, he has been a professor of mathematics at the Hebrew University. Furstenberg is a recipient of the Israel Prize and is a member of the Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities and the National Academy of Sciences in the United States.
Furstenberg will share the prize with Prof. Stephen J. Smale of the University of California, Berkeley. The prize will be presented by the president of the State of Israel at a special ceremony in the Knesset on Sunday, May 13, 2007.
According to Tamir, Furstenberg was chosen "for his profound contributions to ergodic theory, probability, topological dynamics, analysis on symmetric spaces and homogenous flows."
The Israel-based Wolf Foundation was established by the late German-born inventor, diplomat and philanthropist, Dr. Ricardo Wolf. Five annual prizes of $100,000 have been awarded each year since 1978, and they are considered among the world's top honors. The prizes are awarded in five different fields to outstanding scientists and artists "for achievements in the interest of mankind and friendly relations among peoples." To date, a total of 232 scientists and artists from 22 countries have been honored.
Born in Germany in 1935, Furstenberg received his PhD from Princeton University. Since 1965, he has been a professor of mathematics at the Hebrew University. Furstenberg is a recipient of the Israel Prize and is a member of the Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities and the National Academy of Sciences in the United States.
Furstenberg will share the prize with Prof. Stephen J. Smale of the University of California, Berkeley. The prize will be presented by the president of the State of Israel at a special ceremony in the Knesset on Sunday, May 13, 2007.