Turkish mathematician Ali Nesin wins Leelavati Award

ISTANBUL

Istanbul Bilgi University Mathematics Department chair Prof. Ali Nesin won the Leelavati Prize for his outstanding contributions toward increasing public awareness of mathematics in Turkey, particularly for his tireless work in creating the “Mathematics Village” as an exceptional, peaceful place for education, research and the exploration of mathematics for anyone. 

The prize was announced at the opening ceremony of the International Congress of Mathematicians (ICM) held on Aug. 1 in Rio de Janeiro.

The Leelavati Prize, sponsored by the Indian company Infosys, is intended to accord high recognition and great appreciation of the International Mathematical Union on behalf of the international mathematical community and Infosys for outstanding contributions to increasing public awareness of mathematics as an intellectual discipline and the crucial role it plays in diverse human endeavors. 

At the ICM Closing Ceremony, the Executive Organizing Committee (EOC) of the ICM 2010 in the Indian city of Hyderabad, decided to give a one-time international award named the Leelavati Prize with the endorsement of the IMU Executive Committee (EC). The award is for outstanding contribution public outreach in mathematics. 

The Leelavati Prize was well-received and was proposed to become a recurring four-year award and for the award ceremony to be a regular feature of every ICM Closing Ceremony. 

Nesin, who is the son of Turkish short story writer Aziz Nesin, who died in 1995, will receive the prize at a ceremony on Aug. 9 in Rio de Janeiro.