Stanford’s Maryam Mirzakhani wins Fields Medal

Maryam Mirzakhani is the first woman to ever win the Fields Medal - known as the "Nobel Prize of mathematics" - in recognition of her contributions to the understanding of the symmetry of curved surfaces. By Bjorn Carey Maryam Mirzakhani, a professor of mathematics at Stanford, has been awarded the 2014 Fields Medal, the most prestigious honor in mathematics. Mirzakhani is the first woman to win the prize, widely regarded as the "Nobel Prize of mathematics," since it was established in 1936. "This is a great honor. I will be happy if it encourages young female scientists and mathematicians," Mirzakhani said. "I am sure there will be many more women winning this kind of award in coming years." Officially known as the International Medal for Outstanding Discoveries in Mathematics, the Fields Medal will be presented by the International Mathematics Union on Aug. 13 at the International Congress of Mathematicians, held this year in Seoul, South Korea.