Million dollar math brains

With non-stop scientific contributions, mathematicians like Maxim Kontsevich or Terence Tao have received millions of dollars in cash from prestigious awards.

Maxim Kontsevich, 49, is a professor at the Institute for Advanced Science in Paris, France. Math research is his passion and it is now a lucrative career.

Maxim Kontsevich, a scientist who has received many awards worth millions of dollars in the field of physics and mathematics.(Photo: Shaw Prize)

In 2012, Kontsevich won the Shaw Prize, a prestigious award in the field of mathematics, honoring individuals who have been active in the field of research and achieved significant achievements, contributing greatly to development. of applied science as well as human life. The prize has earned Kontsevich a million dollars.

Soon after, he was selected as one of nine new recipients of a new physics award sponsored by Yuri Milner, a Russian businessman. The scientist received $ 3 million in cash with this award.

A few days ago, Kontsevich continued to receive other good news from Milner. He became one of five excellent candidates with the opportunity to win the Breakthrough in Mathematics, sponsored by Milner and Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook's boss. The prize is worth three million USD.

Sharing about the awards he achieved, he said that "feeling a little confused ." However, according to Milner, those awards are completely deserved, because contributions to science are impossible. measure.

Terence Tao received the Breakthrough Prize in Mathematics and is one of the 10 people with the highest IQ in the world.(Photo: vietq.vn)

The Breakthrough Award in Mathematics was also awarded to Terence Tao, 38, a scientist at the University of California, USA. When Milner came to see Tao at the University of California and revealed the award, I thought the businessman came to ask for suggestions about the names he thought deserved to receive the award.

'The value of the prize is too great. I don't think I'm the most worthy person to receive this wonderful award . ' However, Tao didn't refuse to do so: ' That's Milner's money, he can do anything you want.'

The Breakthrough in Mathematics is one of Milner's new efforts, aiming to get science in general and mathematics in particular to become an attractive field in a society that focuses on celebrities, advocacy member, politician or economic tycoon. There are 8 Breakthrough Awards awarded each year, including one in mathematics, one in physics and six in life science. The total prize value is up to 24 million USD.

Terence Tao is a scientist who was awarded the Fields Medal, the world's most prestigious mathematical award. Professor Ngo Bao Chau of Vietnam won this prize in 2010.