Ramanujan Prize Announced

The 2011 Ramanujan Prize, awarded jointly by

• The Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics
• The Niels Henrik Abel Memorial Fund
• The International Mathematical Union

We take pleasure in announcing that the 2011 Ramanujan Prize for Young Mathematicians from Developing Countries will be awarded to Professor Philibert Nang (44), École Normale Supérieure, Laboratoire de Recherche en Mathématiques, Libreville, Gabon.

The Prize is in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the algebraic theory of D-modules. He has important classification theorems for equivariant algebraic D-modules, in terms of explicit algebraic invariants, and his results complement the insights obtained by others using perverse sheaves, and thus shedding new light on the Riemann-Hilbert correspondence.

The Prize is also in recognition of Dr. Nang's determined pursuit of high level research while engaged in an academic career in his home country of Gabon, Africa. It is hoped that his example will inspire other young African mathematicians working at the highest levels while based in Africa.

The Ramanujan Prize is supported financially by the Norwegian Niels Henrik Abel Memorial Fund.

The Ramanujan Prize Selection Committee:
Lothar Göttsche (Chair)
Helge Holden
Maria Jose Pacifico
Vasudevan Srinivas
Gang Tian

Details about the winner:
Philibert Nang is the first African to receive the Ramanujan Prize, which is awarded annually to a researcher less than 45 years of age who comes from a developing country. The Prize carries a $15,000 cash award, and is awarded jointly by ICTP, the Norwegian Niels Henrik Abel Memorial Fund, and the International Mathematical Union.

Nang teaches mathematics at the École Normale Supérieure in Libreville, Gabon. He earned a PhD in mathematics from the University of Paris in 1996. He has attended many ICTP workshops and is a Regular Associate in the Centre's Associateship Scheme, which provides sabbatical opportunities at its Trieste campus for scientists from developing countries.

The Ramanujan Prize is funded by the Norwegian Niels Henrik Abel Memorial Fund, with support from the International Mathematical Union. For more details about the Prize, visit the website.