Chern Medal Award 2018 Masaki Kashiwara

Summary

Born in 1947, the speaker's journey in mathematics began with a love for algebraic analysis and representation theory. As a special assigned professor at a university, their work spans 50 years, with significant contributions to manifolds, including theorems and formulas bearing their name. The speaker emphasizes the importance of discerning the essential from the trivial in research and the growing intersection of mathematics with other fields like physics and computer science, fostering new theories and understanding.

Takeaways

• 🎓 The speaker was born in 1947, two years after the Second World War, in Europe but Tokyo is mentioned, indicating a possible correction or emphasis on their connection to Tokyo.
• 🌾 The speaker's father worked in agriculture and their mother was a housewife, providing insight into their family background.
• 📚 The speaker has a deep-rooted passion for mathematics, which began at a very young age and has continued throughout their life.
• 📘 They have an extensive collection of notebooks, which they have not counted but estimate to be in the hundreds, indicating a significant amount of work and dedication to mathematics.
• 🔍 The speaker's mathematical journey started when they saw 'photo makiato', which might be a reference to a pivotal moment or person in their mathematical development.
• 🏫 The speaker is a special assigned professor at a Research Institute for Mathematical Sciences at a university, showing their high level of academic achievement and contribution.
• 📈 They have studied algebraic analysis and representation theory, as well as symplectic geometry, demonstrating a broad and deep expertise in various mathematical fields.
• 📝 One of their most important works is a book on manifolds with complex structures, which includes several theorems or formulas named after them.
• 🏆 The speaker is known for their work on crystal bases and an index theorem, among other contributions, highlighting their influence in the field of mathematics.
• 🤝 The speaker emphasizes the importance of the interaction between mathematics and other disciplines, such as physics and computer science, which is becoming increasingly strong.
• 🔬 They are actively involved in making progress by developing new theories or gaining new understandings in the intersection of mathematics with other fields.

Q & A

In what year was the speaker born?

The speaker was born in 1947.

What was the speaker's father's occupation?

The speaker's father worked in agriculture.

What was the speaker's mother's role?

The speaker's mother was a housewife.

Where was the speaker born, and what is significant about the timing?

The speaker was born in Europe, two years after the Second World War.

What is the speaker's current position at the university?

The speaker is a special assigned professor at the Research Institute for Mathematical Sciences at the University.

What was the speaker's initial interest in mathematics?

The speaker loved mathematics from a very young age and enjoyed writing on sheets of paper.

How many notebooks did the speaker mention having?

The speaker mentioned having several hundreds of notebooks but did not count the exact number.

What sparked the speaker's interest in algebraic analysis?

The speaker's interest in algebraic analysis started when they saw 'photo makiato' (possibly a misheard or misspoken term).

What is the speaker's area of expertise in mathematics?

The speaker's area of expertise includes algebraic analysis, representation theory, and symplectic geometry.

What is the most important book the speaker has written?

The most important book the speaker wrote is on manifolds with something unclear (likely a misheard term), which includes several theorems or formulas named after them.

What are some of the theorems or formulas named after the speaker?

The speaker mentioned 'casual crystal bases' and an 'index theorem' as examples of theorems or formulas named after them.

What does the speaker find important in mathematical research?

The speaker finds it important to discern what is important and what is not in mathematical research.

What challenges does the speaker face in their research?

The speaker faces challenges in dividing their time between mathematics and its interactions with other fields such as physics, computer science, and photonics.

How does the speaker perceive the development of mathematics?

The speaker perceives the development of mathematics as becoming increasingly intertwined with other fields, leading to new theories and understanding.