The SASTRA Ramanujan Prize for 2022 will be going to Yunqing Tang who is an Assistant Professor at the University of California, Berkeley. Yunqing’s work demonstrates expert use of advanced techniques focusing primarily on arithmetic and geometry of modular curves and Shimura varieties. Her contributions hold promise to significantly influence future mathematic research.
About the SASTRA Ramanujan Prize
The SASTRA Ramanujan Prize began as an initiative from the Shanmugha Arts, Science, Technology & Research Academy (SASTRA) in 2005. The prize, conferred annually, bestows a cash reward of USD 10,000 to individuals aged 32 and under, who have made outstanding contributions in the field of mathematics. The recipients are chosen based on how their work has been influenced by the late Indian mathematician, Srinivasa Ramanujan.
Srinivasa Ramanujan: A Brief Biography
Srinivasa Ramanujan was born on December 22, 1887, in the village Erode which is located 400 kilometers away from Chennai (formerly known as Madras). The renowned British mathematician Godfrey Harold Hardy acknowledged his exceptional talent in 1913 following which Ramanujan attended Cambridge University upon Hardy’s invitation.
Ramanujan’s significant mathematical contributions were in the analytical theory of numbers and his work on elliptic functions. His additional work centered around partitioning whole numbers, hypergeometric series, and Euler’s constant. His research papers, published in English and European journals, earned him a spot in the Royal Society of London in 1918. Unfortunately, he passed away at the tender age of 32 on April 26th, 1920, just after returning to India post a prolonged illness. Ramanujan’s birth anniversary, December 22nd, is honored as National Mathematics Day in India.
Ramanujan’s Contributions to Mathematics
Ramanujan’s legacy lies in the 3,900 results comprising equations and identities that he compiled. Among his precious findings was an infinite series for Pi, providing multiple unconventional formulas to calculate its digits. His innovative approach to solving mathematics problems formed a solid foundation for game theory development. This contribution relied on his intuition and innate talent, setting a benchmark that remains unparalleled.
The Ramanujan Notebook and Number
A notebook belonging to Ramanujan, discovered by George Andrews in the Trinity College library in 1976, was later published as a book. The number 1729, also known as the ‘Ramanujan Number,’ holds significance as the smallest number expressible as the sum of two different cubes in two unique ways.
Ramanujan on the Big Screen
The life and contributions of Srinivasa Ramanujan were dramatized in a film titled ‘The Man Who Knew Infinity.’ The movie, released in 2016, is based on Ramanujan’s biography and depicts his considerable contribution to mathematical analysis, earning him a fellowship in the Royal Society.
