Science

09 Jul 09

Professor Roger Heath-Brown has won The London Mathematical Society's Pólya Prize for 2009.

Three members of the Mathematical Institute at Oxford University are among the 2009 prizewinners announced by The London Mathematical Society, the UK's learned society for mathematics.

Professor Roger Heath-Brown has won the Pólya Prize for his many contributions to analytic number theory, and his application of analytic methods in problems spanning number theory and arithmetic geometry.

Throughout his career, Professor Heath-Brown has resolved long-standing problems, come up with novel mathematical techniques and devised variations of existing techniques to permit conclusions beyond those that were previously possible.

The Naylor Prize and Lectureship in Applied Mathematics has been awarded to Professor Philip Maini in recognition of his contributions to the rapidly growing field of mathematical biology.

Professor Maini has been at the forefront of many developments in mathematical biology, an area that is driving the evolution of much new mathematics as well as having an increasing impact on the biological sciences. Many of the problems he has studied have needed new models of complex biological processes, requiring knowledge of the relevant biology as well as mathematical skill.

Dr Cornelia Druţu is one of four winners of a Whitehead Prize for her work in geometric group theory. Whitehead Prizes are awarded to mathematicians with less than 15 years experience at post-doctoral level.