Shing-Tung Yau
Geometer whose work shapes both pure math and string theory.
Their Story
Shing-Tung Yau is a Chinese-American mathematician who won the Fields Medal for his work in geometry. He proved important results about curved spaces, and the 'Calabi–Yau' shapes he helped describe appear in physics theories about the universe. He has also mentored many mathematicians around the world.
Era
1900s
Field
Mathematics
Shing-Tung Yau
Geometer whose work shapes both pure math and string theory.
Math · Mathematics · 1900s · Asian American Heritage, Immigrant Innovators
Their Story
Shing-Tung Yau is a Chinese-American mathematician who won the Fields Medal for his work in geometry. He proved important results about curved spaces, and the 'Calabi–Yau' shapes he helped describe appear in physics theories about the universe. He has also mentored many mathematicians around the world.
Key Innovation
Proved deep results in geometry that became essential to modern physics and string theory.
Why It Matters Today
His geometric ideas help physicists imagine the hidden shapes that may make up our universe.
Learn More
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shing-Tung_Yau
Wilkinson STEM Education Foundation · 251 American Innovators · wilkinsonstemfoundation.org
