Iranian female mathematician wins top European math prize

EghtesadOnline: Iranian mathematician Sara Zahedi won prestigious European Mathematical Society Prize, the top honor for young European mathematicians awarded once every four years.

News ID: ۷۳۵۴۸۸

31 July 2016

Zahedi won the prestigious prize at the 7th European Mathematicians Congress held in Berlin on July 18-22, according to ISNA.

The young Iranian female mathematician has been employed at KTH technical faculty in Istanbul as associate professor.

Zahedi is being recognized for her efforts to improve computer simulations of the behavior of fluids that don't mix together.

One of 10 recipients age 35 or under, Zahedi is the only woman to win one of this year's prizes, which were announced last week. And she's one of only nine female recipients since the EMS prize began in 1992. Zahedi will receive a check for 5,000 euros.

Previous laureates include Grigori Perelman, the subject of the controversial 2006 New Yorker profile 'Manifold Destiny,' and Cédric Villani, who gave a TED talk in February titled 'What's so sexy about math?'

Born in Tehran, Zahedi grew up without a father. When she was 10, her mother sent her to Sweden, on her own.

Zahedi’s expertise is numerical analysis, a study of how to make computer simulations more efficient and accurate.

She creates simulations of fluids that do not mix well, such as water, oil and gas. It's the interface between those fluids that interests Zahedi.

Her research could be helpful in reducing environmental damage from oil spills.