Saturday, April 29, 2006

Carl Friedrich Gauss Prize for Applications of Mathematics.


International Mathematical Union had created this Gauss Prize to reward technological breakthroughs which have a Mathematical undercurrent.According to the IMU "It seems that only the experts know that mathematics is a driving force behind many modern technologies. The Gauss Prize, to be awarded for the first time in 2006, has been created to help the rest of the world realize this fundamental fact. The prize is to honor scientists whose mathematical research has had an impact outside mathematics – either in technology, in business, or simply in people's everyday lives."

The Gauss Prize is awarded jointly by the Deutsche Mathematiker-Vereinigung (DMV = German Mathematical Union) and the International Mathematical Union (IMU), and administered by the DMV. The prize consists of a medal and a monetary award. The source of the prize is a surplus from the International Congress of Mathematicians (ICM '98) held in Berlin.

With the Gauss Prize the IMU is broadening the range of its awards, now including the influence of mathematics to other disciplines. The award ceremony will include an overview of the achievements of the prize-winner. The presentation of the mathematical work will be addressed to the general public as well as journalists, so that all may appreciate the importance of mathematics for everyday life.

Friday, April 07, 2006

European Institute of Technology

The European Union is planning to start a European Institue of Technology to compete with its US rival,the prestigious MIT.It is supposed to attract the best minds of today from all over the world .They fear that the US Universities are head and shoulders above their European rivals and emerging economic powerhouses like CHINA and INDIA are fast improving their Research and Development capabilities.China is likely to surpass the US in the number of doctoral degrees awarded and India is also producing more doctorates than ever before.On top of this China has plans of evolving their top universities to compete with MIT in about two decades or so.As always India seems to be "missing the bus".It will be quite some time before IISc or IITs reach the quality and prestige of MIT or UC Berkeley.(It has a lot to do with the funding I believe).

Research,Development and Innovation are very important for any country's progress.Unless India does something to improve its higher education and research capabilities ,the "brain drain " of its best minds will continue.India will be spending crores of rupees to educate some brilliant young minds who "just leave".