Iranian mathematician Maryam Mirzakhani became the first woman to be awarded the Fields Medal, the mathematics’ equivalent to the Nobel Prize.
The professor at Stanford University in California was among four Fields Medal recipients at the International Congress of Mathematicians held in Seoul, and the first female among the 56 winners since the prize was established in 1936.
“This is a great honour. I will be happy if it encourages young female scientists and mathematicians,” Ms Mirzakhani was quoted as saying on Stanford’s website.
“I am sure there will be many more women winning this kind of award in coming years,” she said.
Ms Mirzakhani, 37, was born in Tehran and lived there until she began her doctorate work at Harvard University.
Ms Mirzakhani was recognised for her work in understanding the symmetry of curved surfaces, according to the Stanford site.
The prizes are awarded every four years.
