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Isadore M. Singer

American mathematician whose work with Michael Atiyah on the index theorem linked topology, geometry, analysis and theoretical physics; co-recipient of the 2004 Abel Prize.

United States

Portrait of Isadore Singer in 1977.

George M. Bergman / Oberwolfach Photo Collection / Wikimedia Commons / GFDL 1.2 / VRT-confirmedSource

Biography

American mathematician whose work with Michael Atiyah on the index theorem linked topology, geometry, analysis and theoretical physics; co-recipient of the 2004 Abel Prize. In Jewish World Records, Isadore M. Singer is connected to the record “First Jewish Recipient of the Abel Prize,” based on the stored achievement of Abel Prize — 2004, shared with Michael Atiyah. In 2004 Isadore Singer and Michael Atiyah received the second Abel Prize, for the Atiyah–Singer index theorem. Singer was born to Polish Jewish immigrants; the only earlier Abel laureate was Jean-Pierre Serre in 2003. The Abel Prize official page confirms Singer and Atiyah as the 2004 laureates. The Abel Prize began in 2003. Singer appears in the second award year, and public biographical sources document his birth to Polish Jewish immigrants; no qualifying Jewish laureate exists in the single earlier 2003 award.

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Records held by Isadore M. Singer

Isadore Singer in 1977.
JWR Verified
AwardsFirst

First Jewish Winner of the Abel Prize

Record holder

Isadore M. Singer

Record value

25 May 2004

Isadore M. Singer became the first Jewish recipient of the Abel Prize when he and Sir Michael Atiyah received the 2004 award. The Abel Prize’s official record names the two mathematicians as that year’s laureates for their discovery and proof of the index theorem, which connected topology, geometry and analysis and became fundamental across modern mathematics and theoretical physics. The prize had been established only shortly before: its first award was made in 2003, so Singer’s recognition came in the second award year. JWR’s chronology therefore compares the complete earlier Abel laureate field rather than relying only on Singer’s prominence. Biographical evidence documents Singer’s Polish Jewish immigrant family background. The award was formally presented on 25 May 2004, the date used by JWR as the record value for this achievement.

Country represented
United States
Achievement location
Oslo, Norway
Achievement date
25 May 2004
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