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New Delhi, Nov. 6:
He actually wanted to be a chemist. But one year of advanced
chemistry was enough for him to shift to mathematics.
Today, Sir Michael Atiyah is the greatest mathematician alive.
Renowned for developing a branch of algebraic geometry called
K-theory, which has had an immensurable influence on modern
theoretical physics. He is now working on the Unification theory-
how to combine gravity (galaxies) with quantum mechanics (atom
and cell).
Speaking exclusively to the Asian Age after arriving the India
on Thursday on the invitation of the mathematical Sciences Foundation
of St. Stephen's College, Sir Michael, winner of the Fields
Medal in 1966. said: "It was inorganic chemistry that got
me to change my subject even though i was always interested
in maths too. It was how to make sulphuric acid and memorising
a vast amount of material that I hated. Inorganic chemistry
was just a mountain of facts in books. In mathematics, you don't
really need an enormous memory. You can work most things out
for yourself, remember a few principles. I enjoy thinking, I'm
good at it. So i decided on maths, in which all one had to know
was a few principles. I present working on space, which is more
complicated than you think."
" I developed
the K-theory, which is actually a powerful tool to tackle geometry
with a algebraic method, a long time ago. But in its long subsequent
life, the theory has been used in connection with theoretical
physics. K-theory really arose out of algebraic geometry and
is concerned with the interrelationship of topology and linear
algebra. For the last 20 years, I have campaigned for physicists
and mathematicians to work together, which is finally happening.
I have acted as a catalyst to bridge the gap between the two fraternities and there is a lot of interaction now,
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" he added. Born to be Lebanese father and a Scottish mother, Professor Atiyah has held many distinguished positions during his career-- president of the royal
Mathematical Society, London, president of the London Mathematical
Society, Master Trinity college, Cambridge, the Savilian Chair
of Geometry at Oxford, Professor at the institute for Advanced
Study at Princeton and director of the Isaac Newton Research
Institute. Cambridge.
He is also the author of Introduction Sir Michael will deliver
a lecture to students of the Mathematical Sciences Foundation
on November 7 as part of its "Form A Life Of Mathematics"
programme, in which students meet and interact with distinguished
mathematicians from the most renowned institutes of the world
during the three weeks of their visit to India.
to Commutative Algebra and K-Theory, both of which are a classics
of 20th century mathematical literature.
"The main
thing that interests me in mathematics is the interconnection
between different parts of mathematics, the fact that one problem
may have half a dozen different ways of being looked at in different
subjects, a bit of topology. I'm really excited by things that
are totally unexpected. Predictable things are within your grasp,
you can get there, Unpredictable is exciting, Maths is more
like art, a new creation every day. A new invention lives forever."
In the last three years, the foundation has invited guests that
include former presidents of the Mathematical Association of
America, the Canadian Mathematical Society and the Luxembourg
Mathematical Society, as well as renowned professors from Harvard,
Berkeley and Houston. Sir Michael will also deliver a public
lecture on November 12. "I retired six years back as the
Master of Trinity College, a post that was taken over by Professor
Amartya Sen. I am at present an honorary professor at the University
of Edinburgh and travel all across the world delivering lectures,
" he said.
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