Fields Notes 17:2 | Page 4

News Maryam Mirzakhani, 2014 Fields Medal Winner, Dies at 40 Mirzakhani was the first woman and first Iranian-born to win the prestigious mathematics prize. MARYAM MIRZAKHANI, IRANIAN MATHEMATICIAN and professor of mathematics at Stanford University, passed away on July 14, 2017 after a long battle with cancer. Mirzakhani was the first woman and first Iranian-born to win the prestigious Fields Medal. She will be remembered for her research in moduli spaces, Teichmüller theory, hyperbolic geometry, Ergodic theory, and symplectic geometry, but also for her fearlessness tackling problems that others would not attempt. Mirzakhani will continue to be an inspiration to women everywhere who are pursuing or thinking of pursuing careers in math and science.  Ryerson Becomes Fields’ Ninth Principal Sponsoring University The nine Principal Sponsoring Universities are essential for the success of Fields’ mission to enhance mathematical activity in Canada. THE FIELDS INSTITUTE IS VERY PLEASED to welcome Ryerson University as its ninth Principal Sponsoring University (PSU). The connections formed with Ryerson over the past few years as a Fields Affiliate University have now reached a new level, which we recognize and celebrate with this PSU agreement. “The Fields Institute is excited to increase its ties with such a geographically close neighbour. Ryerson’s commitment 4 to research excellence as well as its focus on community engagement will certainly result in an array of interesting programming within and beyond the mathematical sciences community,” says Ian Hambleton, Director of the Fields Institute. The mission of the Fields Institute is to enhance mathematical activity in Canada by bringing together mathematicians from all around the world.