Edward Witten Awarded Lorentz and Newton Medals

The Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Science has awarded the Lorentz Medal to Edward Witten, Charles Simonyi Professor in the School of Natural Sciences, for his pioneering contributions to the mathematical description of fundamental forces and elementary particles, including contributions to string theory. The medal, presented at ceremonies in Amsterdam in June, is awarded every four years to a scientist in recognition of important contributions to theoretical physics. Witten has also been awarded the Isaac Newton medal by the Institute of Physics for his many profound contributions that have transformed areas of particle theory, quantum field theory, and general relativity. Introduced in 2008, the medal is awarded annually internationally for outstanding contributions to physics. Witten received the award in London on July 2 at a meeting of the Institute of Physics at which he will give the Isaac Newton lecture on “String Theory and the Universe.”