Edward Witten
Professor Emeritus
School of Natural Sciences
Mathematical Physics
Affiliation
Natural Sciences
Website
Edward Witten’s work exhibits a unique combination of mathematical power and physics insight, and his contributions have significantly enriched both fields. He has greatly contributed to the modern interest in superstrings as a candidate theory for the unification of all known physical interactions. Most recently, he has explored quantum duality symmetries of field theories and string theories, opening significant new perspectives on particle physics, string theory, and topology.
Fields Medalist, 1990
Dates at IAS
Emeritus
School of Natural Sciences
–
Faculty
School of Natural Sciences
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Member
School of Natural Sciences
–
Spring
Degrees
Princeton University
Ph.D.
1976
Princeton University
M.A.
1974
Brandeis University
B.A.
1971
Honors
Awards: Hamburg Prize for Theoretical Physics 2023; Asia Pacific Center for Theoretical Physics, Benjamin Lee Professorship 2023; World Cultural Council, Albert Einstein World Award of Science 2016; American Physical Society, Medal for Exceptional Achievement in Research 2016; Kyoto Prize in Basic Sciences 2014; Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics 2012; Institute of Physics, Isaac Newton Medal 2010; Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, Lorentz Medal 2010; Crafoord Prize in Mathematics 2008; Henri Poincaré Prize 2006; National Medal of Science 2003; American Institute of Physics and American Physical Society, Dannie Heineman Prize for Mathematical Physics 1998; Fields Medal 1990; National Science Foundation, Alan T. Waterman Award 1986; Einstein Society of Berne, Einstein Medal 1985; International Centre for Theoretical Physics, Dirac Prize and Medal 1985; MacArthur Fellowship 1982
Memberships: Académie des Sciences, Institut de France; American Academy of Arts and Sciences; American Association for the Advancement of Science (Fellow); American Mathematical Society (Fellow); American Philosophical Society; American Physical Society; London Mathematical Society; National Academy of Sciences; Royal Society of Edinburgh; Royal Society of London; Science Academy-Türkiye, Bilim Akademisi
Appointments
Princeton University
1980–1987
Professor
Harvard Society of Fellows
1977–1980
Junior Fellow
Harvard University
1976–1977
Postdoctoral Fellow
