Shing Tung Yau

Working in the field of differential geometry, mathematician Shing-Tung Yau made major discoveries with wide-ranging implications in other disciplines. His proof regarding Einstein’s theory of relativity, that the sum of energy in the universe is positive, has played an important role in understanding the formation of black holes. He was awarded the Fields Medal in 1982 as well as the Crafoord Prize of the Royal Swedish Society in 1994. A former professor at both Stony Brook University and Stanford University, he has served as a professor at Harvard University since 1987. Updated 2009