Edward Witten

Edward Witten is an American theoretical physicist and the Charles Simonyi Professor in the School of Natural Sciences at the Institute for Advanced Study. He is a researcher in string theory, quantum gravity, supersymmetric quantum field theories, and other areas of mathematical physics. In addition to his contributions to physics, His work has significantly impacted pure mathematics. In 1990, he became the first physicist to be awarded a Fields Medal by the International Mathematical Union, awarded for his 1981 proof of the positive energy theorem in general relativity. He is considered to be the practical founder of M-theory.

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.

Professor Witten was General Director of the School in Theoretical Physics from 1993-99.

Awards and Honors

• MacArthur Fellowship, 1982
• Fellow, American Academy of Arts and Sciences, 1984
• Fellow, American Physical Society, 1984
• Einstein Medal, Einstein Society of Berne, Switzerland, 1985
• Award for Physical and Mathematical Sciences, New York Academy of Sciences, 1985
• Dirac Medal, International Center for Theoretical Physics, 1985
• Alan T. Waterman Award, National Science Foundation, 1986
• Invited Address, International Congress of Mathematicians, 1986 and 2002
• Colloquium Lecturer, American Mathematical Society, 1987
• Fellow National Academy of Sciences, 1988
• Centennial Lecturer, American Mathematical Society, 1988
• Honorary Ph.D., Brandeis University, 1988
• Fields Medal, International Union of Mathematicians, 1990
• Madison Medal, Princeton University, 1992
• Member of the Board, Americans for Peace Now, Feb. 1992–
• Honorary Ph.D., The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 1993
• Fellow, American Philosophical Society, 1994
• New Jersey Pride Award, 1996
• Honorary Ph.D., Columbia University, New York, 1996
• Award of the Golden Plate, American Academy of Achievement, May 1997