The rationale behind the equation is that total transport costs need to be kept as low as possible. This also applies to many change processes in nature: for example soap bubbles and crystals attain their attractive geometric shape by minimising surface energy. Alessio Figalli has mathematically proven that the
abrupt changes in cloud formations in major weather fronts can be broken down into optimal transport equations
. When the clouds change shape, the particles move in an optimal, energy-efficient way from their initial state to another.
Mathematics is creative
At just 34 years of age, the mathematician already has a distinguished CV. He completed his doctorate in 2007 after just one year. He was appointed Associate Professor at the University of Texas at Austin at the age of 25, and promoted to Full Professor at the age of 27. Then he joined ETH Zurich as Full Professor when he was 32. He has also received numerous awards and distinctions and the Fields Medal represents the high point of his career to date.
Alessio Figalli is naturally delighted: “Receiving the Fields Medal is a great honour. The medal expresses great recognition not only for my research but also for the entire scientific community of analysis. Personally, I feel a deep satisfaction that motivates me even more to get involved in top-level research.”
He is convinced that creativity is the key to devising new tools and techniques to solve mathematical questions. “It's great to be the first to prove something that has occupied many mathematicians for years”, says Alessio Figalli, “I'd like to show young talented people how creative and exciting mathematics really is. The vibrant and dynamic setting I have here at ETH Zurich is the perfect place to do that.”
An ambassador for mathematics
“It fills me with pride that a researcher at ETH Zurich has been awarded one of the highest honours in academia. I have come to know Alessio Figalli as an extremely creative mathematician and an open, communicative person”, says ETH President Lino Guzzella, “I am convinced that he is a major asset to our teaching and research at ETH Zurich and for Switzerland as a research centre. He can also make an impact as an ambassador for mathematics.”
