Edward Witten is a highly regarded American theoretical physicist who has made significant contributions to string theory, topological quantum field theory, and mathematics.
He is considered one of the leading experts in his field and has received numerous awards and honors for his work.
Witten’s current position is professor emeritus at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, where he continues to contribute to the scientific community.
File
- Full name: Edward Witten
- Stage Name: Edward Witten
- Date of birth: August 26, 1951
- Age: 72 years old
- Place of birth: Baltimore, Maryland, United States.
- Nationality: American
- Occupation: American theoretical physicist
- Height: 5’7
- Parents: Lorraine Wollach Witten and Louis Witten
- Siblings: Jesse Witten, Celia Witten and Matt Witten
- Spouse: Chiara Nappi
- Children: 3, Daniela Witten, Ilana B. Witten and Ilana Witten
- Relationship: Married
- Net worth: $12 billion
Childhood life and education.
Edward Witten, a renowned American physicist and mathematician, was born on August 26, 1951, in Baltimore, Maryland, United States. He was raised in a Jewish family by his parents, Lorraine Wollach Witten and Louis Witten, along with his three siblings – younger brother Matt Witten and younger sisters Jesse Witten and Celia Witten.
Witten attended Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts, and completed his graduate studies at Princeton University in New Jersey, where he received his MA in 1974 and PhD in 1976. He also studied at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and the Park School in Baltimore.
Career
Edward Witten, a renowned American theoretical physicist, has made an incredible career combining physics and mathematics. He began his research in electromagnetism but soon turned to string theory, which is seen as a potential solution to unifying all fundamental forces.
After completing his PhD, Witten held several postdoctoral and research positions at Harvard and became a professor at Princeton University in 1980. Since 1987, he has been a professor at the prestigious Institute for Advanced Study (IAS). His impressive academic appointments reflect his significant contributions to physics and mathematics.
Edward Witten made groundbreaking contributions to string theory, topological quantum field theory, and many other areas of mathematics. He is particularly known for his work on superstring theory, for which he won the prestigious Fields Medal in 1990, becoming the first physicist to receive the honor.
Not only did his research have a major impact on the field of pure mathematics, but Witten also received numerous awards and recognition, including the Dirac Medal in 1985 and membership in prestigious scientific academies. He was named one of Time magazine’s 100 most influential people in 2004.
Awards and nominations
The award honors his scientific achievements:
- Fields Medal (1990), a top recognition in mathematics
- National Medal of Science (2003), the highest scientific award in the United States
- Crafoord Prize (2008), awarded for outstanding achievements in mathematics, astronomy, earth sciences and biology
- Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics (2012), recognizing transformative research
- The Dirac Medal (1985), the Dannie Heineman Prize (1998), the Nemmers Prize in Mathematics (2000), the Henri Poincaré Prize (2006), the Lorentz Medal (2010), and the Isaac Newton Medal (2010) – all in recognition of his remarkable contributions to physics and mathematics
- Other recognitions:
- MacArthur Fellowship (1982), “Genius Award”.
- Elected Fellow of the Royal Society (1999) and the American Mathematical Society (2012)
- Included in Time magazine’s list of 100 most influential people (2004)
- Honorary Doctorates from prestigious universities
Social media.
- Twitter Username: @witten271
Personal life
Edward Witten is married to Chiara Nappi, a theoretical physicist, and they have been together since 1979. They have three children together.
Their daughters, Daniela Witten, Ilana B. Witten and Daniela Witten, followed in their parents’ footsteps and pursued academic careers.
Ilana is a neuroscientist at Princeton University, while Daniela is a biostatistician at the University of Washington. Their sons’ career paths are not yet public.
Net worth
Edward Witten, often called the “father of string theory”, is an American theoretical physicist known for his groundbreaking work on string theory and quantum gravity.
Despite his enormous contributions to the scientific community, Witten’s estimated net worth is a modest $12 billion, making him one of the richest physicists in the world.
