The Life of Maryam Mirzakhani

Abstract

Maryam Mirzakhani is the first and the only female winner of the Fields Medal since its establishment in 1936. She is arguably one of the greatest mathematicians of our generation. This biographical paper outlines her life and work. Her mathematical theorems and noteworthy accomplishments are just as impressive as her determination, imagination, and optimistic outlook on life. Mirzakhani’s success came from her passion, creativity, and playful approach to mathematics. She felt the most rewarding part of mathematics was the enjoyment of understanding or discovering something. Mirzakhani’s work was visual and focused on patterns and ideas rather than on numbers and algorithms. She constructed mathematics in an artistic way, and her goal was to always find truth and beauty in the world. Mirzakhani will forever be an inspiration to anyone who has studied her work and read her story.