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Reclusive top mathematician turns down prize, again
Yahoo News ^ | 2 July, 2010

Posted on 07/02/2010 8:26:37 AM PDT by Errant

Reclusive Russian mathematician Grigory Perelman, who MOSCOW (AFP) – Reclusive Russian mathematician Grigory Perelman, who shot to global fame after claiming to solve the seemingly intractable Poincare conjecture, has refused another prize for the achievement.

The Clay Mathematics Institute (CMI) said Thursday that Perelman informed the Cambridge, Massachusetts-based research center that he would not accept its million-dollar prize.

"I have turned down (the award)," Perelman told the Interfax news agency by telephone. "The main reason is disagreement with the organised mathematics community. I do not like their decisions, I consider them unfair."

"I think that the contribution of American mathematician (Richard) Hamilton in solving this problem is no less than mine."

(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...


TOPICS: Chit/Chat; Education; Science; Weird Stuff
KEYWORDS: math; perelman; prize; russian; stringtheory
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1 posted on 07/02/2010 8:26:43 AM PDT by Errant
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To: Errant
“”I have turned down (the award),” Perelman told the Interfax news agency by telephone. “The main reason is disagreement with the organised mathematics community. I do not like their decisions, I consider them unfair.”

“I think that the contribution of American mathematician (Richard) Hamilton in solving this problem is no less than mine.”

...

He's been turning down awards since 1936.

Either he is arrogant or turned off by the arrogance of others? I don't know but he is an interesting character. Does anyone else know about him?

2 posted on 07/02/2010 8:30:46 AM PDT by nmh (Intelligent people recognize Intelligent Design (God).)
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To: Errant

This mathematician turned down a million clams? Maybe he needs to recalculate that.


3 posted on 07/02/2010 8:32:25 AM PDT by fidelis (Zonie and USAF Cold Warrior)
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To: nmh

He hasnt been turning down awards since 1936, the Fields Medal has been awarded annually since 1936 and he’s the first person to ever decline to accept. He’s in his 40s. There was a prior article about him when he rejected some medal, he apparently is a very eccentric person.


4 posted on 07/02/2010 8:35:26 AM PDT by pepsi_junkie (Who is John Galt?)
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To: Errant

To some people, their principles are worth more than a couple of million dollars.


5 posted on 07/02/2010 8:35:36 AM PDT by James C. Bennett
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To: nmh

“He’s been turning down awards since 1936.”

“...born on 13 June 1966”

Now there’s some math for you!

:)


6 posted on 07/02/2010 8:35:59 AM PDT by PetroniusMaximus
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To: pepsi_junkie
Sounds like he would like to share the honor with a fellow Mathematician.
7 posted on 07/02/2010 8:38:19 AM PDT by sniper63 (I am the leader of the TEA Party, I, myself am the leader of me, myself for I am the TEA Party!)
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To: sniper63

I find those people interesting. As long as they don’t get it on with barnyard animals. Probably part of the NBC(no bath crowd).


8 posted on 07/02/2010 8:41:43 AM PDT by DIRTYSECRET
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To: DIRTYSECRET

9 posted on 07/02/2010 8:54:09 AM PDT by Errant
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To: Errant

“”I think that the contribution of American mathematician (Richard) Hamilton in solving this problem is no less than mine.””

So, if this guy is such a genius, how come he hasn’t figured out to accept the award and GIVE half of it to Hamilton? This jackass may not want the money, but I bet Hamilton wouldn’t mind $500,000.

What an asshat.


10 posted on 07/02/2010 9:02:53 AM PDT by bolobaby
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To: Errant

“organised mathematics community”

That phrase cracked me up. I didn’t know there was one!


11 posted on 07/02/2010 9:05:33 AM PDT by stansblugrassgrl
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To: Errant

"In Russia you don't get prize - prize get YOU!"

12 posted on 07/02/2010 9:10:29 AM PDT by Fido969 ("The hardest thing in the world to understand is income tax." - Albert Einstein)
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To: pepsi_junkie
he apparently is a very eccentric person.

I'd say he's a man who lives by his principles. He could easily be working in the West as a researcher or teacher, making far more money if money were important to him. Instead he has rejected positions at Stanford and Princeton in addition to the million dollars of the Millenium Prize and still lives in Russia with his mother.
13 posted on 07/02/2010 9:10:48 AM PDT by AnotherUnixGeek
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To: nmh
He could be the most interesting man in the world.

Stay thirsty my friends.
14 posted on 07/02/2010 9:12:53 AM PDT by VastRWCon
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To: Fido969
"In Russia you don't get prize - prize get YOU!"

I think it is the same in America now. After the Feds get .5 and the state gets .25 and the CPA gets .5 to wade through the mountain of paper work and your life is ruined from others bugging you for handouts for the foreseeable future, you'll be better off to just say "screw it" like Mr. Perelman.

15 posted on 07/02/2010 9:19:55 AM PDT by Errant
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To: Errant
Oopps, Errant made another Error....

CPAs & Attorneys get .05

16 posted on 07/02/2010 9:23:48 AM PDT by Errant
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To: PetroniusMaximus

“He’s been turning down awards since 1936.”

“...born on 13 June 1966”

Now there’s some math for you!

:)

I don’t have my glasses on!

My mistake - OLD eyes.


17 posted on 07/02/2010 9:26:57 AM PDT by nmh (Intelligent people recognize Intelligent Design (God).)
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To: PetroniusMaximus

“He’s been turning down awards since 1936.”

“...born on 13 June 1966”

Now there’s some math for you!

:)

I don’t have my glasses on!

My mistake - OLD eyes.


18 posted on 07/02/2010 9:27:03 AM PDT by nmh (Intelligent people recognize Intelligent Design (God).)
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To: pepsi_junkie
I don't have my glasses on so I misread it.

Old eyes!

If Obama had his way, he'd get rid of me - euthanasia.

19 posted on 07/02/2010 9:28:18 AM PDT by nmh (Intelligent people recognize Intelligent Design (God).)
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To: Errant
Mr. Perelman has given the world an answer that we spent a long time seeking, and his mathematical fame will last a far longer time than virtually any current politician's or pop star's fleeting fame.

He's certainly entitled to accept or refuse awards based on his principles.

20 posted on 07/02/2010 10:19:09 AM PDT by snowsislander (In this election year, please ask your candidates if they support repeal of the 1968 GCA.)
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