Cédric Villani
Early Life and Education
Cédric Villani was born on October 5, 1973, in Brive-la-Gaillarde, France. His interest in mathematics was sparked at a young age, and he pursued this passion throughout his academic career. He attended the École Normale Supérieure in Paris, where he received his undergraduate degree in mathematics. He then went on to earn his doctorate from the Paris Dauphine University in 1998, under the supervision of Pierre-Louis Lions.
Career
After completing his doctorate, Villani began his career as a mathematician and academic. He has held various positions at institutions such as the École Normale Supérieure in Lyon and the Henri Poincaré Institute in Paris. His research primarily focuses on partial differential equations, optimal transport, and statistical mechanics.
Contributions to Mathematics
Villani's work in mathematics has been highly influential. His research on optimal transport and its applications to differential geometry and probability has been particularly notable. In 2010, he was awarded the Fields Medal, often considered the highest honor in mathematics, for his work on Landau damping and the Boltzmann equation.
Political Career
In addition to his work in mathematics, Villani has also been involved in politics. He was elected to the French National Assembly in 2017, representing Essonne's 5th constituency. He is a member of the La République En Marche! party.
Personal Life
Villani is known for his distinctive personal style, often seen wearing a three-piece suit and a large spider brooch. He is also an advocate for science education and has written several popular science books, including "Birth of a Theorem: A Mathematical Adventure" and "Alive in the Face of Death".