Edward Witten

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Edward Witten

Edward Witten (born August 26, 1951) is an American theoretical physicist known for his contributions to string theory, topological quantum field theory, general relativity and various areas of mathematics. He is a professor emeritus in the school of natural sciences at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton. Witten is a researcher in string theory, quantum gravity, supersymmetric quantum field theories, and other areas of mathematical physics. Witten's work has also significantly impacted pure mathematics. In 1990, he became the first physicist to be awarded a Fields Medal by the International Mathematical Union, for his mathematical insights in physics, such as his 1981 proof of the positive energy theorem in general relativity, and his interpretation of the Jones invariants of knots as Feynman integrals. He is considered the practical founder of M-theory.

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• Edward Witten - Wikipedia

  Edward Witten (born August 26, 1951) is an American theoretical physicist known for his contributions to string theory, topological quantum field theory, general relativity and various areas of mathematics. He is a professor emeritus in the school of natural sciences at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton. Witten is a researcher in string theory, quantum gravity, supersymmetric quantum field theories, and other areas of mathematical physics. Witten's work has also significantly impacted pure mathematics. In 1990, he became the first physicist to be awarded a Fields Medal by the International Mathematical Union, for his mathematical insights in physics, such as his 1981 proof of the positive energy theorem in general relativity, and his interpretation of the Jones invariants of [...] ## Early life and education [edit] Witten was born on August 26, 1951, in Baltimore, Maryland, to a Jewish family, as the eldest of four children. His brother Matt Witten became a writer, and his brother Jesse Amnon Witten became a law partner in the firm Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath. Their sister Celia M. Witten earned a Ph.D. in mathematics from Stanford University and then an M.D. from the University of Miami. Edward Witten is the son of Lorraine (born Wollach) Witten and Louis Witten, a theoretical physicist specializing in gravitation and general relativity. Witten attended the Park School of Baltimore (class of 1968), and received his Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in history and minor in linguistics from Brandeis University in 1971. [...] Witten has been honored with numerous awards including a MacArthur Grant (1982), the Fields Medal (1990), the Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement (1997), the Nemmers Prize in Mathematics (2000), the National Medal of Science (2002), Pythagoras Award (2005), the Henri Poincaré Prize (2006), the Crafoord Prize (2008), the Lorentz Medal (2010) the Isaac Newton Medal (2010) and the Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics (2012). Since 1999, he has been a Foreign Member of the Royal Society (London), and in March 2016 was elected an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. Pope Benedict XVI appointed Witten as a member of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences (2006). He also appeared in the list of Time "Time (magazine)") magazine's 100 most influential people of

• Professor Edward Witten FRS | Royal Society Fellow

  The Royal Society / Fellows Directory # Professor Edward Witten FRS Edward Witten is a Fields Medal-winning American theoretical physicist who has made significant contributions to both mathematics and physics. His interests lie in unifying theories of particle physics — building on both quantum field theory and string theory — to which he has applied geometrical and topological ideas. His research highlights include the application of the Chern–Simons theory to our understanding of knots and 3-manifolds. Edward’s proof of the positive energy theorem of general relativity and his development of the Seiberg–Witten equation have also proved to be important advances.

• Edward Witten | String Theory, Quantum Gravity, Nobel Prize | Britannica

  Encyclopedia Britannica Encyclopedia Britannica Witten, Edward Britannica AI Icon Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Witten, Edward # Edward Witten Britannica AI Icon Edward Witten (born August 26, 1951, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.) is an American mathematical physicist who was awarded the Fields Medal in 1990 for his work in superstring theory. He also received the Dirac Medal from the International Centre for Theoretical Physics (1985). [...] Witten was awarded the Fields Medal at the International Congress of Mathematicians in Kyōto, Japan, in 1990. His early research interests were in electromagnetism, but he soon developed an interest in what is now known as superstring theory in mathematical physics. He made significant contributions to Morse theory, supersymmetry, and knot theory. Additionally, he explored the relationship between quantum field theory and the differential topology of manifolds of two and three dimensions. With the physicist Nathan Seiberg he produced a family of partial differential equations that greatly simplified Simon Donaldson’s approach to the classification of four-dimensional manifolds. [...] Witten was educated at Brandeis University (B.A., 1971) in Waltham, Massachusetts, and Princeton University (M.A., 1974; Ph.D., 1976) in New Jersey. He held a fellowship at Harvard University (1976–77), was a junior fellow in the Harvard Society of Fellows (1977–80), and held a MacArthur Foundation fellowship (1982). He held an appointment at Princeton (1980–87) before moving to the Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton, in 1987.

• Physicist Edward Witten on the future of quantum theory | Scientific American

  Join Our Community of Science Lovers! Edward Witten is an American theoretical physicist and professor emeritus at the Institute for Advanced Study. His work in string theory, quantum field theory and mathematical physics has influenced both physics and mathematics. In 1990 he became the first physicist to be awarded the Fields Medal. [This interview was edited for length and clarity.] How would you describe the current state of American science? ## On supporting science journalism If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism bysubscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today. [...] Scientific American SubscribeSign In New Issue: Orbital Catastrophe Ahead? Read Now June 16, 2026 Edward Witten The renowned physicist on the lack of public support for political interference in science By Joseph Howlett Sylvain Gaboury/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images This article is part of “The Young American Scientists,” which includes stories of 28 extraordinary scientists poised to change the world, as well as a deep look at the past, present and future of science and innovation in the U.S. Join Our Community of Science Lovers!

• Edward Witten - MacArthur Foundation

  rotate lines Menu facebook twitter linkedin instagram youtube medium ##### Stay Informed Menu #### Account Login Login into your grantee account, reset your password, or submit an idea to the MacArthur Foundation. Login or Submit Idea # Edward Witten Physicist Class of 1982 facebook twitter linkedin share location icon Location Princeton, New Jersey age iconAge 31 at time of award area of focus iconArea of Focus Physics ## About Edward's Work Edward Witten is a theoretical physicist who works at the intersection of the fields of elementary particle physics and mathematical physics. [...] ## Biography Witten is the Charles Simonyi Professor of Mathematical Physics in the School of Natural Sciences at the Institute of Advanced Study in Princeton, New Jersey, where he became a member of the faculty in 1987. He served previously as a professor of physics at Princeton University (1980-1987). Witten received a B.A. (1971) from Brandeis University and an M.A. (1974) and Ph.D. (1976) from Princeton University. Last updated January 1, 2005. Published on August 1, 1982 ### Select News Coverage of Edward Witten Load More;) VIEW ALL NEWS COVERAGE Right Arrow #### Related Fellows Class of 1982 Physics View All Right Arrow View All Right Arrow [...] His research is focused on elementary particle theory and gravity, with a specific emphasis on string theory as a tool for unifying forces of nature, and on relations between gauge theory, gravity, and geometry. Witten’s work has played a significant role in shaping cosmological theory and has advanced our understanding of the physical and mathematical implications of supersymmetry. He is the co-author of Current Algebra and Anomalies (1986) and of the two-volume series Superstring Theory (1988). He has published over 250 articles that have appeared in such journals as Communications in Mathematical Physics, Nature, Nuclear Physics B, and the Physical Review Letters. ## Biography

• Award

  Isaac Newton Medal

• Image

  

• Gender

  male

• Educated At

  Princeton University

• Instance Of

  Q5

• Occupation

  physicist

• Citizenship

  United States

• Date Of Birth

  8/26/1951

• Notable Work

  M-theory

• Place Of Birth

  Baltimore