Description

The Wolf Prize is a prestigious international award granted in the fields of agriculture, chemistry, mathematics, medicine, physics, and arts. It was established in 1978 by the Wolf Foundation in Israel, founded by Dr. Ricardo Wolf, a German-born inventor, diplomat, and philanthropist, and his wife Francisca. The prize aims to recognize outstanding achievements in these areas and promote the advancement of science and culture worldwide. It is awarded annually, with laureates receiving a diploma and a monetary award. Many recipients of the Wolf Prize have gone on to win Nobel Prizes in their respective fields.

Raoul Bott (1923 - 2005) was a renowned mathematician known for his substantial contributions to differential geometry, algebraic topology, and mathematical physics. His work on the index theorem in differential geometry has significant applications in theoretical physics, especially quantum field theory. Bott also made notable advances in algebraic topology, particularly in homotopy theory and K-theory.

Throughout his career, Bott held academic positions at prestigious institutions such as Harvard University, MIT, and the University of Michigan. His achievements earned him numerous honors, including the Oswald Veblen Prize in Geometry in 1964, the Jeffery–Williams Prize in 1983, and the National Medal of Science in 1987. In 2000, he received the Wolf Prize, and in 2005, he was elected an Overseas Fellow of the Royal Society of London. Bott's work continues to profoundly influence mathematics and theoretical physics.

Engraver: István Holló