Terence Chi-Shen Tao

Terence Tao is an Australian-American mathematician and professor of mathematics at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where he holds the James and Carol Collins Chair in the College of Letters and Sciences. Widely regarded as one of the greatest living mathematicians, Tao has received numerous prestigious awards including the Fields Medal, the Breakthrough Prize in Mathematics, and the MacArthur Fellowship.

Dr. Tao's educational background includes:

• Bachelor's and Master's degrees from Flinders University (1991)
• Ph.D. from Princeton University (1996) under Elias M. Stein

Tao's research spans an extraordinary breadth of mathematical fields. He is particularly known for his work in harmonic analysis, partial differential equations, combinatorics, and analytic number theory. His research has included groundbreaking contributions to compressed sensing, the Green-Tao theorem on arithmetic progressions in prime numbers, and progress on the Navier-Stokes equations. Tao is renowned for his collaborative approach, having worked with over 60 co-authors throughout his career.

Tao's publications demonstrate remarkable diversity across mathematical disciplines. His work shows strong trends in connecting seemingly disparate areas of mathematics, often bringing techniques from one field to solve problems in another. He has made significant contributions to both theoretical and applied mathematics, with applications ranging from signal processing to number theory.

Among his numerous scientific achievements, Tao has received:

• Fields Medal (2006)
• Breakthrough Prize in Mathematics (2014)
• Royal Medal (2014)
• MacArthur Fellowship (2006)
• Crafoord Prize (2012)
• Princess of Asturias Award (2020)

Tao has mentored numerous students throughout his career, with Monica Vișan among his doctoral students. He has secured significant research funding through prestigious awards including the Packard Fellowship, Sloan Fellowship, and Simons Investigator award. His collaborative research has been supported by multiple National Science Foundation grants.

Tao maintains an active research group at UCLA and frequently collaborates with mathematicians worldwide. His blog and public lectures have made advanced mathematical concepts accessible to broader audiences, demonstrating his commitment to mathematical education and outreach.