Anna Wienhard facts for kids
Anna Katharina Wienhard (born in 1977) is a German mathematician. She studies differential geometry, which is a branch of math that looks at shapes and spaces using calculus. She also works on something called higher Teichmüller spaces. This helps her understand how geometric shapes can change or "deform" while keeping some of their original features. She is a director at the Max Planck Institute for Mathematics in the Sciences, which is a famous research center in Germany.
Her Journey in Math
Anna Wienhard started her university studies at the University of Bonn in Germany. She earned two degrees there, one in theology and another in mathematics. After that, she continued her studies at Bonn and received her doctorate degree in 2004. A doctorate is the highest university degree, often called a PhD.
After finishing her studies, Dr. Wienhard worked at several universities for a short time. These included the University of Basel in Switzerland, the Institute for Advanced Study in the United States, and the University of Chicago. In 2007, she became a professor at Princeton University, a well-known university in the US.
Later, in 2012, she moved back to Germany to become a full professor at Heidelberg University. In 2022, she took on an important role as a research director at the Max Planck Institute for Mathematics in the Sciences in Leipzig, Germany.
Awards and Recognition
Dr. Wienhard has received many honors for her work in mathematics.
- From 2009 to 2013, she was a member of the Young Academy. This is a special group for talented young researchers in Germany. It is part of the German Academy of Sciences Leopoldina and the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities.
- In 2012, she became one of the first fellows of the American Mathematical Society. Being a fellow means you are recognized for your excellent contributions to mathematics.
- The Leopoldina, which is Germany's national academy of sciences, elected her as a regular member in 2023.
She was also chosen as the Emmy Noether Lecturer by the German Mathematical Society in 2012. This is a special lecture given by an outstanding female mathematician. In 2018, she was an invited speaker at the International Congress of Mathematicians. This is a very important meeting where mathematicians from all over the world share their latest discoveries. She was also named an MSRI Clay Senior Scholar for the fall of 2019.
