Anne Taormina facts for kids
Anne Taormina is a brilliant scientist from both Belgium and Britain. She is a mathematical physicist, which means she uses advanced math to study how the universe works. Her research explores fascinating topics like string theory, which suggests tiny vibrating strings are the basic parts of everything. She also studies conformal field theory, another way to understand particles and forces.
Beyond these complex physics ideas, Anne Taormina has also looked at the shapes of viruses! She studied the icosahedral symmetry of virus capsids, which are like the outer shells of viruses. She used to be a Professor of Theoretical Particle Physics at Durham University and even led their Department of Mathematical Sciences for five years. In September 2024, she moved to King's College London to become the head of their Mathematics Department.
Early Life and Learning
Anne Taormina grew up in Mons, Belgium. Her parents were both schoolteachers, and she has two sisters. One sister became a doctor, and the other became a translator.
She started her journey in mathematics early. In 1980, she earned her first university degree, called a license, in mathematical sciences from the University of Mons. She continued her studies at the same university and completed her doctorate in theoretical particle physics in 1984. Her supervisor, Jean Nuyts, guided her research during this time.
Her Career Journey
After finishing her doctorate, Anne Taormina worked in several different research places for short periods. She worked for the Belgian National Fund for Scientific Research, a physics lab in Paris called the École normale supérieure (Paris), and even at CERN in Geneva, which is a famous place where scientists study tiny particles. She also spent some time at the University of Chicago.
In 1991, she came to Durham University in the UK as a special research fellow. She stayed at Durham, first as a temporary lecturer, then as a research fellow, and finally became a full lecturer in 2000. She continued to advance, becoming a reader in 2004 and a full professor in 2006.
From 2014 to 2018, Anne Taormina was the head of the Department of Mathematical Sciences at Durham. This means she was in charge of the whole math department! She is also a member of the council of the London Mathematical Society, which is an important group for mathematicians.
Her Personal Life
Anne Taormina is married to another physicist, Nigel Glover. He is also a professor at Durham University.
