Sir Michael Atiyah 1929–2019 14 January 2019

Sir Michael Atiyah (1929–2019)

It is with great sadness that The Mathematical Association has learnt of the death of Sir Michael Atiyah at the age of 89. Sir Michael was one of the great luminaries of British mathematics in recent decades, with major contributions to algebraic geometry, topological K-theory, index theory and gauge theory. He held a string of top academic positions, including the Savilian Professor of Geometry at Oxford University, Director of the Isaac Newton Institute for Mathematical Sciences and Master of Trinity College, Cambridge. Sir Michael also held the Presidency of the Royal Society of London and of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. He was awarded the Fields Medal in 1966 and the Abel Prize in 2004. In recognition of these achievements, he was knighted in 1983 and became a member of the Order of Merit in 1992. Sir Michael served as MA President in 1981-82 and was elected as an Honorary Member of the Association in 2016.

One of Sir Michael's most recent lectures was an Oxford Mathematics Public Lecture - Numbers are Serious but they are also Fun - in 2018; it can be viewed here.  (Interestingly Sir Michael references The Mathematical Association in his dedication to his wife between 12.59 - 13.30.)

You can read Sir Michael's 1982 Presidential Address here.

You can read his 1996 article published in the Mathematical Gazette here