Maryam Mirzakhani (1977-2017) Maths Genius

 

Dr. Mirzakhani was one of four Fields winners in 2014.  Until then, all 52 recipients had been men.

Dr. Mirzakhani often dived into her math research by doodling on vast pieces of paper sprawled on the floor, with equations at the edges. Her daughter described it as “painting.  “It is like being lost in a jungle,” Dr. Mirzakhani said, “and trying to use all the knowledge that you can gather to come up with some new tricks — and with some luck you might find a way out.”