Mathematics is the language of science

Updated on: Monday, January 11, 2010

“The way each of us relates to mathematics is different. While some of us think algebraically, others may think geometrically. Mathematics is the underlying principle in every walk of life. We use mathematics all the time and for everything even without realising it,” said Professor L. Mahadevan, one of the recipient of Distinguished Alumnus Award 2009, given by the Indian Institute of Technology – Madras (IIT-M).

Prof. Mahadevan is presently England de Valpine Professor of applied mathematics in the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Cambridge, and professor of organismic and evolutionary biology at Harvard University, U.S. He is also affiliated with the department of systems biology at Harvard Medical School.

“Mathematics is a very structured language and it is the language of the sciences. Just like a poet or a painter uses his/her medium to express or explain an idea, a mathematician uses mathematics to communicate his or her abstract idea,” he said.

A strong foundation in mathematics is essential and that begins in school. “What we learn at the school level is not just concept, but essentially a tool. Concepts have to stay for ever and they have to be understood well in order to be used efficiently as a tool,” he said.

Recipient of the MacArthur Fellowship in 2009, Prof. Mahadevan was selected for the award for his outstanding contribution to the filed of applied mathematics.

The Distinguished Alumnus Award was instituted by IIT-M 12 years ago. The institute has 33,000 alumni and every year five or six awards are given in five categories. So far 72 alumni have received this award.

Prof. Mahadevan is one of the two youngest alumni to be selected for this prestigious award.

Prof. Mahadevan received his B.Tech (mechanical engineering) degree from IIT-M in 1986, Masters in engineering mechanics from the University of Texas at Austin in 1987, masters degree in mathematics and Ph.D from Stanford University in 1992 and 1995 respectively.

He started his academic career at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1996 and is currently Schlumberger Visiting Professor of Mathematics at Oxford University and distinguished visiting professor at the National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bangalore.

Mathematics is the language of science

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