Hector Fellow since 2022
Prof. Dr. Anna WienhardProf. Dr. Anna Wienhard
Max Planck Institute for Mathematics in the Sciences
Anna Wienhard is one of the world's leading mathematicians in the field of differential geometry. A key concept in her work are symmetries and their actions on topological and geometric spaces. One focus of her research lies in the field of higher Teichmüller theory that she co-founded.
Beyond that she promotes the close connection of fundamental mathematical research with other sciences. Here interactions with theoretical physics, in particular, the study of quantum field theories, and applications of geometric and topological methods in data analysis and machine learning play an important role.
Anna Wienhard is the scientific chair of the Heidelberg Laureate Forum Foundation. She was founding member and co-spokesperson of the interdisciplinary Cluster of Excellence STRUCTURES at Heidelberg University. Anna Wienhard was awarded, among others, an ERC consolidator and an ERC Advanced Grant. She is a Fellow of the American Mathematical Society, and elected member of both the Heidelberg and Berlin-Brandenburg Academies of Science, as well as the European Academy of Sciences.
What School Doesn’t Teach Us About Mathematics
Anna Wienhard in Portrait
For Anna Wienhard, mathematics is far more than just a tool – it is an ancient cultural technique and the foundation of many modern technologies. Since 2022, she has been the director of the Max Planck Institute for Mathematics in the Sciences in Leipzig and is one of Germany’s leading mathematicians. Contrary to the rigid image often conveyed in schools, she sees mathematics as a dynamic field of research. Answering the many still unresolved questions requires fresh thinking and creativity. According to Wienhard, interdisciplinary collaboration – with fields such as physics, biology, or computer science – can play a key role in this process.