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ROME — A mathematics professor at the University of Utah has been awarded Italy's top prize in mathematics by the National Lincean Academy.
According to the University of Utah, Christopher Hacon has been awarded the Antonio Feltrinelli Prize in mathematics, mechanics and applications. The prize is considered Italy's highest scientific and cultural honor.
"I am honored to receive this prize. I am happy that the committee chose to recognize work in algebraic geometry, a subject that I was first introduced to during my undergraduate years in Pisa, Italy," Hacon said.
"We have known for some time that Professor Hacon is a treasure for the mathematics department and the university," said Pierre Sokolsky, dean of the U's College of Science.
Hacon's work involves classifying higher-dimensional objects and their properties. A native of Manchester, England, Hacon has lived in Italy and graduated from the University of Pisa with a Bachelor of Arts in mathematics. He immigrated to the U.S. in 1993 and earned a doctorate in mathematics from UCLA before teaching in both California and Utah.
Hacon will be presented his prize at the academy in Rome this November. He will receive a cash award of 65,000 Euros, or about $93,000.
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