The Fields Medal Symposium was founded in 2012, and is endorsed by the International Mathematical Union. The Symposium aims to gather researchers from around the world to discuss, advance, and celebrate the honouree’s area of inquiry, to inspire a new generation of mathematicians, and to extol the virtues of mathematics to the general public.

This year, Fields will expand its scope to honour the work of an Abacus Medal winner. Like the Fields Medal, the Abacus Medal – previously known as the Nevanlinna Prize – is awarded every four years by the International Mathematics Union to an individual under age 40, in this case, for work that demonstrates outstanding contributions in the mathematical aspects of theoretical computer science.

From September 23-26, 2025, the Fields Institute will celebrate 2022 Abacus Prize winner Mark Braverman (Princeton University). Braverman, who completed his PhD at the University of Toronto, took home the Abacus Medal in 2022.

Braverman is known for numerous contributions across theoretical computer science. Advances in the speed and efficiency of the technology we use depend on fundamental research in computer science. Theoretical computer science creates and studies new connections between applied questions—like efficient communication, market algorithms, and physics simulation—and deep mathematical concepts.

These connections lead to surprising new practical applications and to a deeper mathematical understanding of fundamental concepts such as information, computation, and algorithmic efficiency. Within theoretical computer science, he’s particularly recognized for developing new frameworks for reasoning about communication protocols and for new results connecting theoretical computer science with mathematical analysis, dynamical systems, and market algorithms.