Maryam Mirzahkani & The Infinite Pool Table
Maryam Mirzahkani was an Iranian mathematician and a professor of mathematics at Stanford University. Her research interests focused on the study of geometric paths, dynamical systems, and periodicity. In 2005, as a result of her research, she was honored in Popular Science's fourth annual "Brilliant 10" in which she was acknowledged as one of the top 10 young minds who have pushed their fields in innovative directions. In 2014, Mirzakhani was honored with the Fields Medal, the most prestigious award in mathematics. Thus, she became both the first woman and the first Iranian to be honored with the award. Mirzakhani died of breast cancer at the age of 40.
