The Abel Prize—The Missing Nobel失踪的若贝尔奖 28页

TheAbelPrizeTheMissingNobelinMathematics?KimG.HelsvigBythespringof2001,thelobbyingtoestablishaprizeinmathematicsinmemoryoftheNorwegianmathematicianNielsHenrikAbel(18021829)waswellunder-way.OnMay10,ProfessorArnfinnLaudalfromtheDepartmentofMathematicsattheUniversityofOslosentane-mailtothepresidentoftheInternationalMathemat-icalUnion,JacobPalis.Laudaldescribedacampaignthatwasrecentlylaunchedbysomeactivistsinthedepartmenttoestablishaprizeinmathematics.TheyhopeditwouldpersuadetheinternationalmathematicalcommunityandNorwegianpoliti-cians...topresenttheAbelPrizeasthemissingNobelPrizeinmathematics.1Untilquiterecently,nomathematicianhadsuggestedthatthetimewasrighttoestablishascientificprizeinmathematicscomparabletothevariousNobelPrizes.Itistruethatthereexistedseveralinternationalprizesinmathematics,buttheob-viousabsenceofaprizethatcouldbecomparedwiththemostprestigiousprizesinphysics,chemistryandmedicinehadbeenasourceoffrustrationamongmathe-maticianseversincetheNobelPrizeswerefirstawardedin1901.Themathematicalcommunityhadapparentlylearnedtolivewiththisfrustration,butwhentheinitia-tivetoestablishaprizeinmathematicsonthesamelevelastheNobelwassuddenlyintroducedfromthemathematicalperipheryofNorway,itwasawakeupcallthatresonatedwithmathematicians.Theinitiativewouldinashorttimegainsupport,notonlyamongNorwegianmathematicians,butalsointheinternationalmathemat-icalcommunityaswellasfrominfluentialsectorsofNorwegiansociety.Onlyafterafewmonthsofthecampaignbeinglaunchedinthespringof2001,theNorwegiangovernmentdecidedtosetasideNOK200million(approximatelyUSD35million)1E-mailfromProfessorArnfinnLaudal,DepartmentofMathematics,UniversityofOslotothepresidentofIMUJacobPalis,10.5.2001.NilsVojeJohansensprivatearchive,fileAbel-pris(hereafterNVJ).AlsopublishedinCentaurus,DOI10.1111/1600-0498.12038.K.G.Helsvig(B)Schøningsgt.14B,0362Oslo,Norwaye-mail:k.g.helsvig@gmail.comH.Holden,R.Piene(eds.),TheAbelPrize2008-2012,1DOI10.1007/978-3-642-39449-2_1,©Springer-VerlagBerlinHeidelberg2014 2K.G.HelsvigoftherapidlyincreasingnationalpetroleumfundtoestablishtheNielsHenrikAbelMemorialFund,andinJune2003KingHaraldVpresentedthefirstAbelPrizeofNOK6milliontoJean-PierreSerreoneofthemostinfluentialmathematiciansofthetwentiethcenturyduringasolemnceremonyintheuniversityassemblyhallinanAbel-celebratingOslocitycenterinfullspringblossom.ThesuccessfulcampaignwasbasedonthemobilizationofboththeNorwegianhistoryofmathematicsandthehistoryofthedissolutionofthepoliticalunionbe-tweenSwedenandNorwayin1905.Thismobilizationwaspresentedtotheinter-nationalmathematicalcommunity,whichhadwaitedforonehundredyearsforascientificprizeatthehighestlevel,andtotheNorwegianpoliticalcommunity,whoforseveralyearshadexpressedincreasingconcernsatthelackofinterestandcom-petenceinthenaturalsciencearenathroughouttheentirenationalschoolingandhighereducationsystems.Thewayinwhichthiswasdonemightexplainwhythecampaignwaswellreceivedbyboththevastmajorityoftheinternationalmathemat-icalcommunityandNorwayspoliticians,butitmightalsoexplainwhyitseriouslyirritatedtheSwedishNobelFoundation.Inthisarticle,IhopetoshedlightonthedynamicsofthehistoryoftheintensivecampaignthatledtotheestablishmentoftheAbelPrizein2002.Thisinvestigationalsoleadstomoretentativeconsiderationsregardingtowhatdegreetheprizehasliveduptothehighexpectationsplacedonitduringthefirstdecadeofitsexistence.1SciencePrizesinHistoricalPerspectiveHistoriansandsociologistsofsciencehavelongnotedtherichvarietyandchangingnatureofprizesintheworldofscience.Althoughnationalacademiesofsciencemightoccasionallyawardprizestoforeigners,thenotionofatrulyinternationalprizefirstemergedwiththeestablishmentattheturnofthetwentiethcenturyoftheNobelprizes[3,5].AlthoughSwedishandNorwegiannationalinstitutionswouldberesponsibleforawardingthevariousprizes,AlfredNobelstestamentunderscoredthattheyshouldbeawardedbasedonmeritwhetherornotthecandidateswereScan-dinavianornot.Thisclearlystatedgoal,aswellastheimplementationasystemofnominationofcandidatesthatatthetimewasunprecedentedinitsinternationalscope,reinforcedtheassumptionofaprizethatcouldserveasaso-calledlevelplayingfieldonwhichtheso-calledcivilizednationsoftheworldcouldcompetepeacefullytoprovetheirculturalstrengthandvitality[5,6,pp.158162].Althoughtheprizecommitteesremainednational,andalthoughrecenthistoricalstudieshavedemonstratedarangeofbiasesthathaveenteredintodeliberationsonawardingprizes,thewilltobelieveinatrulyimpartialinternationalprize,fromtheverystartin1901,tendedtoslowdowncriticismandskepticism.Nationalscientificcom-munitiesandcompetingeliteinstitutionswithinacountrygenerallyunderstoodtheimportanceofinternationalrecognitionasaresourceforlocalprestigeandbene-fits[6].Theemergenceandrapidacceptanceofinternationalprizesbysignificantna-tionalscientificcommunitiesoccurredatatimewheninternationalismblossomed TheAbelPrizeTheMissingNobelinMathematics?3inacademiccultures.Theriseduringthe19thcenturyofinternationalorganiza-tionsandinternationalcommissionsforsciencenotonlyfomentedtheirsupposedmissionsoftheadvancementofknowledgethroughfacilitatingcommunicationandcollaboration,theyalsoenablednationalscientificleaderstoappeallocallyforfundsandauthoritybasedontheirinternationalactivitiesandrecognition.Appealstothetrans-nationalrepublicofletterstogainprestigeinlocalculturalpoliticswasnoth-ingnew,butseeminglysuchtendenciesgrewinintensitystartinginthelatenine-teenthcenturyandinterruptedonlyoccasionallyduringtheFirstWorldWar[6].Duringthelastquarterofthe20thcenturythenumberofinternationalprizesinsciencereallystartedtoproliferate.Wealthypatronsofculturegladlydonatedfortunestoendowprizesthatwouldcarrytheirnameinthenameofadvancingandstimulatingscience.SeveralsuchprizesattemptedtooutdotheNobelsintheamountofmoneytobeawarded;someclearlyaimedtobringprestigetothenationawardingtheprizes.Universitiesandstateministriesforresearchandhighereducationgladlyturnedtosuchallegedmeasuresofexcellenceintheireffortstosupportnationalscience[16].Thecultofexcellence,asdefinedbyprizesandawards,waslargelyafeatureofAmericanscienceandacademiaformuchofthe20thcentury.Especiallydur-ingthelasttwodecadesofthecentury,itspreadtoEuropeandAsia.Althoughthisphenomenonhasbeennoted,itscausesseemcomplexandnotfullyexplored.Newmanagementthinking,anemergingglobaleconomyofhighereducationandresearch,highercostsfordoingresearchanduniversitiesconfrontingpost-ColdWarreductionsofstate-fundingofscienceseemtobesomeofthemostobviousfactors.SimilarlytheriseofglobalmediacoveragesuchasCNN,BBCWorldetc.helpedtransformtheawardingofenormouslyhugeprizesandawardceremoniesintonewseventstoanevengreaterextentthanpreviously.Someoftheprizeshasthusbecamepotentiallymuchmorepowerfulmarketingtoolsforbothinstitutionsandnationsalikeinenevermorefiercecompetitionforstatus,prestigeandfundsintheaca-demicworld.TheAbelprizeplanswereintroducedinthecontextofthisincreasinglyover-heatedcultureandeconomyofinternationalprizesinscience.Andtheeventualbirthofamajorinternationalprizeformathematicsinanationnotnormallycon-sideredamajorplayerininternationalsciencewasmarkedbymultipleintentionsandmotivations,andwhatmightbeseenaspureluck.ThestoryofhowtheAbelprizecameaboutisastoryoftightnetworksofcontactsamongacademics,politi-cians,bureaucratsandindustrialleadersinasmallnation.Itisatoncebothapieceofcontemporarynationalhistory,offeringapreliminaryglimpsebehindthescenesofhowthingsmighthappeninasmallandwealthynation,aswellasanaccountofhowculturalheritagecanberecruitedasaresourceforsciencepolicy:HereoneofNorwayslegendaryhighly-giftedmathematicianswouldberecruitedforawidespectrumofcultural-politicalpurposesfromdifferingconstituencieswithavarietyofinterestssome170yearsafterhisdeath.Thearticleisbasedonavarietyofsources:Privatearchivestoalargeextente-mailarchives,projectdraftsandpersonalnotesfromthecentralmathematiciansinvolvedintheprocess,interviewswithrelevantmathematicians,bureaucratsand 4K.G.Helsvigpoliticians,Norwegianandinternationalnewspaperarticlesandmagazinesandpri-marysourcesfromtheNorwegianMinistryofEducationandResearchandtheNor-wegianAcademyofScienceandLetters.MostofthekeyactorsintheNorwegianmathematicalcommunityseemtohavebeenquiteawarethattheprocessmightbeofinterestforhistoriansinthefuture,andmostofthemhavekeptpersonalandoftenoverlappingarchivesandnotesalmostinthewaitofanhistorianknockingontheirdoor.Thesearchiveshaveprovidednotonlyaveryrichmosaicofprimarysources,butalsoglimpsesfromdifferentanglesintothemostimportantcontactswithNorwegianpoliticiansandbureaucratsaswellaswithinternationalmathe-maticalcommunitiesduringtheprocess.SeentogetherwiththerestofthesourcematerialespeciallydocumentsandofficialrecordsfromtheMinistryofEducationandResearchthesepersonalarchiveshaveprovenmostvaluableforthestudy.Problemsrelatedtothestudyofcontemporaryscience,includingthechallengesofsourcematerialsarefurtherdiscussedinmanyoftheessaysinTheHistoriographyofContemporaryScience,Technology,andMedicine:WritingRecentScience[4].2ANationalIconDuringthenineteenthcentury,NielsHenrikAbelbecameanimportantpartoftheNorwegiannationalnarrativeofthecountrysuniquehistoryandculturalidentity,anarrativethatbecameevermoreimportantintheyearsleadinguptothedissolutionofthepoliticalunionwithSwedenin1905.Atthecentennialofhisbirthin1902,andthreeyearsbeforethebreakfromSweden,AbelwascelebratedasanationalherointheNorwegiancapitalChristiania(renamedOsloin1925).InalettertotheNorwegian1903NobelPrizeinLiteraturelaureateBjørnstjerneBjørnson,thescientist,polarheroandlaterNobelPeacePrizelaureateFridtjofNansenwroteaschairmanoftheAbelcelebrations,FormeitstandsasadutytomakethemostofaneventlikethebirthofAbelinournation;byholdingthisupfortherestoftheworld,weproveourrighttoexistasanindependentstate[10,p.5].Thecelebrationwastheperfectoccasiontodisplaythedesirefornationalinde-pendence.WhentheSwedishandNorwegianking,OscarII,invited500gueststosupperattheRoyalPalace,thestudentsattheRoyalFrederickUniversitylatertheUniversityofOsloseizedtheopportunityandarrangedthegreatesttorchlightparadeeverseeninthecity.Theuniversityinvitedmathematiciansfromallovertheworldandappointednumeroushonorarydoctors.AmemorialpublicationwaspublishedinbothNorwegianandFrench,andtheNationalTheaterputonacelebra-toryperformanceoftheNorwegianplayPeerGyntbyHenrikIbsen(nowthemostwell-knownNorwegianplay),followedbythenationalanthemsungbytheentireauditorium[7].AcompetitionwasalsocalledtocreateanAbelmemorialmonu-ment.SixyearslaterandthreeyearsafterthedissolutionofthepoliticalunionwithSwedenapedestaledmonumentbyGustavVigelandnearlyfortyfeethighwaserectedintheRoyalGardens(inwhatlatercametobeknownasAbelhaugen)closetotheuniversitybuildings. TheAbelPrizeTheMissingNobelinMathematics?5ItisinnodoubtthatAbelplayedanimportantroleasasymbolofNorwaysgrowthasanindependentnationfromthebeginningofthetwentiethcentury.Hewasperhapsmostimportantasanacademicidealinaperiodwhenthenaturalsci-encesespeciallyreceivedbothscientificandeconomicimportanceandprestigeinNorway[12].OnthecentenaryofAbelsdeathin1929,aseriesofAbelstampswereissuedanhonorpreviouslyonlygiventoroyaltyandHenrikIbsenandagainin-ternationalhonorarydoctorswereappointedattheuniversity.AbelsportraitwasalsoprintedontheNorwegian500kronerbillbetween1948and1991,andmanyNorwegiancitiesandtownshavestreetsandsquaresnamedafterhim.In1966themathematiciansattheUniversityofOslo,whereAbelhimselfwasastudentfrom1821to1825,movedintothenewNielsHenrikAbelbuildingatthemodernBlin-derncampusonthewesternoutskirtsofthecitycenter.Abelsnamewasonceagainbroughttotheforefrontinthelate1990saspartofplansfortwomajorinternationalmathematicaleventsinNorway.TheAbelbi-centennialin2002wasapproachingwhiletheInternationalMathematicalUnion(IMU)madepreparationsfortheInternationalCongressofMathematicianstobeheldthesameyear.TheIMUleadershipwasawarethatChinawouldapplytohosttheworldcongress,buttheinternationalunionfearedthatsuchaneventwouldbeahighlycontroversialorevenimpossiblebecauseofChinashumanrightssituation.In1995,aprofessorofmathematicsattheUniversityofOslo,JensErikFenstad,sharedaseatwiththethenIMUsecretaryandlaterIMUpresidentJacobPalisontheexecutiveboardoftheInternationalCouncilofScientificUnions.PalisaskedFenstadifitwaspossibleforNorwayasbothapoliticallyandmathematicallyun-controversialnationtoprepareaback-upapplicationtohostthe2002IMUInterna-tionalCongressofMathematiciansasaplanBifitprovedpoliticallyunattainabletoproceedwiththeoriginalplantoholdthecongressinBeijing.2Inarelativelyshorttime,itbecameclearthattheIMUplansweregoingaheadasscheduled,andthatChinawouldhostthe2002congress.TheNorwegianprepa-rationsforaback-upplan,whichhadbeenstartedshortlyafterPalisrequest,weresoontransformedintoplansforamajorinternationalmathematicalconferenceinmemoryofAbel.AworkingcommitteeoffivemathematiciansfromtheUniversityofOsloandtheNorwegianUniversityofScienceandTechnologyinTrondheimwasputinplaceandgiventhetasktomakeappropriatepreparationsforaNielsHenrikAbelBicentennialConferenceinOslointhespringof2002.Thiscommit-teealsomadepreparationsforNorwaysroleintheWorldMathematicalYear2000.EventhoughAbelsnameandhistorywasprominentinthepreparationsforboththeseevents,itneveroccurredtoanybodyintheNorwegianmathematicalcommu-nitythattheseoccasionscouldbeusedtoadvocatethecreationofaninternationalprizeinmathematicsinmemoryofAbel.Onehundredyearsearlier,majoreffortshadbeenmadetodosowhenNorwegianmathematicianshadlaunchedanextensivecampaigntoestablishaprizeaspartoftheAbelcentennialcelebrationsin1902.2JensErikFenstad,undatedandunpublished,3.4AbelåretogAbelpriseninNoennotaterommatematikkenetterannenverdenskrig,inJensErikFenstadsprivatearchive(hereafterJEF). 6K.G.Helsvig3TheInitiativeThenewinitiativetocreateaprizeinmemoryofAbelwaspresentedfromadifferentanglebytheauthorandpoetArildStubhaug.Stubhaughadpublishedseveralpoetrycollections,buthehadalsostudiedmathematicsattheUniversityofBergen.Asapassionatestampcollector,StubhaugwasfromanearlyageacquaintedwithandfascinatedbyAbelslife.Abelhaddiedattheageof26,onlytwodaysbeforetheFrederickWilliamUniversityinBerlinlaterknownasHumboldtUniversitywastoofferhimthetenuredpositionasprofessorheneededtobeabletofullyconcentrateonhismathematicalwork.Abelalsodiedconvincedthathismainwork,theso-calledParisianmanuscript,waslostforever.ThesamedayastheletterwaspostedofferinghimtheprofessorateinBerlin,themanuscriptwasfoundinParis.MorethananythingthisworklaidthefoundationforAbelsposthumousfameandacknowledgmentbothinNorwayandintheinternationalmathematicalcommunity[9,14].ArildStubhaughadforalongtimewantedtowriteaboutAbel.Fromtheearly1980shelivedinArendal,closetoGjerstadwhereAbelspenthischildhoodyears,andnotfarfromFrolandwherethemathematiciandied.In1988Stubhaugwasen-couragedbythepublishinghouseAschehougtogoforwardwithhisplans.TheresearchandwritingtookhimeightyearsandresultedinthecriticallyacclaimedbiographyEtforanskuttlyn(theEnglishversion,CalledTooSoonbyFlamesAfar:NielsHenrikAbelandHisTimes,waspublishedin2000).TheresponseoftheNor-wegiandailynewspaperswasclosetopanegyricalandwroteofabiographicalmasterpieceandafirstclassculturalbiography.3TheNoticesoftheAmericanMathematicalSocietyseveralyearslater,whenthebookhadbeentranslatedintoEn-glish,wroteofagreatcontributiontoourknowledgeofAbelandhistime.4TheresearchandthepositivereceptionofthebookbroughtStubhauginclosecontactwiththeNorwegianmathematicalcommunityingeneral,particularlywithmathe-maticiansattheUniversityofOslo.ShortlyafterthereleaseoftheAbelbiography,themathematiciansinOsloencouragedhimtowriteabiographyaboutafurthergreatnineteenthcenturyNorwegianmathematician,SophusLie(18421899).In1997StubhauggothisownofficenexttotheOslomathematiciansintheNielsHen-rikAbelbuildingonBlinderncampus.Duringhisworkonthetwobiographies,Stubhaugcollectedagreatdealofma-terialdetailinghowSophusLiededicatedagoodpartofthelastyearsofhislifetoestablishinganinternationalmathematicalprizeinacknowledgmentofAbel.LiesworkwasclearlyinspiredbythegrandNobelprizeplanspresentedin1897.ThoseplansdidnotincludeanyprizeinmathematicsbecauseNobelfirstandforemostwantedtoencouragethepracticaloutcomesofscienceandtechnology,andfound3VG24.9.1996Biografi-bragd,Aftenposten24.9.1996,StorslåttAbel-biografi,Dag-bladet30.9.1996,Kultur-biografiavyppersterang.4BookreviewbyJesperLützen,CalledTooSoonbyFlamesAfar:NielsHenrikAbelandHisTimes,inNoticesoftheAmericanMathematicalSociety,August2002Volume49Issue7. TheAbelPrizeTheMissingNobelinMathematics?7themathematicalworldfartootheoreticalandabstract.SophusLiereceivedmuchsupportforhisplansfromtheleadingmathematicalcirclesinEurope.InternationalsupportfortheawardwascloselyconnectedtoLiepersonally,anditessentiallydwindledawayafterhisdeathin1899.EffortstocreateanAbelPrizewerenowcarriedalongwithinanationalframework.InclosecooperationwithsomeofLiescolleagues,theScientificSocietyofChristiania(nowtheNorwe-gianAcademyofScienceandLetters),representedbyW.C.BrøggerthefuturerectoroftheuniversityandFridtjofNansen,developedstatutesandrulesforanAbelPrizeinmathematics.Theprizeofagoldmedalworth1000kronerwastobeawardedeveryfifthyearforoutstandingworkwithinpuremathematics.TheNo-belmedalswereatthistimeworth500kronerandawardedannually[10,pp.68].TheBrøgger/NanseninitiativewasfinanciallysupportedbythekingofSwedenandNorway,OscarII,whotookapersonalinterestinmathematics,anditwasap-plaudedbyleadingNorwegianmathematiciansandculturalpersonalities.However,afterthedissolutionofthepoliticalunionbetweenthetwocountriesin1905,theNorwegianAcademywasnotabletocollectthenecessaryfundstofinancetheprizeintherelativelypoor,independentNorway.Thedissolutionoftheunionwaseven-tuallypeaceful,eventhoughsomedaysinSeptember1905sawtensofthousandsoftroopslineduponbothsidesoftheborder.Itwasneverthelessfinancialcon-straintsandnotresentmentagainsttheSwedesthatmadeitimpossibletogoonwiththeprizeplansaftertheseparation.W.C.Brøggerwasbyfarthemostinflu-entialorganizationalentrepreneurinNorwegianscienceinthefirstdecadesofthe20thcentury,andhewasaboveallagreatadmirerofSwedishscienceandSwedishscientificinstitutions.AlmostallofBrøggersinfluentialinstitutionalworkwithinNorwegianscienceinthefirstthreedecadesofthe20thcenturywasinfactmodeledafterSwedishidealsonhowtoprovideevermoresubstantialfundingforscienceandscientificinstitutions[2,pp.1922].ItwasagreatdisappointmentforaresignedNorwegianmathematicalandscientificcommunitythatthemoneyforaprestigiousNorwegianprizeinmathematicsdisappearedwiththedissolutionoftheunionwithSweden.FridtjofNansenwrote:theAbelPrizethatwehadbeenpromisedbygoodKingOscarwenttoheavenwiththeunion[10,pp.68].ArildStubhauggavemanylecturesintheyearsfollowingthepublicationofhisbiographyonAbel.TimeandagainhetoldoftheplanstoestablishanAbelPrizearoundthe1902centennial,andtimeandagainhetoldofhowtheplanswereabortedwiththedeathofthemathematicianSophusLieandthedissolutionoftheunionwithSweden.Stubhaugfrequentlyasked,wouldonehundredyearslaternotbetheperfectopportunitytorevitalizetheseplansandfinallycreateaprizeinmem-oryofAbel?HeairedhisthoughtsamongagreatnumberofNorwegianmathemati-cians,buteventhoughseveralfoundthehistoryandtheideainteresting,thegeneralattitudeinthemathematicalcommunitywasthatanAbelPrizewas,inStubhaugswords,extremelyunrealistic[13,p.5].StubhaugseffortstobringtheideaofanAbelPrizebacktolifeseemedtoamounttonothingwhensuddenlythingsbrightenedupinthesummerof2000,nearlyfouryearsafterthepublicationofthebiography.ThebookhadnowbeentranslatedintoEnglish,andonJuly1,Stubhaugwasinvitedtoabookstoreinthe 8K.G.HelsvigsmallcoastaltownofRisør,closetowhereAbelbothgrewupanddied,tosignbooksonthefinaldayofayearlychambermusicfestival.Everyyearthisfestivalattractsmanytouristsandpotentialcustomerstotown.AbelsmothergrewupinRisørinahouseclosetothestore,andtheownerhadarrangedforthetranslatedbiographytobesentbycourierintimeforthefestival.Thus,thebookstoreinthesmallharbortownofRisørbecamethefirsttoselltheEnglisheditionoftheAbelbiography.5WhenStubhaugturnedupatthebookstore,afewminuteslate,hemettheCEOofTelenor(aNorwegiantelecommunicationscompany)TormodHermansenonhiswayoutthedoorwithacopyoftheAbelbiographyunderhisarm.Towardstheendofthe1990s,theprominentLabourPartypoliticianandindustrialleaderHer-mansenwascharacterizedasboththemostpowerfulbureaucratinNorwayandNorwaysmostpowerfulman[15].Hewasprimarilyknownasoneofthemostinfluentialarchitectsofthefar-reachingandcontroversialpublicsectorreformsofthepastcoupleofdecades,heavilyinspiredbytheprinciplesofNewPublicMan-agement.Hermansenhadhelddifferentkeypositionsinthestatebureaucracysincetheearly1970s,andasUnder-secretaryofStateheledaprofoundreorganizationoftheMinistryofFinancetowardstheendofthe1980s.AschairmanoftheGov-ernmentBankInsuranceFundhewasinchargeoftherescueplanforprivatebanksduringtheNorwegianbankcrisisintheearly1990s,andhadbeenCEOofTelenor(theformerstate-ownedtelephonemonopolyTeleverket)since1995[15].StubhaugandHermansenwerenotpreviouslyknowntoeachother,buttheysatdowntotalkinthebookstore.DuringtheconversationStubhaugtoldHermansenaboutthefailedattemptstocreateanAbelPrizeonehundredyearsearlier.AsonnumerousoccasionsduringhislecturesabouttheAbelbiography,hemadesureagaintomentionthattheforthcomingbicentennialcelebrationsprovidedanewop-portunityforsuchanaward.AccordingtoStubhaug,HermansentookspecialnoticeofhowthedissolutionoftheunionbetweenSwedenandNorwayin1905hadhaltedtheplansforanAbelPrize.6AsCEOofTelenor,HermansenhadhisownandveryrecentexperiencesonhowrelationswithNorwaysSwedishneighborscouldputanendtogrand-scaleplans.AtthetimeofthemeetingwithStubhaug,HermansenhadjustfinishedprotractedandfailednegotiationsregardingamergerbetweenTelenorandtheSwedishtelecommunicationgiantTelia.Thishadbeenoneofthemostcon-testedandcontroversialpoliticalissuesinbothcountriesinthepasttwoyears.Afterfiercepolitical,administrativeandpersonalstrugglesforpower,thetwocompaniesbrokeanalreadysignedmergerdeal.Hermansentookmuchoftheblameforthefailure[15].TherelationshipwiththeSwedesshouldnotalsoendtheplansforanAbelPrize,andtheTelenorCEOpromisedStubhaugthathewoulddoeverythinghecouldtograbthisnewopportunity.Thetwoseparatedwithmutualassurancesthattheywouldpromotethecausewithanewstrength,Hermansenthroughhispo-5InterviewwithArildStubhaug,7.2.2012.TelephoneinterviewwithTorkjelGudmundJohansen,ownerofRisørBokhandel,9.2.2012.6InterviewwithArildStubhaug,7.2.2012. TheAbelPrizeTheMissingNobelinMathematics?9liticalcontactsandStubhaugthroughthemathematiciansattheUniversityofOslo[13,p.5].4MobilizationShortlyafterthemeetinginRisør,StubhaugmadehiscolleaguesintheDepartmentofMathematicsattheuniversityawareofthenewdevelopment.ThedepartmentimmediatelygotincontactwithHermansen.TogetherwithStubhaug,theheadofdepartmentandheadofofficelookedintowhathadtobedonetocreateapowerfulprizewithinternationalrecognition.TherewasnoNobelPrizeinmathematics.Abelwasaworldknownnamethatenjoyedthehighestscientificrecognition,andthedepartmentsuggestedthattheestablishmentofaprizeinAbelsnamewassomethingthatTelenormighttakeinterestinaspartoftheirinternationalizationstrategies.7However,TormodHermansendidnotenvisionTelenorasasponsorofanAbelPrize.ThiswasamatterofnationalimportancethathadtobepresentedtotheLabourPartygovernment.InearlySeptember2000,HermansencalledtheMinisterofEducationandResearch,TrondGiske,andsomedayslatertheTelenorCEOsenttheMinisteraletterregardingtheAbelPrize.IntheletterHermansenexpressedhishopesthatGiskewouldgetpeopletrulyexitedabouttheidea.TheenclosedmemorandumfromtheDepartmentofMathematicsstatedthatAbelsnamewasamongtheverygreatestinthehistoryofmathematical-technicalscience.AnAbelPrizewouldhighlightaresearchareathatisatthecoreofallscientificprogress,andassuchitwouldcreatebothattentionandrespectforNorwayallaroundtheworld.8TheMinistrydidnothingaboutHermansensinitiativeduringthefallandwinterof20002001.Thepessimistsseemedtobeproventhemostrealistic;therewasnoobviousreasontobelievethattherewouldbeabreak-throughtoestablishanAbelPrizeonehundredyearsafteritwenttoheavenwiththeunionwithSweden.StubhaugtriedtocallHermansenseveraltimes,butwasonlyabletospeaktohissecretary,whohadnonewinformation.9Therefore,itcametotallyoutofthebluewhenHermansencalledStubhaugearlyinthemorningonMarch12,2001,andsaidthattheyhadtoimmediatelysetupameetingwiththemathematiciansinOslo.Hermansenhadbeeninvolvedinsomepromisingtalkswithpossiblekeypoliticalactorsregardingestablishingamathe-maticalprize.NotonlyhadhespokentotheMinisterofEducationandResearch,7OpprettelseavAbelpris,letterfromtheheadofdepartmentArneBangHusebyandtheheadofofficeYngvarReicheltintheDepartmentofMathematicstoTelenorCEOTormodHermansen,22.8.2000,NVJ.8LetterfromTormodHermansentotheMinisterofEducationandResearch,TrondGiske,7.9.2000.MinistryofEducationandResearcharchive(hereafterKD):Saksnr.00/7309,FO./ESO,Archivecode757,Abelprisenimatematikk,NielsHenrikAbelsminnefond.9InterviewwithArildStubhaug7.2.2012. 10K.G.HelsvighehadalsobeenincontactwiththePrimeMinistersoffice,andhehadreceivedpositivesignalsfromtheexperiencedUnder-secretariesofStateinboththeMin-istryofEducationandResearchandintheMinistryofFinance.10Asnotedabove,anationalcommitteehadbeensetupinthelate1990stopreparetheprogramfortheAbelbicentennialcelebrationsaswellastheacademicprogramfortheinternationalNielsHenrikAbelBicentennialConferencein2002.TheMinistryofEducationandResearchcontactedtheleaderofthiscommittee,themathematicianJensErikFenstadattheUniversityofOslo.In1995FenstadwasaskedbythelaterpresidentofIMU,JacobPalis,todesignaNorwegianalternativeforthe2002InternationalCongressofMathematicians,andindoingsoFenstadco-operatedcloselywiththeMinistryofEducationandResearch.TheMinistrynowapparentlybelievedthatitwastheNationalAbelBicentennialCommitteethathadcomeupwiththeinitiativetocreateanAbelPrizeaspartofthe2002celebrations.However,thenationalcommitteeknewnothingofanysuchplans.ThefewinvolvedattheDepartmentofMathematicsattheUniversityofOslohadnotdeemeditnec-essarytoinformthenationalcommitteeintheearlystagesoftheprocess,andasautumnpassedandwintercamewithoutanynewinformationordevelopments,thedepartmentmemberslostinterestintheprojectandtheissuewasnearlyforgotten.11UpuntilMarch2001,therewereonlyahandfulofpeopleinthemathematicalcommunityattheUniversityofOslowhoevenknewoftheplansforanAbelPrize;thiswasmorethaneightmonthsafterthebiographerStubhaugmettheTelenorCEOHermansenattheRisørbookstoreduringthechambermusicfestival.ThefutureplanningoftheprizewouldbecarriedoutbyasmallgroupofpeopleattheDepartmentofMathematicsinOslo,whereStubhaughadhisofficeandclosestcontactswiththeNorwegianmathematicalcommunity.5TheAbelPrizeWorkingGroupOnMarch21,TormodHermansenandhisTelenorcolleagueKjellStahlmetwiththeOslomathematiciansononeofthetopfloorsoftheNielsHenrikAbelbuildingonBlinderncampus.TheheadofdepartmentArneBangHuseby,headofofficeYngvarReicheltanduniversitylecturerNilsVojeJohansenhadallknownoftheplansfromtheirinceptionnearlyoneyearprior.ThebiographerArildStubhaugwasofcoursepresent.FromthisdatetheUniversityofOslomathematicsprofes-sorsArnfinnLaudal,JensErikFenstadandRagniPienebecamefullyinvolvedintheprocess.LaudalwasheadofthescientificcommitteefortheforthcomingAbelBicentennialConference,andbothFenstadandPieneweremembersofthenationalcommitteefortheAbelbicentennialcelebrations.10JensErikFenstadinane-mailtoTrondFevolden3.4.2001,JEF.TelephoneinterviewwithToreEriksen23.01.2012.11InterviewwithNilsVojeJohansen,16.12.2011. TheAbelPrizeTheMissingNobelinMathematics?11Duringthemeeting,TormodHermansentoldofthecontactswiththeOfficeofthePrimeMinisterandthetwocoreministries,EducationandResearchandFi-nance.Hemadeitclearthattherewasagoodchanceofsuccessifthegovernmentcouldbepersuadedtousethepetroleumfund,wheresurplusprofitsfromNorwe-gianpetroleumincomeweredeposited.Bytheendof2000,thefundhadreachedNOK386.4billion(approximatelyUSD45billion).Hehadreasontobeoptimistic.Twoyearsearlier,thegovernmenthadusedthepetroleumfundtoestablishare-searchfundofNOK3billion,andtheprofitswereallocatedtosupportNorwegianresearch.Withsuchuseofthefunds,theMinistryofFinancehaddeviatedfromthenormalpracticetomakeallpublicspendingvisibleinthenationalbudgetthroughexplicitpostings.AsimilarexceptionwaspossiblefortheAbelPrize.TheUnder-secretaryofStateoftheMinistryofFinancesaidinalaterinterviewthathemadeitexplicitlycleartobothHermansen,aswellaslatercontactsconcerningtheAbelPrize,thattheMinistrywouldnotnormallyencouragesuchapractice.NeverthelesshealsostatedthatitwasawidelyheldbeliefintheMinistryofFinanceatthetimethatanAbelPrizecouldbeimportantinfuturerecruitment,withinanacademicfieldthatmanyintheMinistrybelievedtobeofthegreatestimportance.AccordingtotheUndersecretaryofState,thereexistednothinglessthanagenuineenthusiasmforpromotingmathematicswithintheMinistry.Initially,therewasafearintheMinistrythatanAbelPrizemightbecomeahome-madeNorwegianprize,butsuchconcernsgraduallydiminishedasthecampaignfortheprizeproceededintothespringof2001.12ThemeetingwithHermansenmadeitcleartoallthosepresentthatitwaspos-siblethattheywouldobtainmorethananyonehaddaredtodream.JensErikFen-stadstatedthatthegovernmentcouldjustearmarkasumofmoney,andleavetheprofitsfromtheinteresttopayforboththeawardandthearrangement.13Her-mansenspassionfuelledothers;Hermanseninspiredustoaimhigh,NilsVojeJohansenvoicedandhisenthusiasmrubbedoffonus,wroteJensErikFenstad.14Severalofthosepresentatthisinitialmeetingtellthattheyimmediatelyunderstoodtheimportanceofputtingasideallpotentialconflictsandpowerstrugglesthatof-tencharacterizetheinnerlifeofacademicinstitutions.Therewerealreadymorethanenoughpotentialtimebombsintheroom.OnlyafewyearsearlieritwouldhavebeenunthinkablethatHermansenscolleagueKjellStahlandProfessorArn-finnLaudalwouldsittogetherinthesameroompeacefully.Laudalhadbeenacentralforcebehindastronguniversityoppositionin1990thatendedKjellStahlsshortcareerasdirectorattheUniversityofOsloafterthemostfierceinternalcon-flictandcrisiswithintheuniversitysinceWWII.Aspro-rectoratthetime,JensErikalsoplayedacentralroleinthisconflict[8,pp.7579].Now,however,therewereimportantmattersofmutualinterestthateverybodyfocusedon.12TelephoneinterviewwithToreEriksen,23.1.2012.13Aftenposten,28.5.2001,Berom150mill.tilAbel-pris.14Noennotater...andAbel-prisenpunkterfrahistorien,NVJ.InterviewwithYngvarRe-ichelt,13.2.2011. 12K.G.HelsvigFromtheverybeginningoftheworkinthisgroup,theNobelPrizeswerees-tablishedasthegoldstandard.Beforethemeeting,theOslomathematicianshadpreparedapresentationontheNobelorganizationanditsbudget.Duringthemeet-ingitwasdecidedthatthecommitteeshouldseekadvicefromthedirectoroftheNorwegianNobelInstituteandtheleaderoftheNorwegianNobelCommittee.ItwassuggestedthatafundofapproximatelyNOK100150millionwasrequiredtopresentanawardofthesamevalueandprestigeastheNobelPrizes.15Beforethemeeting,ArnfinnLaudalhadmentionedtheplanstotheGeneralSec-retaryoftheNorwegianAcademyofScienceandLetters.TheAcademy,whichatthistimewasbeginningtoregainsomestrengthafterdecadesindecline,wasmorethanwillingtotakeonthetaskofadministratingascientificprizeonaNobellevel[7,pp.194198].Aswehaveseen,theAcademywouldhavealsotakencareoftheAbelPrizeifithadbeencreatedonehundredyearsearlier.TherewasalsogeneralagreementthattheAcademywouldprovidetheprizewithagreaternationallegiti-macythanifitwashandledbytheUniversityofOslo.Thelatteroptionwouldhavemostprobablystartedoneoftheverycommonandtime-consumingNorwegiande-batesaboutlocalization,whichmighthavejeopardizedthewholeproject.ThemeetingendedwiththecreationofaninformalworkinggroupfortheAbelPrizeintheDepartmentofMathematicsattheUniversityofOslo.ItconsistedofbiographerStubhaug,headofofficeReichelt,lecturerVojeJohansenandthethreeprofessorsLaudal,FenstadandPiene.Inthetimethatfollowed,thesixpeopleinthisworkinggroupcametorunanintensecampaigndirectedtowardstheinternationalmathematicalcommunityandthenationalpublicopiniontoobtainapoliticalgreenlightfortheirplans.6ScientificLegitimizationandSupportThemembersoftheworkinggrouptellofaninformalandlevelstructurewhereeachwasgivenmoreorlessadefinedareaofresponsibility,andwherethedevelopmentoftheworkwascoordinatedviacontactbye-mailandinfrequentmeetings.Partlydependingoneachmemberspersonalnetworksinacademicandpoliticalcircles,andinfluentialechelonsofNorwegiansociety,theworkinggroupcontactedpeopleintheinternationalmathematicalcommunityandthoseinNorwegiansocietythatwouldbenefitthecampaignwhichwasbynowreallygettingunderway.Theworkwasproceedingwithoutanymajortensionsandinanenthusiasticenvironment.Thetrustfulatmospherewasalsomostlikelystrengthenedbythefactthattheinitiativewasbeingmetwithopenarmsfromalmostallarenas.Fromthebeginning,theworkinggroupwasassuredoffullsupportfromtheNor-wegianAcademyofScienceandLetterswhereallthreeprofessorsoftheworking15MinutesfromthemeetingwithHermansen21.3.2001notedinRagniPienesacademicdiary.RagniPienesprivatearchive(hereafterRP).MinutesfromthemeetingwithHermansen21.3.2001,JEF. TheAbelPrizeTheMissingNobelinMathematics?13groupweremembers.Injustafewweeksafterthefirstrequest,theworkinggroupreceivedtheAcademysformalacceptancethattheinstitutionwouldliketotakeresponsibilityfortheprize.16BytheendofApril2001,OslomathematiciansPieneandLaudalcontactedtheEuropeanMathematicalSociety(EMS)andIMUtoobtainfurthersupportfortheplansforanAbelPrizefromthehighestlevelinEuropeanandworldmathematics.ProfessorPienewrotetothepresidentandvice-presidentofEMS,RolfJeltschandBodilBranner,totellthemthattheywerenowmakingplansinNorwayforaprizeinmathematicscomparabletotheNobelPrizeintheothersciences.PieneaskedEMSiftheywantedtosupportsuchanidea,andifso,weretheywillingtowritealettertoconfirmthatthenameofNielsHenrikAbelisindeedagood,in-ternationallyrecognizedname,worthytobeusedforaprizeofthismagnitude.Sheaddedinfact,itseemsquiterealistic,thoughofcourseitisyettoosoontosaypreciselyhowrealisticitis.Overthedurationoftheday,manye-mailsweresentbetweenPiene,JeltschandBranner.JeltschgotincontactwiththeEMSexecu-tivecommittee,andstatedthathehadreceivedanimportantmessagefromNorwayabouttheestablishmentofaprestigiousprizeinmathematics.Ifhedidnotreceiveanyobjectionsfromthecommittee,Jeltschmadeclearthathewasgoingtowritealetterinsupportoftheideaassoonaspossible.17Laterthesameday,EMSvice-presidentBodilBrannercouldinformherNorwe-giancontactthatthedistinguishedAmericanmathematicianJohnH.HubbardfromCornellUniversitywasvisitingher.Hubbardisespeciallyknownforhisstudieswithincomplexdynamics,acorefieldinAbelsworks.WhenBrannertoldHub-bardabouttheplans,heimmediatelywroteatextwhichBranneraddedIthinkiswhatyouneedinNorway.InhisletterHubbardwrotethatAbelsideaslikethoseoftheverygreatestscientistshavesopermeatedmathematicsthatoneisnolongerawarewheretheycomefrom.AccordingtoHubbard,Abelhadrevo-lutionizedthetheoryofequations,complexanalysis,numbertheoryandalgebraicgeometry.Abelwasresponsibleforthedeepestworkonalgebraicintegralsofthenineteenthcentury,andtheideasheinitiatedarestill,170yearslater,centraltothebestofmathematics.Abeliangroupsarepartoftheundergraduatevocabu-lary;Abelianvarieties,Abelianintegralsarepartofstandardtopicsingraduatecourses.ThenextdayHubbardspanegyricappreciationofAbelwasenclosedinaletterofwholeheartedsupportfromthepresidentRolfJeltschonbehalfofEMS:ItiswithgreatpleasurethatIhearthatNorwayplanstohonoritsfamousMathe-maticianNielsHenrikAbelbyintroducingaprestigiousprize.IcanassureyouthattheEuropeanMathematicalSocietyisenthusiasticallysupportingthisidea.Forus,thereisnodoubtthathisnameisworthytobeusedforthisprize.1816RagniPienetotheNorwegianAcademyofScienceandLetters,18.4.2001.Finalconfirmationinmailfromtheacademytotheworkinggroup,20.4.2001.RPandNVJ.17RolfJeltschtotheEMSexecutivecommittee,18.4,NVJ.18PresidentoftheEMSDr.RolfJeltschtoRagniPiene,19.4.2001.KD:Saksnr.00/7309,FO./ESO,Archivecode757,Abelprisenimatematikk,NielsHenrikAbelsminnefond. 14K.G.HelsvigProfessorLaudalhadbynowgotincontactwiththepresidentofIMU,JacobPalis,wholikedtheideaverymuch.19IMUalreadyawardedthemostprestigiousinternationalprizeinmathematics,theFieldsMedal.TheFieldsMedalwhichhis-torycanbetracedbackto1924isawardedeveryfouryearsduringtheInterna-tionalCongressofMathematicianstorecognizeoutstandingmathematicalachieve-mentforexistingworkandforthepromiseoffutureachievementtomathematiciansundertheageof40.Theprizeamountwashowevermodest.In2000itwaswellun-derNOK100,000(approximatelyUSD10,000).IMUdidnotwantanewprizetocompetewiththeFieldsMedal,andLaudalassuredPalisthattheplannedAbelPrizewouldnotbecomparabletoanyoftheexistingIMUprizes.Aswesawinthein-troduction,theprizewasthereforealsopresentedasthemissingNobelPrizeinmathematics.ThisargumentwasverywellreceivedbyIMU,whichhadforonehundredyearsbeenlongingforascientificprizecomparabletotheNobelPrizes.Thisdesireisevidentinthestrengthofthestoriesretoldintheinternationalmathematicalcom-munity,abouthowNobelallegedlydecidednottoestablishaprizeinmathematicsbecauseofquarrelsoverawomanwiththeSwedishmathematicianGöstaMittag-Leffler.Eventhoughthisstoryhasbeenprovenfalse,thealmosthauntingissueofthemissingNobelinmathematicshasbeenkeptverymuchalive[11,13,p.17].ThismightexplainwhytheworkinggroupwassoonabletopresentNorwegianpoliticiansandstateauthoritieswithoverwhelmingsupportfortheplansfromtheworldsleadingmathematicalorganization.ThroughPresidentPalis,IMUexpresseditsfullsupportto[the]initiativetocre-atethePrizenamedafterAbel,oneofthegreatestmathematiciansofalltime.ThemathematicalunionconsideredtheestablishmentofanAbelPrizenolessthanthemostimportantprojectinmanyyearsforthedevelopmentofmathematicsworld-wide.AprizeatthislevelwasverymuchwelcomedandwouldnotinterferewiththeotherIMUprizessuchastheFieldsMedalortheNevanlinnaPrize.AccordingtoIMUleadership,theabsenceofaprizesimilartotheNobelPrizeforMathe-maticsisacenturyoldoneandaneverdiscussedmissingfeatureofthescientificworkofourcommunity.ThecreationoftheAbelPrizewouldthereforebemostappropriatetofillsuchaseriousgap.207PoliticalLobbyingDuringMay2001theworkinggroupgatheredsupportfromthemembersofthepar-liamentaryStandingCommitteeonEducation,ResearchandChurchAffairs,andkeypersonsinNorwegianscience,cultureandpubliclife.Onemainobjectiveof19JacobPalistoArnfinnLaudal1.5.2001,NVJ.20KD,Saksnr.00/7309,FO./ESO,Archivecode757,Abelprisenimatematikk,NielsHenrikAbelsminnefond.(E-mail19.7.2001.Thismessagewassentindifferentversions,inbothe-mailandlettersthroughthespringandsummerof2001). TheAbelPrizeTheMissingNobelinMathematics?15theprizewas,accordingtotheworkinggroupsfour-pagepublicpresentation,tocreatebetterunderstandingoftheimportanceofmathematicsandscienceintodayssociety.Mathematics,itwasemphasized,isabroaddiscipline,rangingfrompuremathematicstoavastnumberofapplicationswithinscience,societyandtechnol-ogy.Theprizewouldcontributetomaketheseapplicationsmorevisibletothegen-eralpublic,whethertheydealtwithunderstandingecologicalsystems,thestudyoffinancialmarkets,oildrilling,medicaldiagnosticsorbiotechnologicaldevelopment.TheworkinggroupspresentationalsohighlightedtheNobelPrizesastheobviousidealforthenewprize,bothinorganizationalandeconomicalterms:Ifhandledproperly,anannualAbelPrizemightdrawgreatattentionandintimeachievethesamestatusastheNobelPrizeswithintheothersciences.21Theresponseswerewelcomedandstronglysupportedtheneedtomaketheim-portanceofmathematicsmuchmorevisibletothegeneralpublic.This,manyoftherespondentsmaintained,wasessentialtocreateamuchneededinterestinmathe-maticsandscience,andtoimprovethepooranddecliningrecruitmentnumbersinthosefieldsoverthepastdecades.Soontheworkinggrouphadalistof29prominentpeoplesupportingtheplan.ThelistincludedtherectorsofallfourNorwegianuni-versities,thepresidentsoftheNorwegianAcademyofScienceandLettersinOsloandtheRoyalNorwegianSocietyofSciencesandLettersinTrondheim,severalotherprofessors,arecentMinisterofEducationandResearchandthemostinfluen-tialprimeministersofthepasttwodecades,KåreWilloch(ConservativeParty)andGroHarlemBrundtland(LabourParty).22ThethenMinisterofEducationandResearch,TrondGiske(LabourParty),wasneverthelesssomewhatreluctant.Theinitiativewaspresentedtohimandhisofficeseveralmonthsearlierandnothinghadhappened.SomedaysafterthefirstmeetinginlateMarch,theworkinggroupinvitedtheMinistertomeetthegrouptobein-formedandinitiateadialogue[...]aboutpossiblesolutions.23ButMinisterGiskewasstillnotveryenthusiastic,andmadeitclearthathedidnothavemillionsofkro-nerjustlyingaround.Andifhedid,hewasnotatallsurethathewouldspendthemonamathematicsaward.24Incontrast,theworkinggrouphadaveryencouragingmeetingwiththeUnder-secretaryofStateinGiskesdepartment.25TowardstheendofMay,thegroupseemedsomewhatuncertainaboutwhattheirnextmoveshouldbe:wasitstrategicallywisetoproceedwithtalkswithGiskesMinistryorwoulditbebettertoheadstraightfortheOfficeofthePrimeMinister?2621ProspectusAbel-prisen,spring2001,JEF/NVJ.SeealsoAftenposten27.6.2001,BlantdestørstebyJensErikFenstad.22ProspectusAbel-prisen,spring2001,JEF/NVJ.23LetterfromYngvarReicheltonbehalfoftheAbelPrizeworkinggrouptotheMinisterofEdu-cationandResearchTrondGiske,Abelprisimatematikk,29.3.2001.YngvarReicheltsarchive(hereafterYR).24E-mailfromRolfReikvamtoArnfinnLaudal,18.5.2001,NVJ.25E-mailfromJensErikFenstadtoKjellStahl27.4.2001,JEF.26E-mailfromLaudaltoReikvam,16.5.2001,ande-mailfromReikvamtoLaudal,19.5.2001,NVJ. 16K.G.HelsvigTheychoseabroadapproach.BytheendofMaytheworkinggroupmadethreeparallelmoves:(1)theysentalettertoPrimeMinisterStoltenbergandaskedforameeting;(2)ProfessorLaudalgottheSocialistLeftPartyrepresentativeintheStandingCommitteeonEducation,ResearchandChurchAffairswhowasveryenthusiasticabouttheplanstopresentaformalquestioninParliament(Stortinget)toMinisterGiske;and(3)ProfessorFenstadgotfull-pagecoverageinthelargenationalnewspaperAftenposten,regardingthepossiblecreationinthenearfutureofaprestigiousmathematicsawardinmemoryofAbel.27TogetherwiththelettertothePrimeMinisterandthenewscoverage,theformalquestionaskedinParliamentraisedthepoliticaltemperatureoftheissue.28Inhisquestion,theSocialistLeftPartyrepresentativefirstmadeclearthattheprizehadtobeonlevelwithNobelPrizestogainthenecessaryprestige.HesummedupbyaskingWilltheMinistertakeactionandestablishafundsothattheprizecanbeawardedalreadynextyear?29BasedonthelettertothePrimeMinisterandthequestioninParliament,astatesecretaryattheOfficeofthePrimeMinisteradvisedMinisterGisketomeetwiththeAbelPrizeworkinggroup.EvenGiskesownDepartmentofResearchnowurgedtheMinistertogiveParliamentapositiveanswer,andinvitetheworkinggrouptoafollow-upmeeting.30InhisanswertoParliamentinthebeginningofJune,Giskestatedthathewasfullyawareoftheplans,andthatheagreedthatthebuildingupandstrengtheningofthenationalcompetencewithinmathematicsandthenaturalsciencesisneeded.Hehadalsonotedthattheplansweresupportedinimportantacademiccircles.IfthegovernmentwastoestablishafundthatplacedaprospectiveAbelPrizeonlevelwiththeNobelPrize,thentheproposalhadtobeevaluatedtogetherwithothermeasurestostrengthenrecruitmentandimprovethescholarlyqualityofNorwegianmathematicsandnaturalscience.InaccordancewiththeclearpoliticalsignalsfromboththeOfficeofthePrimeMinisterandhisownDepartmentofResearch,GiskepromisedtolookcloserintothematterandinvitetheAbelworkinggrouptofurthertalks.3127KD,Saksnr.00/7309,FO./ESO,Archivecode757,Abelprisenimatematikk,NielsHen-rikAbelsminnefondandSaksnr:01/4385,FO./ESO,Archivecode001SpørsmåltilskriftligbesvarelsefrarepresentantenRolfReikvamometableringavenAbelprisimatematikk.Aften-posten28.5.2001.Berom150mill.tilAbel-pris.28E.g.,Aftenposten1.6.2001,ØktpresspåAbel-prisen.29Spørsmåltilskriftligbesvarelse(spørsmålnr.421),30.May2001.KD,Saksnr.01/4385,FO./ESO,Archivecode001SpørsmåltilskriftligbesvarelsefrarepresentantenRolfReikvamometableringavenAbelprisimatematikk.30KD,Saksnr.01/4385,FO./ESO,Archivecode001Spørsmåltilskriftligbesvarelsefrarepre-sentantenRolfReikvamometableringavenAbelprisimatematikk.SeealsotheletterfromthesecretaryofstateTomTherkildsenattheOfficeofthePrimeMinistertotheAbelPrizeworkinggroup,18.6.2001,NVJ.31TrondGiskesresponse7.6.2001.KD,Saksnr.01/4385,FO./ESO,Archivecode001SpørsmåltilskriftligbesvarelsefrarepresentantenRolfReikvamometableringavenAbelprisimatem-atikk. TheAbelPrizeTheMissingNobelinMathematics?178BreakthroughOnJuly18,theworkinggroupreceivedacallfromastatesecretaryintheMinistryofEducationandResearchwhoaskediftheycouldcometoameetingthefollowingday.Thiswasnowamatterofgreatimportance.ThedirectorgeneralintheMin-istrysDepartmentofResearchandastatesecretaryfromtheMinistryofFinancewouldalsotakepartinthemeeting.Theworkinggroupimmediatelygottogethertopreparetheiranswertothemainquestionthatwouldcomeupthenextday:whyanAbelPrizeinmathematics?32AttheJuly19meeting,theStateSecretariesofboththeMinistryofEduca-tionandResearchandtheMinistryofFinanceemphasizedthatfortheAbelplanstocometofruition,itwasabsolutelycrucialthattheprizewouldcontributetostrengthenthepositionandstatusofthenaturalsciencesandmathematicsinNor-way,andincreasepublicawarenessofthesocietalimportanceofthesefieldsofknowledge.Theworkinggroupwasaskedtoformulatesomethoughtsaboutthisissueassoonaspossible.FourdayslaterthegrouppresentedadocumentonhowtheAbelPrizecouldmeetthoserequirementswithregardtobothschool-agedanduniversitystudents,researchersandthegeneralpublic.TherealreadyexistedtwoAbelassociatedmathematicscompetitionsinNorwegianschools:KappAbelatthefinallevelofprimaryschoolandtheAbelcompetitioninupper-secondaryschool.ThesecompetitionscouldorganizationallybeplacedundertheumbrellaoftheAbelPrize,andthismergerwouldincreasemediaattentionaswellasthestatusofthecompetitions.StudentsatuniversitiesanduniversitycollegescouldfindmotivationfromthefactthattheinternationalmathematicalstarswouldcometoNorwayonaregularbasis,andNorwegianmathematicianswouldbegivenuniqueopportunitiestocreatenetworksandworkwiththeworldstopmathematiciansandmathemati-calresearchcenters.InthiswaytheworkinggrouparguedtheAbelPrizewouldalsocontributetoenhancepublicunderstandingofmathematicsandthenaturalsci-encesasimportantcornerstonesofmodernsociety.TheAbelPrizeworkinggroupendedwithaquotefromtheIMUpresidentJacobPalis:Abelsprizewouldcer-tainlymakemathematicsmuchmorevisibletosocietyandperhapsthisismoreimportantthanever.33Thenthingsreallybegantomove.InearlyAugusttheworkinggroupwasagaincontactedbytheMinistry,whichwantedthemtospecifytheorganizationalstruc-turesandbudget.AcoupleofweekslatertheMinistrywantedfurtherbiograph-icaldetailsonAbelandhisscientificcontributionsandimportance.Theworkinggroupwasnowtotallyonhomeground,andtheirpaperFactsaboutNielsHen-rikAbelwasimmediatelyandwithouttheknowledgeofanyoneintheworking32JensErikFenstadintwoe-mailstotheworkinggroup,18.7.2001.NVJ.33LetterfromNilsVojeJohansenonbehalfoftheworkinggrouptothesecretaryofstateRandiØverlandintheMinistryofEducationandResearch,23.7.2001,Abel-prisenogrekrutteringtilrealfageneognotattilKUFogFinansdepartementet,VirkningeravenAbel-prisimatematikk.KD,Saksnr.00/7309,FO./ESO,Archivecode757,Abelprisenimatematikk,NielsHenrikAbelsminnefond.E-mailfromJacobPalistoArnfinnLaudal,19.7.2001,NVJ. 18K.G.HelsviggrouppassedonfromtheMinistryofEducationandResearchtotheOfficeofthePrimeMinister.34LikemanyoftheMinistryofFinanceeconomists,PrimeMinis-terStoltenbergwaseducatedattheUniversityofOslosDepartmentofEconomics.AndlikemanyoftheeconomistsintheMinistryofFinance,StoltenbergwouldsoonprovetobeverymuchinfavorofcreatinganinternationalmathematicsprizethatwasbelievedtosupportthevisibilityofandinterestinmathematicsinNorway.35TheworkinggrouphadnoideathatPrimeMinisterStoltenbergwouldannouncetheestablishmentoftheAbelPrizeduringaspeechtothelocalLabourPartyyouthorganizationArbeidernesUngdomsfylking(AUF)attheUniversityofOslosBlin-derncampusonAugust23,2001.TheworkinggroupknewthatthePrimeMinisterwasscheduledforameetingwiththeuniversityrectorlaterintheday,andbecauseofthistheyhadprovidedtherectorwithfurtherargumentsinsupportoftheprize.36ThreeofthesixworkinggroupmembersneverthelesswalkedthefewmetersfromtheNielsHenrikAbelbuildingtotheauditoriumintheneighboringVilhelmBjerk-nesbuilding,wherethePrimeMinisterwastomeetwiththeAUF.HeretheworkinggroupmembershopedtohaveaquickwordwithStoltenberganddeliveralettertheyjusthadreceivedfromtheIMUpresident.IntheletterJacobPalisgaveanas-surancethattheIMUineverypossiblewaywouldcooperatewiththeNorwegiangovernmentandtheNorwegianAcademyofScienceandLettersinestablishingsuchawonderfulprizeandinimplementingitinthemostdignifiedform.37IMUwouldsoongettheopportunitytodoso.TheAbelPrizeworkinggroupmembersimmediatelyunderstoodwhatwascomingwhentheysawthatalloftheirbureaucraticandpoliticalcontactsfromthepastmonthwerepresentatthePrimeMinistersmeetingwiththelocalbranchofAUFatBlindern.9HighExpectationsApressreleasefromtheOfficeofthePrimeMinisterlaterthatsamedaystatedthattheGovernmentwantedtoheavilyincreasethefocusonmathematicsandnaturalsciences.TheAbelPrizeshouldserveasanencouragementforbothstudentsandresearchersalikeatatimewhengreatpartsoftheWesternworldexperiencedadeclineofinterestinthesefieldsofknowledge.Theprizewasintendedtomakevisibletheimportanceofmathematicsandthenaturalsciences.PrimeMinisterStoltenberghopedtheprizewouldimprovetherecruitmentofyoungpeopleto34ThepaperFaktaomNielsHenrikAbelwassentfromtheMinistryofEducationandResearchtotheOfficeofthePrimeMinistertilSMKonthe22.8.2001.KD,Saksnr.00/7309,FO./ESO,Archivecode757,Abelprisenimatematikk,NielsHenrikAbelminnefond.InterviewwithNilsVojeJohansen,16.12.2011.35TelephoneinterviewwithPrimeMinisterStoltenberg7.11.2011.36E-mailfromJensErikFenstadtoHelgeHolden,2.11.2001,NVJ.37TelefaxfromJacobPalistotheAbelPrizeworkinggroup,22.8.2001.KD,Saksnr.00/7309,FO./ESO,Archivecode757,Abelprisenimatematikk,NielsHenrikAbelsminnefond. TheAbelPrizeTheMissingNobelinMathematics?19mathematicsandthenaturalsciences,thestrengtheningofNorwegianmathematicalresearch,andtheimageofNorwayasaknowledgesociety.38TheLabourPartygovernmentwasnotaloneinwantingtostrengthentheposi-tionandstatusofmathematicsandthenaturalsciences.Fromaroundtheturnofthecentury,thistopicwasconsideredtobeoneofthemostimportantissuesbyallmajorNorwegianpoliticalparties.ThefirstOECDProgrammeforInternationalStudentAssessment(PISA)surveyin2001presentedagloomypictureofNorwe-gianstudentsknowledgeabout,andattitudestowards,mathematicsandthenaturalsciences.Thiswasaseriouswakeupcallthatseemedtoconfirmwhathadbeenanincreasingsuspicionrecentyears:theNorwegianeducationalsystemwasinpoorshape.Highqualitycompetenceinmathematics,naturalsciencesandtechnologywasnowseenasthekeyfactortoimprovethefuturecapacityforinnovationandeconomicgrowthintheso-calledglobalknowledgeeconomy.ThisshiftwasevidentinallareasofNorwegianeducationandresearchpolicy.Inresearch,thecreationoftheNorwegianCentresofExcellencesystemin2002representedaseriousbreakwiththetraditionalandessentiallyegalitariannationalpolicyinthatfield.Inhighereducation,theso-calledQualityReformin2003wasinspiredbysimilarconcerns,aswastheKnowledgePromotionreforminprimaryandsecondaryschoolsin2006.Since2002,boththecenter-rightandthecenter-leftgovernmentshavepresentedandupdatedtheirownstrategicplanstosupportmathematics,naturalscienceandtechnologystudiesandresearch.Thesefieldsofknowledgewereallmattersofincreasingpoliticalattention,andsimultaneouslymoreelitistperspectivesgainedgroundintheNorwegiandebateregardingprimaryandsecondaryschools,highereducationandresearch.TheAbelPrizeplansen-compassedtheveryessenceofthispoliticalwaveasitwasabouttobreakovertheNorwegianpoliticallandscape[8,pp.115144].Theneedtoimprovewithinthefieldsofmathematics,naturalscienceandtech-nologyinordertosucceedinthedevelopingso-calledknowledgeeconomythusbecameanaxiomofallmajorNorwegianpoliticalpartiesfromtheSocialistLeftPartononesidetotheright-wingProgressivePartyontheotherfromabouttheturnofthecentury.AllthemembersoftheparliamentaryStandingCommitteeonEducation,ResearchandChurchAffairsthusfullysupportedtheprizewhenitwasannounced,andbasicallyforthesamereason:fearthattheNorwegianeducationalsystemfromtoptobottomwasunpreparedtomeetthechallengesfromthede-velopingknowledgeeconomywhenitcametomathematics,naturalscienceandtechnology.TheConservativePartyrepresentativestatedthatNorwaywasfacingageneralnaturalsciencescrisis,andthatanymeasuretakentocounteractthiswasmostappropriate.TheLiberalPartycommitteememberhopedtheprizewouldhelptoturnthedecayofnaturalscienceinthiscountry.TheformerminsterofeducationandresearchandChristianDemocraticPartyrepresentativesaidtheprizemightcometomeanjustasmuchfornaturalscienceinNorwayastheNobelPrizesmeansforscienceinSweden.39Theright-wingProgressivePartyhadforalong38Pressrelease155/2001,23.8.2001.TheOfficeofthePrimeMinister.39Aftenposten,24.8.2001:200millionerkrtilnyopprettetAbel-pris. 20K.G.Helsvigtimewarnedagainsttheeconomicalconsequencesofadeclineinthehardsubjectswithinthenationaleducationalsystem,andthepartysrepresentativehadearlyintheprocessencouragedtheAbelPrizeworkinggrouptoaskformoremoney.40Ontheothersideofthepoliticalspectrum,theSocialistLeftPartyrepresentativebecameaswehaveseenthemostimportantadvocateofthecommitteewhenhebroughtthequestionabouttheprizetoParliamentintheendofMay.AsignificantsectionoftheinternationalmathematicalcommunitynowhopedthattheywouldsoonbeenjoyingamathematicalcounterparttotheNobelPrizes.BecauseofthefrustrationcausedbyasIMUpresidentPalishadputitacenturyoldoneandaneverdiscussedmissingfeatureofthescientificworkofourcommu-nity,thehistoryabouttheAbelPrizeandhowitwenttoheavenwiththedisso-lutionoftheunionbetweenSwedenandNorwayin1905,didresonateextremelywellintheinternationalmathematicalcommunity.ThestorybroughtforwardbytheAbelPrizeworkinggroupwasnothinglessthanthestoryofhowonehundredyearsearlierNorwayhadbeenonthevergeofcreatingaprizeinmathematicsalmostasprestigiousastheNobelPrizes,andatthesametimeandinthesamekingdom!Thiswasundoubtedlythesinglemostimportantreasonfortheoverwhelmingandabso-lutelydecisivesupportfromthehighestlevelinEuropeanandworldmathematicsviatheEMSandIMU.TheestablishmentoftheAbelPrizeonehundredyearslatercouldthereforealsobeseenastherightingofoldwrongsagainstmathematics.Ininfluentialpartsoftheinternationalmathematicalcommunity,theAbelPrizewasfromtheverybeginningclearlyseenasaverycloserelativetotheNobelPrizes,bothhistoricallyandge-ographically.Oneweekaftertheannouncementoftheprize,SciencethejournaloftheAmericanAssociationfortheAdvancementofSciencestateditclearandsimple:Formathematics,Abel=Nobel[1].PresidentofEMSRolfJeltschwroteinhisannualreportthatthecreationoftheAbelPrizewouldhaveenduringconse-quencesformathematicsbothinEuropeandintherestoftheworld.InashorttimeitalsobecamecommonformathematiciansinternationallytospeakabouttheAbelPrizeastheNobelPrizeinMathematics.41However,someCanadianmathematicianssoonbecameconcernedaboutwhatthecreationoftheAbelPrizewouldmeanforthestatusandprestigeoftheFieldsMedal,andwroteanopenlettertotheirprimeminister:AccordingtotheCanadianmathematicians,fewpeoplewereawarethatJohnCharlesFieldswasaCanadian,thattheprizewasoriginallyaCanadianideaandthatthemedalfoundationwasinCanada.Theyargued,largelyinvain,thatthenewlyestablishedAbelPrizehadtobemetbytheCanadiangovernmentwithastrongmanifestationoftheCanadianidentityoftheFieldsMedalandamarkedincreaseinthemodestprizevalue.42IMUwhichawardedtheFieldsMedalwasneverthelessrelativelyclearinits40NilsVojeJohansensmeetingwithUrsulaEvje(FrP)inParliament(Stortinget)23.5.2011,NVJ.41PresidentRolfJeltschtoEMS,December2001,NVJ.42OpenlettertothePrimeMinisterofCanada,7.5.2002.FromNassifGhoussoub,ArvindGuptaandRobertV.Moody.YR. TheAbelPrizeTheMissingNobelinMathematics?21supportforthenewAbelPrizeasamathematicscounterparttotheNobelPrizes.AndobviouslythegenerousfundingoftheprizefromtherichNorwegianstateplayedanimportantroleingainingthissupportfromlargepartsoftheinternationalmathematicalcommunity.ThemarketingoftheAbelPrizeduringthefirstyearsthuscametoshowclearsimilaritiestotheestablishmentoftheNobelPrizesintheearlytwentiethcentury;bothprizewinnersandtheiroftenveryinfluentialscholarlycom-munitiesalmostsystematicallypraisedtheirrespectiveprizesveryhighly,therebyincreasingtheprestigeofboththeprizesandtheacademicelitesthatreceivedthem.Intheseprocesses,mediaattentionhasbeenofvitalimportance.Mediafascinationfromthestartseemedtoreinforceageneralwilltobelievethataprizethatentailssomuchmoneyaswellassomuchprestigesimplymustbejustandimportant[5,especiallypp.268272].Insummary,itisfairtosaythatwhentheinitiativewasfinallybroughtoutintheopeninthespringof2001,theentirespectrumofNorwegianpoliticalpartiesandsignificantandinfluentialsectionsoftheinternationalmathematicalcommu-nitywereferventintheirdesirefortheprize,butforentirelydifferentreasons.FormanyyearsthecampaignstartedbyAbelsbiographerArildStubhaughadgarneredpoliteinterestbutlittletruesupportamongNorwegianmathematicians.WhentheTelenorCEOandLabourPartyveteranTormodHermansencameintothepictureinthesummerof2000,theissuewasputintoamuchlargerculturalandpoliticalcontext,andsoontheAbelPrizeinitiativeprovedtobemuchmoreintunewiththetimesthananybodyhadexpected:Norwegianpoliticiansacrossthewholepoliti-calspectrumfromtheSocialistLeftPartytotheProgressivePartysawtheprizeasanopportunitytopromotemathematicsandscienceandcounteractanalarmingdeclineinthesefieldswithinthenationaleducationalsystem,aswellasawaytopromoteNorwayasaknowledgesociety.Andtheinternationalmathematicalcom-munityfinallyafteronehundredyearsgotaprizetheybothhopedandbelievedcouldequaltheNobelprizes.Wellunderway,theprocesswasalsocharacterizedbycloseandinformalcontactsamongacademics,politicians,bureaucratsandindus-trialleaders,relationshipsthatwouldpossiblybemuchhardertomanageinalargerpoliticalsystem.ThestoryofhowtheAbelPrizecameaboutisapieceofcontemporarynationalhistoryabouthowpoliticscouldbemadeoffthepublicscenethroughclosenet-worksinasmallnation.Thestorywouldalsoalmostrepeatitselfin2005whentheKavliPrizesinAstrophysics,NanoscienceandNeurosciencewereestablishedwithanambitiontobecomeasimportantforthedevelopmentofthesefieldsofknowledgeinthe21stcenturyastheNobelshadbeenforphysics,chemistryandmedicineinthe20th.AstheAbelPrize,theKavliprizeswouldalsobeawardedbytheNorwegianAcademyofScienceandLetters.Andagaintheestablishmentwasaresultofaclosecollaborationbetweenanindustrialleader,scientists,bureaucrats,andtheMinistryofEducationandResearch.Onlythistimethesponsorprovid-ingthenecessaryfundingtoreachtheleveloftheNobelprizeswasnottheeverricherNorwegianstatebuttheUS-basedNorwegian-bornentrepreneur,billionaire 22K.G.HelsvigandlongtimesciencebenefactorFredKavli.43ThestoryoftheAbelprizeisalsoanaccountofhowculturalheritagecanberecruitedasaresourceforsciencepolicy:howtheprizecouldbringtogetherpoliticians,bureaucratsandmathematiciansforaspectrumofcultural-politicalpurposesfromdifferingconstituenciesworkingwithavarietyofinterests.10NobelLevel?ItistoosoontoaccuratelypresentanauthoritativehistoricaljudgmentofthefirsttenyearsoftheAbelPrize.Nevertheless,itispossibletomakesometentativeob-servationsregardingtheextentthattheprizehassucceededinestablishingitsrepu-tationandstatus,bothintheacademiccommunityandinthegreaterpublic,bothinNorwayandinternationally.ItwasaboldambitiontoestablishtheAbelPrizeasamathematicalcounterparttotheNobelPrizes,butaswehaveseen,theapproachwaswarmlywelcomedbytheinternationalmathematicalcommunity.Thissupportwasnotonlyimportantbutalsoabsolutelynecessaryforthesubsequentpoliticalacceptanceoftheprize.Duringthefirsttenyears,theprizeseemstohavebeenfirmlyestablished,nottheleastbecausethewinnersarechosenbyaninternationalcommitteewhosemembersarenominatedbytheEMSandIMU.UnlikethenationalSwedishNobelcommitteesandthenationalNorwegianPeacePrizecommittee,theAbelcommitteeleansontheexpertiseofthehighestEuropeanandworldorganizationswithinthefield.SofarfewcontroversieshaverisenfromtheAbelawards.Afterjusttwoyears,andtheawardstoJean-PierreSerre(2003)andthesharedprizetoMichaelF.AtiyahandIsadoreM.Singer(2004),themathematicssectionoftheUSNationalAcademyofSciencessenttheirmostsincerecongratulations:WeextendourcongratulationstotheAbelPrizeCommittee,totheNor-wegianAcademy,andtotheNorwegianGovernment,fortheiroutstandingmanagementoftheAbelPrizethesetwofirstyears.[...]Intwounerringlyplacedawards,youhavemadetheAbelPrizetheleadinginternationalprizeinMathematicsthetrueNobelPrizeofMathematics.44Inspiteofthestrongacademicsupport,theprizehashadproblemsinobtainingmediaattentionbothinNorwayandinternationally.Toincreasethegeneralaware-nessandknowledgeoftheprize,keypersonshavetriedtoestablishmoreformallinksbetweentheAbelPrizeandtheNobelPrizes.FormerIMUPresidentDavidMumfordwasamemberofthefirstAbelcommittee,andhehadveryhighambitionsfortheprize.ToensurethattheAbelPrizewouldreachthegeneralconsciousness43http://www.kavliprize.no.44LetterfromRichardV.Kadison,ChairmanforthemathematicssectioninNationalAcademyofSciences,USA,totheNorwegianAcademyofScienceandLetters,28.4.2004.ThearchivesoftheNorwegianAcademyofScienceandLetters(hereafterDNVA),file:Abelkomiteen. TheAbelPrizeTheMissingNobelinMathematics?23oftheworldinawaycomparabletotheNobelPrizes,headvocatedtousemoreactivelythehistorybehindtheprize.ThishistoryaccordingtoMumfordshowedthattheAbelPrizeislogicallythelongmissedmathematicscomponentoftheNo-belawards.MumfordthussuggestedthatthepresidentoftheNorwegianAcademyofScienceandLettersshouldgetincontactwithitsSwedishsisteracademytoaskiftheycouldofficiallypresentthecreationoftheAbelPrizeduringthe2002NobelPrizeawardceremonyinStockholm.45Thefollowingyear,thenewIMUpresidentJohnBallfolloweduponMumfordsidea.IftheNorwegianAcademyofScienceandLettersdidnothaveanyobjections,hewouldverymuchliketotrytopersuadetheRoyalSwedishAcademyofSciencesto,atleast,givearecognitionoftheAbelPrize.46BothwithintheNorwegianAcademyandtheNielsHenrikAbelMemorialFundBoarditwasgenerallyknownthatsuchrecognitionfromeithertheSwedishAcademyortheNobelFoundationwasnotlikelygiventhetraditionalandstrongexclusivityoftheNobelPrizes.Atthesametime,theNorwegiansenjoyedtheref-erencesinprintandmediastatingthattheAbelPrizewasaNobelinmathemat-ics.47IttooksixyearsfortheNewYorkTimestoincludeafull-pagearticleontheAbelPrize;bythenitwasaccordingtothenewspaperwidelyregardedastheNobelofmathematics.48TheNobelFoundationwasnotatallpleasedwiththerepeatedpresentationoftheAbelPrizeasaNobelinmathematics,andaftersomeyearstheytookactiontoensurethatthispracticeatleastwasnotofficiallypro-motedbytheAbelPrizeitself.In2008thefoundationsentasternmessagetotheNorwegianAcademy:TheNobelFoundationhasnoticedthattheAbelPrizeinsomecontactswithmedia,andinsomee-mails,hasbeenpresentedastheNobelPrizeofMathematics.Further,theletterstatedthatitwasaregisteredtrademark,andtheNorwegianAcademyshouldknowthattheNobelFoundationalwayshadandalwayswouldprotectthistrademarkfromdegenerationandwateringdownwithgreatcareanddeterminedefforts.ThoseresponsiblefortheAbelPrizewerestronglyrequestedtocarefullyavoidsuchpracticeinthefutureina,forus,mat-terofgreatimportance.49ApartfromthisandalthoughtheAbelPrizehasnotbeenthesubjectofmuchmediaattentioninSwedenitseemsthattheAbelPrize45E-mailfromDavidMumfordtothepresidentoftheNorwegianAcademyofScienceandLetters,LarsWalløe,29.10.2002,NVJ.46E-mailfromIMUPresidentJohnBalltoChairmanoftheAbelCommitteeErlingStørmer,Chair-manoftheAbelBoardJensErikFenstad,andGeneralSecretaryoftheNorwegianAcademyofScienceandLettersReidunSirevåg,17.11.2003.JEF.47SeeforexampleF.ThomasBruss,HomagetotheAbelPrize.HomagetoNorwayinEMSNewsletterJune2005,NVJ.48NewYorkTimes,31.5.2009:ComplexMath,SimpleSum:3Awardsin5Yearshttp://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/01/nyregion/01nyu.html(visited10.12.2011).ThethemeoftheNYTarticlewasthatintheshorthistoryoftheAbelPrize,alreadythreeprofessorsatNewYorkUniversityhadreceivedtheprize.49LetterfromtheNobelFoundationtotheNorwegianAcademyofScienceandLetters,21.4.2008,DNVA. 24K.G.Helsvighasbeenreceivedinaratherwelcomingwayalsothere.PerhapsithelpedthattheSwedishmathematicianLennartCarlesonwasawardedtheAbelprizein2006,asthreeyearslater,theleadingSwedishnewspaperDagensNyheterpresentedboththeFieldsmedalandtheAbelPrizeastheonlyprizesinmathematicsonNobellevel?50EventhoughonlyveryfewNorwegianmathematicianswereinvolvedintheplan-ningforanAbelPrize,thewholeNorwegianmathematicalcommunitydidreceiveitwithopenarms.InitiallyitcausedsomefrustrationthattheplanningwascarriedoutinsecrecyasanexclusiveprojectofasmallgroupofOslomathematicians.Forexample,in2001ProfessorHelgeHoldenfromtheNorwegianUniversityofScienceandTechnologyinTrondheimwasheadingthenationalcommitteefortheAbelbicentennialcelebrationstogetherwithJensErikFenstadfromtheUniversityofOslo.Holdenwasnotverypleasedthathe,inthisposition,knewnothingabouttheprizeplansuntilhereadabouttheminthenewspapers.51WhentheAbelPrizeplansbecameknowntothepublicattheendofMay2001,boththeRoyalNorwegianSocietyofSciencesandLettersinTrondheim(inthemiddleofthecountry)andaplanneduniversityinAbelshomecountyAgder(inthesouth)wantedtheirshareoftheprize.TheAcademyinTrondheimtheoldestinthecountrypointedtothefactthatAbelhadbeenanAcademymember.InAgder,itwassuggestedthattheplanneduniversitywouldbecalledtheNielsHenrikAbelUniversity.Itwasthen,theyargued,anaturalconsequencethattheprizewouldbeawardedbytheuniversitywhichcarrieshisname.52WhentheplansbecameknownoutsideOslo,theyhadneverthelessbeendevelopedtoapointwheretherewaslittleroomforatraditionalNorwegianregionalorcentervs.peripherydebate.AdditionalactivitiesweresoonputinplacetosecuresupportfromNorwaysmathematiciansanduniversities.PartsoftheofficialprogramtookplaceinTrond-heim,centralNorway,BergeninthewestandKristiansandinthesouth.TheNor-wegianMathematicalSocietywasthoroughlyrevitalizedinnumerousways.Mostimportantly,thesocietywasputinchargeoftheannualandweek-longinternationalAbelSymposiawhichsince2004hasattractedcuttingedgemathematiciansfromallovertheworld,andeveryyeardifferentNorwegianuniversitieshavebeengivenspecialresponsibilitiesforthesymposium.Abelstipendshavebeencreatedtosup-portrecruitmentattheuniversities,andtherearenumerousactivitiesinNorwegianschoolsconnectedtotheprize,mostnotablytheprimaryschoolKappAbelcompe-titionandtheuppersecondaryschoolAbelcompetition.TheNielsHenrikAbelMemorialFundwasfromthestartworthNOK200mil-lion(approximatelyUSD35million),NOK50millionmorethantheAbelPrize50DagensNyheter,11.10.2009,Matematikipraktiken.51E-mailsbetweenJensErikFenstadandHelgeHolden2.11.2001,JEF.52LetterfromthePresidentoftheRoyalNorwegianSocietyofSciencesandLettersinTrond-heim,KarstenJacobsen,totheAbelPrizeWorkingGroup,12.6.2001,NVJ.LetterfromtheAgderCountyCounciltoPrimeMinisterKjellMagneBondevik(ChristianDemocraticParty),2.4.2002,Sørlandetsomutdelingsstedformatematikkprisoglokaliseringsstedforfondstiftelse.KD,Sak-snr.00/7309,FO./ESO,Archivecode757,Abelprisenimatematikk,NielsHenrikAbelsminne-fond.ThenewuniversitywasfinallycalledtheUniversityofAgder. TheAbelPrizeTheMissingNobelinMathematics?25workingcommitteehadaskedfor.Thiscameclosetoanembarrassmentforthemathematicians,asthesymbolismofaskingfor200millionatthebicentennialshouldbemorethanobvious.TheNOK200millionfundalsoprovidedalmostexactlytheincomethegrouphadwanted:abudgetofNOK12.4milliontocovertheprize(NOK6million),administrationandassociatedactivities,suchastheAbelSymposiaandtheschoolcompetitions.53Theseadditionalactivitieswerealsoim-portantfromtheviewofNorwegianpoliticians.Becauseofthis,theAbelMemo-rialFundBoardsooncreatedaChildandYouthCommitteetosupportandfundmathematicalactivitiesalloverthecountry.Amathematicsteachersprizewasalsoestablishedin2005inhonorofAbelsteacher,BerntMichaelHolmboe.AnannualHolmboePrizeofNOK50,000(approximatelyUSD8,500)isawardedinAbelsoldschool,OsloCathedralSchool,bytheMinisterofEducationandResearchthedaybeforetheAbelPrizeitself,andinthepresenceoftheAbelPrizelaureate.11ConclusionAndtheNeedforFutureAdjustments?Inconclusion,itisfairtosaythattheAbelPrizehasgainedsignificantreputationandprestigeintheinternationalmathematicalcommunity,andhasinjectednewlifeintoNorwegianmathematics.Thisarticlehasexplainedhowtheprizewasestab-lishedinlightofmultipleintentionsandambitionsamongagreatvarietyofactorsandstakeholders,bothnationallyandinternationally,duringashortperiodoftimein2000and2001.Fromtheoutset,theplansforanAbelPrizeinmathematicswerepresentedbyAbelsbiographer,thepoetandauthorArildStubhaug,withoutgainingmuchsup-portfromtheNorwegianmathematicalcommunity.TheplanswereneverthelesseventuallywarmlyembracedbythemajorNorwegianpoliticalparties,allincreas-inglyconcernedwitheducationalperformancesinmathematics,naturalscienceandtechnologyandthefuturecapacityforinnovationandeconomicgrowthintheso-calledglobalknowledgeeconomy.Intheprocessofcreatingpoliticalawarenessoftheprizeplans,StubhauginitiallygotsubstantialhelpfromtheprominentLabourPartypoliticianandindustrialleaderTormodHermansen.ButitwasalsoofcrucialimportancethatNorwegianmathematicianstookrealinterestintheprojectinthespringof2001.ThesmallgroupofmathematiciansattheUniversityofOslowasinstrumentalincollectingthedecisivesupportfromthehighestlevelinEuropeanandworldmathematicsviatheEMSandIMU.Withoutthisstronginternationalaca-demicsupport,itisnotlikelythattheplanswouldhaveseenapoliticalbreakthroughinNorway.Fortheinternationalmathematicalcommunityinlarge,andespeciallyforEMSandIMU,theAbelPrizewasanopportunityfinallyafteronehundredyearstoestablishthemissingNobelinmathematics.ForNorwegianmathematicianstheAbelprizebecameawelcomeopportunitytocelebrateoneoftheirowngrandheroesandincreasetheirinternationalattentionandcooperation.And,eventhough53Thefundwasplacedingovernmentbondswithaten-yearfixedinterestrateof6.2%. 26K.G.HelsvigtheprizewasunanimouslysupportedbyallmajorNorwegianpoliticalparties,theLabourpartygovernmentcouldproudlypresentaprizethataspreviouslynotedaimedtoimprovetherecruitmentofyoungpeopletomathematicsandthenaturalsciences,thestrengtheningofNorwegianmathematicalresearch,andtheimageofNorwayasaknowledgesociety.54InthiswaythestoryofthecreationoftheAbelPrizestandsasnoexceptionwhenitcomestohowitpromisedprideandprestigetoimportantstakeholders.Butthestorytosomeextentstandsoutinthewaybothpoliticalauthoritiesandnationalandinternationalacademiccommunitiescouldreadquitedifferentdesiresandambitionsintotheprizeinagivenplaceatagiventime:thewealthyoil-nationNorwayconcernedwitheducationalperformancesatthetimeoftheNielsHenrikAbelbicentennial.Inamatterofmonths,thisnexusofdesiresandambitionsgaverapidandstrongmomentumtotheestablishmentofascienceprizethatjustahandfulofpeoplecouldonlyimagineoneyearearlier.Thereisnothingtosuggestthatthebroadsupportobtainedthroughtheprocessdescribedinthisarticlehasdiminishedinanywayduringthefirsttenyears.How-ever,thefinancemodelchangedfrom2012becauseofthesteepfallininterestratesduringtheinternationalfinancialcrisis.Thefundwasliquidated,andtheAbelPrizewasnowlistedclearlyasaseparatepostonthenationalbudget.Thisofcoursemeansgreaterinsecurityforthefuture,butinthefirstyearafterthechangetheAbelbudgetwasincreasedbyafewhundredthousandNOK.Aswehaveseen,theprizehasalsohadproblemswithlowlevelsofmediaattention.Inaddition,ithasbeenespeciallydifficulttoensurethatthelaureatesworkisunderstandabletothegeneralpublic.Astheneedtoincreasethepopularityandvisibilityofmathematicswasamajorargumentinobtainingpoliticalsupportforthecreationoftheprize,theseproblemsarechallenging.TheAbelPrizeworkinggroupstatedinthespringof2001,theprizewoulddemonstratethenumerousmathematicalapplicationsinscience,societyandtechnology;theprizehasonlyliveduptothispromisetoasmallextent.ItwouldappearthatfirstandforemosttheNorwegianAcademyofScienceandLettersandtheAbelcommitteeswantedtofirmlyestablishtheprizeviauncontro-versialawardstothegrandoldmenofpuremathematics.Intheshortrun,thisseemstohavebeenasuccessfulstrategy.Inthelongerrunhowever,thisstrategymayprovesomewhatrisky,whenmuchofwhatisofmostatleastobviousimportancefortherestoftheworld,goesoninmoreappliedpartsofthebroadmathematicalfield.Asystematicopeningoftheprizetowardsmoreappliedareasofmathematicscouldinstigatecontroversieswithinthemathematicalcommunityandleadtomorecontroversialawards.Itmightalsoincreasethelevelofoutsideandmediaattention.Suchanadjustmentwouldbeaboldoneafterjusttenyears,butthenagain,thehistoryoftheAbelPrizeboththelongandtheshortoneispavedwithboldideas.AcknowledgementsThisarticlewaswrittenattherequestofandmainlyfinancedbytheNielsHenrikAbelBoardattheNorwegianAcademyofScienceandLetters.Iwanttothankmycol-leaguesattheUniversityofOslo,EdgeirBenum,JohnPeterCollettandRobertMarcFriedman54Pressrelease155/2001,23.8.2001.TheOfficeofthePrimeMinister. 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