Harvard Department of Mathematics

Listen to #harvardmath professor Lauren Williams tell the story of how studying a fundamental object in algebraic combinatorics led to a career full of surprises!

The organizers of project "First Batch"—a novel experiment to independently test AI’s ability to solve tough math problems—bring a formalized structure, more transparency, and more controls for the next round, dubbed "First Proof, Second Batch." current.fas.harvard.edu/stories/first-…

"A new benchmark pitting AI against previously unseen maths problems shows that systems still fall short of top human expertise." nature.com/articles/d4158…

With college math stuck in the 20th century, work begins on a new formula. Attendees of a recent Harvard conference plan to propose nationwide curriculum reforms. current.fas.harvard.edu/stories/colleg…

The challenge at the first #ModernizingUndergraduateMathSummit: how math and statistics courses at 2- and 4-year institutions need to evolve in a world shaped by ubiquitous data, AI, powerful computational tools, modeling, and increasingly interdisciplinary work. #education

We celebrate our 2026 graduating Ph.D. students and their accomplishments, and look forward to seeing them reach new heights in their mathematical journeys! #HarvardMath #HarvardGriffinGSAS26 #Harvard26 #HarvardPhD #MathPhD

Congratulations to the graduating class of 2026 mathematicians! We celebrate your achievements and look forward to seeing you reach your goals and leave your mark on the world! #HarvardMath #Harvard26

The 2025-2026 issue of our annual newsletter is out, featuring department news and updates, faculty and student profiles, honors and awards, and more! math.harvard.edu/about/departme… #harvardmath

Congratulations to the Harvard Department of Mathematics undergraduate prize and award recipients for the 2025-2026 academic year! #harvardmath math.harvard.edu/undergraduate-…

This month, TPSE Math is convening leaders from across the mathematical sciences, higher education, industry, and partner organizations for the 2026 Modernizing Undergraduate Math Summit. The summit will focus on how undergraduate mathematics can better prepare students for an AI-infused, data-rich, and rapidly changing world. Participants will explore principles for modern undergraduate math, scalable course innovations, flexible pathways, quantitative reasoning, and strategies for coordinated national implementation. Special thanks to @Harvard, @HarvardMath for hosting. This is an invite-only working summit, but the work is intended to extend well beyond the room. Follow TPSE Math for summit updates, outcomes, and future opportunities to engage. #UndergraduateMath #MathEducation #HigherEd #AIinEducation #STEMEducation #EducationInnovation

We are pleased to bring you this short documentary film exploring the depth and creativity of our department! #harvardmath youtu.be/VI5fUKPK2No

Classes are over and reading period has begun, but we hope our students don't forget to take a break and smell the spring flowers! It's a perfect day to crack open a book underneath a flowering tree. #harvardmath #springtime

Congratulations Melanie Matchett Wood of @HarvardMath, newly inducted #NASmember! #NAS163 #mathematics

Congratulations to Harvard math Ph.D. graduate Yunqing Tang, currently an associate professor at University of California, Berkeley, for receiving the 2026 New Horizons in Mathematics Prize! math.harvard.edu/yunqing-tang-r…

From evolutionary biology to physics, mathematics to genomics, major unanswered questions keep even the most advanced researchers up at night. For math professor Melanie Matchett Wood, that question is: "How are prime numbers distributed among integers?" news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/…

Among the 15 superlative seniors from the class of 2026: Unsung Hero Easton Singer. The love Easton, a math concentrator, has for puzzles is apparent in how admirably he’s figured out his life at Harvard — without Google Calendar. thecrimson.com/article/2025/1…

Among the 15 superlative seniors from the class of 2026: Renaissance Person Max Fan. An English and math concentrator, he sees lessons in a kind of intellectual vastness everywhere around him. thecrimson.com/article/2025/1…

It is with heavy hearts that we say farewell to Professor Emeritus Heisuke Hironaka, who passed away at the age of 94. He received his graduate degree from Harvard in 1960 under the direction of Oscar Zariski and joined the Harvard faculty in 1968. math.harvard.edu/in-memory-of-p…

First Proof is an an effort to see whether LLMs can contribute meaningfully to pure mathematics research. The dust has settled on round one, and the results are surprising. Another round is commencing. scientificamerican.com/article/as-ai-…

@DeivonDrago Hello and thank you for asking! Professor Vafa was actually appointed Harvard Timken University Professor as of 2025: physics.harvard.edu/people/facpage…

@HarvardMath Wait. Did Vafa retire?

We are delighted to announce that Prof. Laura DeMarco was appointed the Hollis Professor of Mathematicks and Natural Philosophy, the second oldest named chair at Harvard and the oldest chair in science in all of the U.S.! #harvardmath math.harvard.edu/laura-demarco-…