The Kenneth O. May Medal and Prize was awarded to Jens Egede Høyrup in 2013 for his significant contributions to the historiography of mathematical thought. A Danish scholar, he shifted the prevailing understanding of ancient Mesopotamian numerical practices by demonstrating that Old Babylonian algebraic texts functioned primarily through concrete, geometric cut-and-paste manipulations rather than abstract quantity processing.
Academic Foundations and Physics
Born in Copenhagen in 1943, Høyrup began his academic training in the sciences. Between 1962 and 1965, he attended the Niels Bohr Institute at the University of Copenhagen, followed by a year at the Institut Henri Poincaré in Paris. He earned a master's degree in 1969 with a thesis focusing on particle physics. His early career involved teaching physics at the Danish Academy for Engineering between 1971 and 1973.
Twenty questions, eight minutes on the clock, and a percentile measured against everyone who has taken it. No sign-up.
Take the IQ test →Historical Research at Roskilde
Høyrup transitioned to the history and philosophy of science at Roskilde University in 1973, serving as a senior lecturer before becoming a reader in 1989. After habilitating in 1995, he continued his work at the university until his transition to professor emeritus in 2005. His tenure included diverse research interests spanning Greek, Latin, Chinese, medieval Islamic, and European mathematics, alongside inquiries into the relationship between mathematics and warfare.
Reinterpreting Babylonian Algebra
During the 1980s, Høyrup introduced a methodology of conformal translation to examine Babylonian terminology. By distinguishing between various additions and multiplications in cuneiform texts, he linked these operations to practical surveying techniques. His analysis, detailed in works such as "Lengths, Widths and Surfaces" and "Algebra in Cuneiform," suggests that procedures like completing the square were instructions for rearranging geometric figures rather than symbolic arithmetic equations.
Later Appointments and Contributions
Høyrup held the Sarton Chair in History of Science at Ghent University during the 2008 academic year. His professional commitments include serving as an Honorary Research Fellow at the Chinese Academy of Sciences and acting as a visiting scholar at the Max Planck Institute for the History of Science in Berlin. His historical studies also extend to the Italian abbacus tradition, where he examined the development of mathematical practices preceding Fibonacci.
Fast facts
- Born: 1943, Copenhagen
- Citizenship: Kingdom of Denmark
- Primary Field: History of mathematics
- Education: University of Copenhagen, Institut Henri Poincaré
- Key Award: Kenneth O. May Prize (2013)
- Academic Status: Professor emeritus, Roskilde University
- Notable Research: Old Babylonian geometric techniques
Questions readers ask
What is Jens Høyrup's major contribution to mathematics?
He reinterpreted Old Babylonian algebra, arguing that it relied on concrete geometric operations rather than abstract algebraic manipulations.
Did Høyrup study mathematics exclusively?
No, he initially studied and taught physics, obtaining a master's degree in particle physics before focusing on the history of science.
Achievements
- Kenneth O. May Prize
- Fields: history of mathematics
