Prize History

Citation

The 2025 John von Neumann prize is awarded to Marsha Berger for her foundational work in adaptive mesh refinement and embedded boundary methods for partial differential equations (PDEs). Berger has been a leader in these areas, with important contributions to method development, theoretical stability and accuracy results, efficient software for serial and high performance systems, and applications to science and engineering including aerodynamics, astrophysics, cosmology, plasma physics, subsurface flow, engine design, and tsunami modeling. Berger’s work has fundamentally advanced simulation methodology for PDEs.

Selection Committee

• Sven Leyffer (Chair)
• Xiaoye Sherry Li
• Jonathan Rubin
• Andrea Walther
• Carol Woodward

Citation

The 2024 John von Neumann prize is awarded to Jorge Nocedal for his fundamental work in nonlinear optimization, both in the deterministic and stochastic settings. His research comprises numerous contributions to quasi-Newton methods, interior-point methods, and the theoretical foundations of stochastic gradient methods that are pivotal to machine learning. His leadership resulted in the creation of L-BFGS-B and KNITRO, two software products that remain highly influential in a broad range of applications. He is the co-author of the distinguished textbook "Numerical Optimization", which has become a modern classic in applied mathematics.

Selection Committee

• Sven Leyffer (Chair)
• Sue Brenner
• Gitta Kutyniok
• C.E. Wayne
• Andrea Walther

Citation

The 2023 John von Neumann prize is awarded to Yousef Saad for fundamental contributions to scientific computing, especially algorithms for sparse linear systems, eigenvalue problems, nonlinear equations, graph algorithms, and their applications to a wide range of problems in computational science and engineering including quantum chemistry, material science, and data science. His two outstanding monographs “Iterative Methods for Sparse Linear Systems” and “Numerical Methods for Large Eigenvalue Problems” have been highly influential on researchers and practitioners alike, and remain models of expository writing in these important areas of applied mathematics.

Selection Committee

• Susanne C. Brenner (Chair)
• Michele Benzi
• Gitta Kutyniok
• Sven Leyffer
• C.E. Wayne

Citation

The 2022 John von Neumann Prize is awarded to Leah Edelstein-Keshet in recognition of her far-reaching contributions to mathematical biology. Her work on cellular biophysics as well as collective behavior of organisms has had enormous impact in deciphering biological processes. In addition, her book “Mathematical Models in Biology" is a classic that has been used by students worldwide and, in no small part, laid the foundation for interdisciplinary research in mathematics and life sciences that is flourishing today.

Selection Committee

• Susanne C. Brenner (Chair)
• Michele Benzi
• Lisa Fauci
• Greg Forest
• Carol Woodward

Citation

The 2021 John von Neumann Prize is awarded to Chi-Wang Shu for fundamental contributions to the numerical solution of partial differential equations. His work on finite difference essentially non-oscillatory (ENO) methods, weighted ENO (WENO) methods, finite element discontinuous Galerkin methods, and spectral methods has had a major impact on scientific computing.

Selection Committee

• Lisa J. Fauci (Chair)
• Susanne C. Brenner
• Qiang Du
• Greg Forest
• Carol Woodward

Citation

The 2020 SIAM John von Neumann Prize is awarded to Lloyd Nicholas Trefethen for his ground-breaking contributions across many areas of numerical analysis, which include his own notion of pseudospectra of non-normal operators, the Chebfun system for numerical computing with functions, and his seminal contributions to numerical approximation. He is an outstanding expositor of applied mathematics and his books are beautifully written, widely accessible, and highly original.

Selection Committee

• Lisa J. Fauci (Chair)
• Nicholas J. Higham
• Carol Woodward
• Alfio Quarteroni
• Qiang Du

Citation

The 2019 John von Neumann Prize Lecture is awarded to Margaret H. Wright in recognition of her pioneering contributions to the numerical solution of optimization problems and to the exposition of the subject. Her research has deeply impacted the theory and practice of optimization. Her 1981 book “Practical Optimization” (with Philip E. Gill and Walter Murray) is one of the most influential books on the subject. Through her many leadership roles, she has inspired and encouraged countless others.

Selection Committee

• Nicholas J. Higham (Chair)
• Lisa J. Fauci
• Carol Woodward
• Ya-xiang Yuan
• Alfio Quarteroni

Citation

The 2018 John von Neumann Lecture Prize is awarded to Charles F. Van Loan in recognition of his pioneering contributions to research in numerical linear algebra and to the exposition of the subject. From generalized singular value problems and structured eigenvalue problems to matrix functions, and most recently in tensor computations, he has led the way in developing theory and algorithms – with a particular view to applications in signal processing and control theory. Van Loan is a brilliant communicator, in any medium, for any audience. His book Matrix Computations, now in its fourth edition, is the canonical reference and has shaped the field and influenced the way we think about matrix computations.

Selection Committee

• Nicholas Higham (Chair)
• L. Pamela Cook
• Ilse Ipsen
• Barbara Wohlmuth
• Ya-xiang Yuan

Citation

The 2017 John von Neumann Lecture prize is awarded to Bernard J. Matkowsky in recognition of his leading contributions to the methods and applications of matched asymptotics and singular perturbations. He has had a successful impact on applications to problems exhibiting resonance, the effect of noise on deterministic dynamical systems, bifurcation phenomena, and to pattern formation. He is an international leader in the mathematical theory of gaseous combustion and combustion synthesis. As an active member of SIAM and a key member of the Northwestern University Mathematics Department, he has inspired a host of excellent applied mathematicians.

Selection Committee

• L. Pamela Cook (Chair)
• Leslie F. Greengard
• Nicholas J. Higham
• Ilse Ipsen
• Barbara Wohlmuth

Citation

The 2016 John von Neumann Lecture prize is awarded to Donald E. Knuth in recognition of his transformative contributions to mathematics and computer science. He founded the field of analysis of algorithms and gave it a rigorous mathematical footing. His ongoing The Art of Computer Programming book series represents the definitive reference on algorithms and their analysis. His TeX and Metafont typesetting software has changed the face of mathematical publishing and benefited every mathematician. He is a brilliant communicator at all levels, from his research monographs to his more popular books such as Surreal Numbers and his wonderful textbook Concrete Mathematics.

Selection Committee

• L. Pamela Cook (Chair)
• Ingrid Daubechies
• Leslie F. Greengard
• Nicholas J. Higham
• Ilse Ipsen

2015 Jennifer Tour Chayes

Citation

The 2015 John von Neumann Lecture prize is awarded to Jennifer Tour Chayes in recognition of her leadership in the research community, as well as her seminal contributions to the study of phase transition in both mathematical physics and the theory of computing. As co-founder, Managing Director and Distinguished Scientist at Microsoft Research New England and Microsoft Research New York City, she has gone on to tackle network models, social science and algorithmic game theory; through her multiple leadership roles, she continues to inspire courage and innovation in others.

Selection Committee

• Irene Fonseca (Chair)
• John M. Ball
• Pam Cook
• Ingrid Daubechies
• Daniel B. Szyld

2014 Leslie F. Greengard

Citation

The 2014 John von Neumann Lecture prize is awarded to Leslie F. Greengard in recognition of his transformative contributions to computational science.Since the 1980s, when he and Rokhlin introduced the Fast Multipole Method, Greengard has shown the world the power of analysis-based algorithms for solving difficult computational problems of mathematical physics.He has changed our views of integral equations, particle simulations, spectral methods, fast Fourier transforms, and geometric complexity, inspiring students and colleagues at the Courant Institute and worldwide.

Selection Committee

• Irene Fonseca (Chair)
• John M. Ball
• Nicholas J. Higham
• George C. Papanicolaou
• Nick Trefethen

2013 Stanley J. Osher

Citation

The 2013 John von Neumann Lecture is awarded to Stanley Osher in recognition of his extraordinarily influential and wide-ranging contributions to the computational sciences and engineering. Since the 1970s Stanley Osher has been a leader in developing mathematics and algorithms including essentially non-oscillatory methods for hyperbolic conservation laws, level set methods for front tracking, and l1 and TVD methods for image processing, tomography, and optimization. He has worked with an exceptionally large range of students, postdocs, and other collaborators, and his algorithms are used by scientists and engineers around the world.

Selection Committee

• Nick Trefethen (Chair)
• Irene Fonseca
• Nicholas J. Higham
• Nancy J. Kopell
• George C. Papanicolaou

2012 Sir John Ball

Citation

The 2012 John von Neumann invited lecturer is Sir John Ball in recognition of his deep contributions to our understanding of the mechanics of materials via the calculus of variations and other branches of mathematical analysis, especially his pioneering work on existence theorems and constitutive models for nonlinear elasticity, cavitation in solids, irregular minimizers and material microstructure, and, more recently, defects in liquid crystals.

Selection Committee

• Nick Trefethen (Chair)
• Douglas N. Arnold
• Nicholas J. Higham
• Nancy J. Kopell
• Gunther Uhlmann

2011 Ingrid Daubechies

Selection Committee

• Douglas N. Arnold (Chair)
• Martin Groetschel
• Nicholas J. Higham
• Nick Trefethen
• Gunther Uhlmann

2010 Bernd Sturmfels

Selection Committee

• Douglas N. Arnold (Chair)
• Martin Groetschel
• David E. Keyes
• Robert V. Kohn
• Cleve B. Moler

2009 Franco Brezzi

Selection Committee

• Cleve B. Moler (Chair)
• Douglas N. Arnold
• Irene Fonseca
• David E. Keyes
• Robert V. Kohn

2008 David I. Gottlieb

Selection Committee

• Cleve B. Moler (Chair)
• Irene Fonseca
• Martin Golubitsky
• David E. Keyes
• Charles S.Peskin

2007 Nancy Kopell

Selection Committee

• Martin Golubitsky (Chair)
• David E. Keyes
• Jerrold E. Marsden
• Cleve B. Moler
• Charles S. Peskin

2006 George C. Papanicolaou

Selection Committee

• Martin Golubitsky (Chair)
• Tony F. Chan
• Lisa J. Fauci
• James M. Hyman
• Jerrold E. Marsden

2005 Jerrold E. Marsden

Selection Committee

• Thomas A. Manteuffel (Chair)
• Joseph E. Flaherty
• Martin Golubitsky

2004 Alan C. Newell

Selection Committee

• Thomas A. Manteuffel (Chair)
• Martin Golubitsky
• James M. Hyman

2003 Heinz-Otto Kreiss

Selection Committee

• Thomas A. Manteuffel (Chair)
• Martin Golubitsky
• James M. Hyman

2002 Eric S. Lander

Selection Committee

• Thomas A. Manteuffel (Chair)
• Linda R. Petzold
• Gilbert Strang

2001 David L. Donoho

Selection Committee

• Gilbert Strang (Chair)
• Thomas A. Manteuffel
• Linda R. Petzold

2000 Persi W. Diaconis

Selection Committee

• Gilbert Strang (Chair)
• John Guckenheimer
• Thomas A. Manteuffel

Earlier Years

1999 Charles S. Peskin

1998 Olga Ladyzhenskaya

1997 William (Velvel) Kahan

1996 Carl de Boor

1995 No award was made.

1994 Martin D. Kruskal

1993 No award was made.

1992 R. Tyrrell Rockafellar

1991 No award was made.

1990 Andrew J. Majda

1989 Stephen Smale

1988 Germund G. Dahlquist

1987 Richard M. Karp

1986 Jacques-Louis Lions

1985 John W. Tukey

1984 Jurgen Moser

1983 Joseph B. Keller

1982 David Slepian

1981 Garrett Birkhoff

1980 Keith Stewartson

1979 Kurt O. Friedrichs

1978 Peter Henrici

1977 Kenneth J. Arrow

1976 Rene Thom

1975 Sir James Lighthill

1974 Jule Charney

1973 No award was made.

1972 No award was made.

1971 Paul A. Samuelson

1970 James H. Wilkinson

1969 George F. Carrier

1968 Peter D. Lax

1967 Chia-Chiao Lin

1966 Eugene P. Wigner

1965 Freeman J. Dyson

1964 Solomon Lefschetz

1963 Stanislaw M. Ulam

1962 Jean Leray

1961 Mark Kac

1960 Lars Valerian Ahlfors