NEWS AND HIGHLIGHTS

A Memorial Tribute to Professor George Fitzgerald Smoot

Hang Lung Mathematics Awards (HLMA) pays tribute to Professor George Fitzgerald Smoot (1945-2025), Nobel Laureate and Chair of the HLMA Steering Committee, for his profound impact and enduring legacy in advancing scientific discoveries. 

Recognizing the importance of nurturing research minds from a young age, Professor Smoot accepted our invitation to chair the HLMA Steering Committee in 2021, a position he had held until his passing. Through his steadfast commitment to fostering scientific curiosity, Professor Smoot had been an inspirational figure to many scientific talents in Hong Kong and the world.

Amid his extensive responsibilities and demanding schedule, Professor Smoot always prioritized HLMA during his visits to Hong Kong, spending time with HLMA winners and engaging with the HLMA community at large.

Professor Smoot’s distinguished career was marked by seminal contributions to cosmology, including the discovery of the cosmic microwave background radiation anisotropy – the work for which he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2006, jointly with Professor John C. Mather. He published over 500 influential academic papers and continued to delve into new scientific ideas and discoveries throughout his life.

We are deeply saddened by Professor Smoot’s passing and would like to extend our sincere gratitude for his invaluable leadership, inspiration, and dedication to HLMA. He would be remembered fondly for his academic contributions, his warmth, and his generosity.