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Michael Usher

Creative Research Medal 2014

Michael Usher, associate professor of mathematics, is recognized for his breakthrough development of a new tool known as “boundary depth,” which helps mathematicians working in the field of symplectic geometry better understand the intricacies of an important geometric space known as the group of Hamiltonian diffeomorphisms. While Usher’s contributions are in pure mathematics, the field of symplectic geometry was born from and is strongly tied to applications in physics. Hamiltonian diffeomorphisms of symplectic manifolds provide a unified perspective on the dynamics of physical systems according to the laws of classical mechanics. They are used to mathematically model those physical systems in which energy is preserved. Greater insight into these transformations has improved our understanding of turbulent fluid flow, the stability of the solar system, the foundations of quantum mechanics and many other phenomena. In a series of five papers, Usher helped settle many longstanding problems in this field, but he also introduced new concepts that help bridge gaps between fundamental mathematical theories.