Karen Uhlenbeck is the first woman to win the Abel Prize of maths

Karen Uhlenbeck is the first woman to win the Abel Prize of maths.

Karen Uhlenbeck has made history today as the very first woman to win the prestigious Abel Prize, what's referred to as the 'Nobel prize of maths'. The prize is named after Niels Henrik Abel and it recognises extraordinary contributions to the field of mathematics.

Congratuations, Karen Uhlenbeck, recipient of the Abel Prize 2019! #AbelPrize pic.twitter.com/lcO3FBSKdB

— The Abel Prize (@abel_prize) March 19, 2019

The prize has been awarded to various people since it was first launched in 2003 but up to now, all of the winners were male. Karen was made this year's winner because "of her pioneering achievements in geometric partial differential equations, gauge theory and integrable systems, and for the fundamental impact of her work on analysis, geometry and mathematical physics".

Uhlenbeck receives the #AbelPrize 2019 “for her pioneering achievements in geometric partial differential equations, gauge theory and integrable systems, and for the fundamental impact of her work on analysis, geometry and mathematical physics.” @UTAustinhttps://t.co/LhIpziMySU pic.twitter.com/gNw7INgxwX

— The Abel Prize (@abel_prize) March 19, 2019

Pretty impressive when all is said and done. The award includes a cash sum of $700,000 but after speaking to various media outlets, Karen said she has not yet decided how to spend her winnings.