Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
He wasn't chasing a medal. He was chasing a question. ✏️
Shayan Oveis Gharan began his PhD with little research experience, following his advisor's lead into a problem mathematicians had spent decades circling. But somewhere along the way, he got obsessed. As he picked up new techniques, he started to wonder if the tools he now had were exactly what the problem needed all along.
That growing self-belief carried him through years of work, and eventually to the 2026 IMU Abacus Medal.
To watch the full interview with Shayan Oveis Gharan, check out the ICM TV playlist on our Youtube Channel.
Who gave you the confidence to keep going with something hard? Tell us in the comments below!👇
#ICM2026 #Mathematics #IMU #AbacusMedal
He wasn't chasing a medal. He was chasing a question. ✏️
Shayan Oveis Gharan began his PhD with little research experience, following his advisor's lead into a problem mathematicians had spent decades circling. But somewhere along the way, he got obsessed. As he picked up new techniques, he started to wonder if the tools he now had were exactly what the problem needed all along.
That growing self-belief carried him through years of work, and eventually to the 2026 IMU Abacus Medal.
To watch the full interview with Shayan Oveis Gharan, check out the ICM TV playlist on our Youtube Channel.
Who gave you the confidence to keep going with something hard? Tell us in the comments below!👇
#ICM2026 #Mathematics #IMU #AbacusMedal
