| Citation | The rising star of British mathematics, Donaldson, leapt to international fame while still a research student. In a few brief years he has revolutionized our understanding of four-dimensional geometry. By importing ideas from theoretical physics, he has pioneered and developed entirely new and profound technical tools with which to probe the structure of manifolds. His papers are all masterpieces, combining conceptual brilliance with great technical skill. He is now the undisputed world leader in the field. |