ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Caucher Birkar, a Kurd from Iran who became a Fields Medal-winning professor of mathematics at Britain’s illustrious University of Cambridge, has been awarded an honorary doctorate by Salahaddin University-Erbil.
At a ceremony held Wednesday at Saad Abdullah Hall in Erbil, Birkar’s achievements were hailed by Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani.
“I congratulate the Kurdistani nation for raising a person like Professor Caucher Birkar,” Barzani told the ceremony. “I warmly congratulate Dr Caucher on all his past scientific achievements and the top awards he has won.”
Birkar was awarded the Fields Medal in 2018, becoming the first Kurd to obtain what is considered among the highest awards in mathematics.
Birkar was born in the Kurdish city of Marivan in Rojhelat, or Iranian Kurdistan. He majored in mathematics at Tehran University before fleeing to the United Kingdom as a refugee.
President of Salahaddin University Ahmed Dizayee described Birkar as a "pride for all Kurds in Kurdistan. Now Caucher Birkar belongs to a nation and all universities in Kurdistan."
Accepting his honorary degree, Birkar said he wants the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) to do more to promote science and mathematics.
“I would like to call on KRG authorities to work on this and support those who are creative and inventive, help the best students to go abroad to study,” he said.
“I personally, along with some colleagues, want to establish an organization to develop education and sciences among Kurds because education, especially higher education and research among Kurds, is unfortunately very behind.”
PM Barzani called on university institutions in the Region to help students realize their potential.
“The Kurdistani nation takes pride in scientists from different fields wherever they are who can develop Kurdistan and encourage changes in the thinking of the society,” Barzani said. “The only way for a nation to develop is through learning contemporary sciences.”
The Kurdistan Region PM hailed the progress the KRG has made in promoting opportunities for study.
“In the past, reaching university-level studies was a dream for many. But during the tenure of the Kurdistan Regional Government, every family now has university graduates and students,” Barzani said.
“On this occasion, I call on the presidencies of public and private universities to try harder so that the Kurdistan Region becomes an example of advanced studies and sciences.”