Stephen from President János Áder | Photo: MTI
The Hungarian Order of Saint Stephen is the highest decoration one can receive for their achievements in their respected fields. This year László Lovász and E. Sylvester Vizi received it on August 20, from President János Áder.
President Áder described Lovász's scientific background
"As a member of the generation emerging from the cloak of Pál Erdős, he gained a reputation at a young age, later he received numerous recognitions in the field of discrete mathematics and theoretical computer science. He knew from his childhood that mathematics was not just a subject to learn, but a field of science that even provided artistic enjoyment."
László Lovász was praised by President Áder who emphasized that in mathematics there can hardly be a greater, more world-famous glory than giving a name to a proven statement, which becomes the source and starting point of further mathematical knowledge. Lovász's Local Lemma is just that. On a stormy, sleepless night, the mathematician realized how a very unlikely event could prove that his chances were not zero.
László Lovász, the former President of Hungarian Academy of Sciences and who also won the Abel Prize earlier this year and is the Project Leader of DYNASNET (Dynamics and Structure of Networks) at the Rényi Institute, pointed out that the main reason behind Hungary's vital tradition of mathematical science is the presence of the development of mathematical talent since the early years. The most prestigious state award recognized László Lovász's outstanding research career, his achievements at international level, his school-creating teaching activities, and his outstanding role in the promotion of mathematics.