Talk:Don Zagier

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article is within the scope of the following WikiProjects:

WikiProject Germany      (Rated Stub-Class) Germany Portal This article is within the scope of WikiProject Germany, an attempt to build a comprehensive and detailed guide to articles related to Germany on Wikipedia. If you would like to participate, please join the project and help with our open tasks. Stub This article has been rated as Stub-Class on the quality scale. (If you rated the article please give a short summary at comments to explain the ratings and/or to identify the strengths and weaknesses.) Additional information: This article has been checked against the following criteria for B-Class status: Referencing and citation: not checked Coverage and accuracy: not checked Structure: not checked Grammar: not checked Supporting materials: not checked To fill out this checklist, please add the following to the template call: <!-- 1. It is suitably referenced, and all major points are appropriately cited. --> |B-Class-1=yes/no <!-- 2. It reasonably covers the topic, and does not contain major omissions or inaccuracies. --> |B-Class-2=yes/no <!-- 3. It has a defined structure, including a lead section and one or more sections of content. --> |B-Class-3=yes/no <!-- 4. It is free from major grammatical errors. --> |B-Class-4=yes/no <!-- 5. It contains appropriate supporting materials, such as an infobox, images, or diagrams. --> |B-Class-5=yes/no WikiProject Biography     (Rated Stub-Class) This article is within the scope of WikiProject Biography. For more information, visit the project page. Biography Portal Stub This article has been rated as Stub-Class on the project's quality scale. [FAQ] This article is supported by the Science and academia work group.

In what sense is Zagier an American mathematician? Does he even have American citzenship?

[edit] Don Zagier isn't a german mathematican

Don Zagier isn't a german mathematican, is he? I think he grew up in heidelberg but his parents are american - i think he is an american citizen. (see wikipedia-german)

This isn't quite correct either: he indeed is American, but he did not grow up in Heidelberg. Anyway, the article on Don Zagier in the German wikipedia (http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zagier) is considerably more extensive, and much more accurate than the American stub article. The simplest way to improve the stub would be to replace it with an English translation of the German article.195.37.209.180 18:27, 25 July 2007 (UTC)

My information is that Zagier grew up in Switzerland; his father is German speaking and his mother is Flemish. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 82.73.205.72 (talk) 12:30, 15 September 2007 (UTC)

Where is this information from?EliBerger (talk) 20:52, 20 May 2008 (UTC)

No, this isn't correct. His parents travelled widely, and that is why he was born in Germany; but they were American (at the time) and so is Zagier. He grew up in in the States, and went to Europe after his MIT B.A., to pursue graduate studies (first at Oxford, then in Bonn). The article http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zagier is indeed reasonably accurate, and as mentioned above the simplest way to rectify the American wikipedia page would be to translate the German one. I suppose the author of the German entry will not mind providing a translation, if needed. (And Zagier himself could be asked to vouch for its accuracy, if needed.) —Preceding unsigned comment added by 208.54.95.138 (talk) 15:56, 16 September 2007 (UTC)

I had the chance to talk to Prof. Zagier. He confirmed the accuracy of the German version, as well as complained about the inaccuracy of the English version. In fact, he brought this as an example for why the entire Wiki idea is worthless. And yes, he describes himself as "an American mathematician working in Germany". I strongly agree that the German version should be translated ASAP. EliBerger (talk) 20:52, 20 May 2008 (UTC)

It would be a fun fact to add how many languages Zagier speaks. If I remember correctly he was introduces at a talk as "speaking 11 languages" or something like that. EukoaN6n (talk) 05:53, 8 February 2008 (UTC)