Iranian mathematician Maryam Mirzakhani has won the Fields Medal as the first woman in the award's 78 year long history. The Medal is the highest award for achievements in mathematics and is often called the "Nobel Prize" for mathematics. Mirzakhani is currently a professor for mathematics at Standford University.
She has been honored by the International Mathematical Union for her "outstanding contributions to the dynamics and geometry of Riemann surfaces and their moduli spaces". In a press release of Stanford University Mirzakhani said: "This is a great honor. I will be happy if it encourages young female scientists and mathematicians. I am sure there will be many more women winning this kind of award in coming years."