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Massively collaborative mathematics

Nature volume 461, pages 879–881 (2009)Cite this article

The 'Polymath Project' proved that many minds can work together to solve difficult mathematical problems. Timothy Gowers and Michael Nielsen reflect on the lessons learned for open-source science.

The collaboration achieved far more than Gowers expected, and showcases what we think will be a powerful force in scientific discovery — the collaboration of many minds through the Internet.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Timothy Gowers is in the Department of Pure Mathematics and Mathematical Statistics, University of Cambridge, Wilberforce Road, Cambridge CB3 0WB, UK, and a Royal Society 2010 Anniversary Research Professor. W.T.Gowers@dpmms.cam.ac.uk,

    Timothy Gowers

  2. Michael Nielsen is a Toronto-based writer and physicist working on a book about the future of science. mn@michaelnielsen.org ,

    Michael Nielsen

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  1. Timothy Gowers
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  2. Michael Nielsen
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Gowers, T., Nielsen, M. Massively collaborative mathematics. Nature 461, 879–881 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1038/461879a

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