Word Search Challenge – Diverse Historical Mathematicians
Here is a bit of information about today’s word search answers:
David Blackwell (1919-2010): A pioneering African American mathematician, David Blackwell made substantial contributions to game theory, probability theory, information theory, and Bayesian statistics. He was the first African American inducted into the National Academy of Sciences, and his work continues to be influential in the field of statistics.
Shakuntala Devi (1929-2013): Hailing from India, Shakuntala Devi was renowned for her extraordinary mental arithmetic abilities, earning her the nickname “the human computer”. Beyond her numerical prowess, she was also a respected author, writing on subjects as diverse as mathematics, astrology, and homosexuality.
Cédric Villani (b. 1973): A prominent French mathematician, Villani was awarded the Fields Medal in 2010 for his work in mathematical physics. His contributions largely lie in the field of kinetic theory (specifically, the Boltzmann equation), which has wide-ranging applications from nanotechnology to aerospace engineering.
Maryam Mirzakhani (1977-2017): An Iranian mathematician, Maryam Mirzakhani was the first woman to be awarded the Fields Medal, the most prestigious award in mathematics. Her research primarily focused on the complexities of curved surfaces, and her work has far-reaching implications in physics, quantum mechanics, and beyond.
Carlos Kenig (b. 1955): Born in Argentina and currently working in the United States, Carlos Kenig is known for his contributions to the field of harmonic analysis and its applications to partial differential equations. His work has helped illuminate the understanding of wave propagation.
Emil Artin (1898-1962): An influential Austrian mathematician of Armenian descent, Emil Artin’s work in abstract algebra and number theory remains fundamental to these disciplines. Artin’s conjecture on primitive roots is one of his most famous contributions.
Chen Jingrun (1933-1996): Chen was one of the leading mathematicians in China. His most recognized work is on the twin prime conjecture, known as “Chen’s Theorem,” which helped take substantial strides towards proving the conjecture.
Srinivasa Ramanujan (1887-1920): Despite having no formal training in mathematics, Ramanujan, an Indian mathematician, made profound contributions to mathematical analysis, number theory, and continued fractions. His work, often emerging from his intuitive and unconventional methods, has inspired a vast amount of further research.
Katherine Johnson (1918-2020): An African-American mathematician who played a crucial role at NASA during the space race. Her calculations of orbital mechanics were critical to the success of the first and subsequent U.S. manned spaceflights. Her life and career were celebrated in the 2016 film “Hidden Figures.”
Evelyn Boyd Granville (b. 1924): As one of the first black women in the United States to earn a Ph.D. in mathematics, Evelyn Boyd Granville had a distinguished career that included contributions to U.S. space programs during the space race. She has had a remarkable career both in industry and academia, and she has been a powerful advocate for women in the sciences.
