Bodil Branner facts for kids

Bodil Branner, born on February 5, 1943, in Aarhus, Denmark, is a Danish mathematician who is now retired. She helped start an important group called European Women in Mathematics. She also used to lead the Danish Mathematical Society. Bodil Branner studied how complex shapes move and change, which is called holomorphic dynamics. She also studied the history of mathematics.

Bodil Branner's Journey in Math

Bodil Branner studied math and physics at Aarhus University in Denmark. In 1967, she earned a master's degree. This was the highest degree she could get at the time. Her mentor, Svend Bundgaard, helped her a lot.

She wanted to study for a doctorate in the U.S. However, her husband got a job in Copenhagen. Bodil couldn't become a high school teacher because she didn't have a teaching certificate.

Luckily, Svend Bundgaard found her a job. She became a faculty assistant at the Technical University of Denmark. Even though it wasn't a full teaching job at first, she worked hard. In the 1970s, she earned "tenure" there. This means she got a permanent job as a professor.

Helping Women in Mathematics

Bodil Branner was one of the people who started European Women in Mathematics. This group began in 1986. It was created to support women who work in math across Europe.

She started this group with other mathematicians like Caroline Series and Marie-Françoise Roy. They were inspired by a similar group in the USA.

Leading the Danish Mathematical Society

Bodil Branner made history in the Danish Mathematical Society. From 1998 to 2002, she was the leader of this important group. She was the very first woman to hold this position.

She retired from her work in 2008.

Awards and Honors for Bodil Branner

In 2003, a special meeting was held in Holbæk to celebrate Bodil Branner's 60th birthday. These kinds of meetings are called symposiums. A book was also published in her honor in 2006. This type of book is called a festschrift.

In 2012, she received another big honor. She became one of the first "fellows" of the American Mathematical Society. Being a fellow means she was recognized for her amazing contributions to math.