Hélène Bellosta facts for kids

Hélène Bellosta-Baylet (born in 1946, died on August 19, 2011) was a French historian. She studied the history of mathematics, especially how math was used in Islamic countries during the Middle Ages.

Hélène's Journey in Math History

Hélène Bellosta-Baylet loved learning. She went to a special school in France called the École normale supérieure de jeunes filles. For many years, she taught mathematics in high schools, known as lycées.

Later, Hélène decided to study the history of math even more deeply. She became a student of a famous math historian named Roshdi Rashed. She earned a special degree called a doctorate from Paris Diderot University. This degree was about how we gain knowledge and the history of science.

After her studies, Hélène worked for four years in Damascus, Syria, at the French Institute of Arab Studies. This institute helps people learn about Arab history and culture. She then became a research director for the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS). This is a big research organization in France. She worked with a group at Paris Diderot University that studied the history of Arab and medieval sciences and philosophies.

Books About Ancient Math

Hélène Bellosta-Baylet helped create important books about old math.

Working with Apollonius

With Roshdi Rashed, Hélène worked on the writings of Apollonius of Perga. Apollonius was a Greek mathematician who lived a very long time ago. He was famous for his work on shapes like circles and ellipses. Their book, Apollonius de Perge, La section des droites selon des rapports, included the original Arabic text and their translation. It also had notes about the history and math.

Studying Ibrahim ibn Sinan

Hélène and Roshdi Rashed also wrote a book together about another mathematician named Ibrahim ibn Sinan. He was a smart person from the 10th century who worked on logic and geometry. Their book was called Ibrāhīm ibn Sinān: Logique et géométrie au X^e siècle.

Special Recognition

In 2005, Hélène Bellosta-Baylet became a corresponding member of the International Academy of the History of Science. This means she was recognized by a group of experts from around the world for her important work in the history of science.