Irena Lasiecka facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Irena Lasiecka
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| Born | February 4, 1948 |
| Nationality | Polish |
| Education | University of Warsaw, Ph.D in applied mathematics, 1972 |
| Occupation | Mathematician and professor of mathematics |
| Years active | 44 |
| Known for | Research in applied mathematics |
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Notable work
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Applied Mathematics: Control Theory and Optimization Approximately 100 research papers published in major journals. |
| Board member of | American Mathematical Society
International Federal Information Processes Society of Industrial and Applied Mathematics |
| Awards | Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (2023) Richard E. Bellman Control Heritage Award (2019) W. T. and Idalia Reid Prize (2011) IFIP Silver Core Award (1989) Polish Academy of Sciences Award (1979) |
Irena Lasiecka (born February 4, 1948) is a famous Polish-American mathematician. She is a Distinguished University Professor of mathematics and the head of the math department at the University of Memphis. She is also a co-editor-in-chief for two science journals, Applied Mathematics & Optimization and Evolution Equations & Control Theory.
Lasiecka is known for her important work in a field called control theory, which is a part of applied mathematics. In 2014, she was honored as a fellow of the American Mathematical Society. This award recognized her for her research, her work as a mentor to students, and her service to math organizations.
Her main areas of study are partial differential equations (a type of complex math problem), optimization theory (finding the best possible solution), and how to keep systems stable.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Irena Lasiecka was born and grew up in Poland. It was there that she first started her journey into mathematics. She attended the University of Warsaw for many years. In 1972, she earned her Master of Science degree in applied mathematics. Just a few years later, in 1975, she earned her Ph.D. in the same subject from the same university.
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A Career in Teaching
After earning her Ph.D., Dr. Lasiecka began to share her knowledge with others by becoming a professor. Her first teaching job was at the Polish Academy of Sciences in 1975.
A few years later, she moved to the United States. Her first job in the U.S. was at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). She has been teaching in America ever since. Over her long career, she has taught at several major universities.
| University | Location | Years | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Polish Academy of Sciences | Warsaw, Poland | 1975-1980 | Assistant Professor |
| University of California, Los Angeles | Los Angeles, CA | 1977-1980 | Postdoctoral Fellow & Visiting Assistant Professor |
| University of Florida | Gainesville, Florida | 1980-1987 | Assistant, Associate, and Full Professor |
| University of Virginia | Charlottesville, Virginia | 1987-2013 | Professor & Commonwealth Professor of Mathematics |
| University of Memphis | Memphis, Tennessee | 2013–present | Distinguished Professor & Department Chair |
What is Applied Mathematics?
Irena Lasiecka works in applied mathematics. This means she uses math to solve real-world problems. Her work focuses on a few key areas.
Optimization
Optimization is a way to find the best possible result in a situation. Think of it like finding the fastest route to school or the cheapest way to buy something. It's about finding the "maximum" or "minimum" value of something. Many professionals, from engineers to business managers, use optimization.
Dr. Lasiecka works on optimizing complex systems that change over time. She has written books and papers on how to find the best solutions for these kinds of problems.
Control Theory
Control theory is one of Irena Lasiecka's main fields of study. Control theory is about influencing a system to make it do what you want. A system is anything that changes over time, like the temperature in a room or the speed of a car.
A simple example of control theory is a thermostat in your house.
- The system is the air temperature in the room.
- The output is the current temperature you feel.
- The input is you turning the dial to make it warmer or cooler.
- The goal is to keep the room at a comfortable temperature.
Control theory uses math to figure out the best way to control a system. Dr. Lasiecka uses it to understand and control systems described by partial differential equations. Her work helps engineers in fields like aerospace to build better and more reliable technology.
Awards and Honors
Throughout her career, Irena Lasiecka has received many awards for her contributions to mathematics. Here are some of the most important ones:
- Polish Academy of Sciences Award (1979): For her scientific work.
- Silver Core Award (1989): From the International Federation for Information Processing (IFIP).
- IEEE Fellow (2004): For her work on boundary control systems.
- W. T. and Idalia Reid Prize (2011): For her major contributions to control theory. This award came with a $10,000 prize.
- AMS Fellow (2015): For her research, mentoring, and service to the American Mathematical Society.
- Richard E. Bellman Control Heritage Award (2019): A top honor in control theory for her work on boundary control.
- AAAS Fellow (2022): Elected as a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
Published Books
Dr. Lasiecka has written or co-written many books about her research. These books are used by students, mathematicians, and engineers around the world. Some of her major works include:
- Differential and Algebraic Riccati Equations with Applications to Boundary/Point Control Problems (1991)
- Mathematical Control Theory of Coupled PDE's (2002)
- Functional Analytic Methods for Evolution Equations (2004)
- Von Karman Evolutions (2010)
In addition to these books, she has published over 100 research papers in major scientific journals.
