Joseph Keller facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Joseph Bishop Keller
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| Born | July 31, 1923 Paterson, New Jersey, U.S.
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| Died | September 7, 2016 (aged 93) Stanford, California, U.S.
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| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | New York University |
| Known for | Geometrical theory of diffraction Keller–Miksis formulation Einstein–Brillouin–Keller method |
| Awards | Lester R. Ford Award (1976, 1977) Gibbs Lecture (1977) Eringen Medal (1981) John von Neumann Prize (1983) Timoshenko Medal (1984) National Medal of Science (1988) ICM Speaker (1994) Nemmers Prize in Mathematics (1996) Wolf Prize (1997) Ig Nobel Prize (1999, 2012) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Mathematics |
| Institutions | New York University Stanford University |
| Thesis | Reflection and transmission of electromagnetic waves by thin curved shells |
| Doctoral advisor | Richard Courant |
| Doctoral students | Herbert Bishop Keller George C. Papanicolaou Bernard J. Matkowsky L. Mahadevan |
Joseph Bishop Keller (born July 31, 1923, died September 7, 2016) was a brilliant American mathematician. He was an expert in applied mathematics, which uses math to solve real-world problems. He was famous for his "geometrical theory of diffraction." This theory helps explain how waves, like light or sound, bend around objects.
Contents
Early Life and School Days
Joseph Keller was born in Paterson, New Jersey, on July 31, 1923. He went to Eastside High School. There, he was a key member of the school's math team.
After high school, he studied at New York University. He earned his first degree in 1943. Later, in 1948, he completed his PhD from NYU. His teacher and mentor was a famous mathematician named Richard Courant.
A Career in Mathematics
Joseph Keller spent many years teaching and researching. He was a math professor at the Courant Institute at New York University until 1979. The Courant Institute is a well-known center for math and computer science.
After that, he moved to Stanford University. He became a professor of both mathematics and mechanical engineering. He taught at Stanford until 1993. Then, he became a professor emeritus, which means he retired but kept his title.
Amazing Discoveries and Research
Keller loved to use mathematics to solve problems in science and engineering. He worked a lot on how waves travel. This includes things like sound waves or light waves.
He also helped develop the Einstein–Brillouin–Keller method. This method is used in quantum mechanics. Quantum mechanics is a branch of physics that studies tiny particles. This method helps scientists calculate special values called eigenvalues.
Awards and Special Honors
Joseph Keller received many awards for his important work.
- In 1976 and 1977, he won the Lester R. Ford Award.
- He received the U.S. National Medal of Science in 1988. This is one of the highest honors for scientists in the United States.
- In 1997, he was given the Wolf Prize. This is a very respected international award in mathematics.
- He also won the Nemmers Prize in Mathematics in 1996.
The Ig Nobel Prizes
Joseph Keller even won two Ig Nobel Prizes! These awards honor funny or unusual scientific achievements.
- In 1999, he won for figuring out how to design a teapot spout that doesn't drip.
- In 2012, he won again with other scientists. They calculated the forces that shape and move ponytail hair.
His Family and Legacy
Joseph Keller's second wife was Alice S. Whittemore. She was also a mathematician. Later, she became interested in epidemiology and biostatistics. These fields use math to study health and disease.
Joseph also had a brother, Herbert B. Keller, who was a mathematician too. Herbert studied things like how fluids move. Both brothers made important contributions to understanding electromagnetics and fluid dynamics.
Joseph Keller passed away in Stanford, California, on September 7, 2016. He was 93 years old.
