Pauline van den Driessche facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Pauline van den Driessche
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| Born | 1941 (age 83–84) |
| Nationality | British-Canadian |
| Education | Imperial College London |
| Alma mater | University College of Wales |
| Awards | Krieger–Nelson Prize |
| Scientific career | |
| Institutions | University of Victoria |
Pauline van den Driessche, born in 1941, is a brilliant British and Canadian mathematician. She is known for her work in applied mathematics. This means she uses math to solve real-world problems. She was a professor at the University of Victoria in Canada. She also worked in their computer science department. Her main interests were how math can help us understand biology, how numbers are arranged in tables (matrix analysis), and how things stay steady (stability theory).
Contents
Her Journey in Math
Early Studies and Degrees
Pauline van den Driessche started her university studies in London, England. She earned her first two degrees from Imperial College London. She received her bachelor's degree in 1961. Two years later, in 1963, she earned her master's degree.
She then went on to get her doctorate degree in 1964. She completed this at the University College of Wales. Her special research for her doctorate was about fluid mechanics. This is the study of how liquids and gases move.
Teaching and Research Career
After finishing her doctorate, she stayed at the University College of Wales. She worked there for a year as an assistant lecturer. In 1965, she moved to Canada. She became an assistant professor at the University of Victoria. She taught and researched there for many years. She retired from her full-time position in 2006.
What She Studied
Math and Biology
Pauline van den Driessche made important discoveries in mathematical biology. This field uses math to understand living things. She studied how diseases spread in populations. She looked at how changes in population size affect epidemics. She also researched how delays in processes can change outcomes.
Math and Matrices
She also did important work in linear algebra. This is a branch of math that deals with numbers arranged in grids called matrices. Her research helped connect the patterns of numbers in a matrix to how stable a system is. She also found new ways to break down matrices into simpler parts. This work has many uses, including in biology.
Awards and Special Recognition
Pauline van den Driessche has received many awards for her work. These honors show how important her contributions are.
- In 2005, a special issue of the journal Linear Algebra and its Applications was published in her honor. This means other mathematicians recognized her great work.
- She won the Krieger–Nelson Prize in 2007. This is a major award from the Canadian Mathematical Society.
- Also in 2007, she became the first-ever Olga Taussky-Todd Lecturer. This is a special lecture given every four years. It is part of a big international math conference.
- In 2013, she became a fellow of the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics. This honor was given for her work in linear algebra and mathematical biology.
- She received the CAIMS Research Prize in 2019. This award is from the Canadian Applied and Industrial Mathematics Society.
- In 2022, she was awarded the Hans Schneider Prize in Linear Algebra. This is another very important award in her field.
See also
In Spanish: Pauline van den Driessche para niños
