Renu C. Laskar facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Renu C. Laskar
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Laskar in 2023
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Renu Chakravarti Laskar
August 8, 1932 Bihar, India
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| Died | September 17, 2024 (aged 92) |
| Alma mater | B. R. Ambedkar Bihar University, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign |
| Scientific career | |
| Institutions | Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Clemson University |
| Doctoral advisor | Henry Roy Brahana |
Renu Chakravarti Laskar (born August 8, 1932 – died September 17, 2024) was a mathematician from India who later became an American citizen. She was an expert in a field of math called graph theory.
Laskar was a professor at Clemson University from 1968 to 2006. She earned her Ph.D. in Mathematics in 1962 from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She made important contributions to the study of domination number and circular arc graphs in mathematics. She even wrote four research papers with a famous mathematician named Paul Erdős, which gave her a special connection to him called an Erdős number of 1.
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Early Life and Education
Renu C. Laskar was born in Bihar, India, on August 8, 1932. When she was growing up, it was not common for girls in India to go to college. But with her family's help, she was able to finish her schooling. This is when she found out she was very good at mathematics.
Her mother was a big reason why Renu loved math so much. Her mother had not been able to get much education herself. So, she learned many languages and strongly believed that her daughters should go to school. Even though Renu's father was not sure about her going to college, she kept studying at home with special teachers. She did so well that she got the highest score in Bihar on her bachelor's degree exam!
Studying in the United States
Because she did so well, Renu was offered a teaching job at Ranchi Women’s College. Later, she received a special scholarship called a Fulbright Scholarship. This allowed her to travel to the United States in 1958.
She went to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. There, she earned her doctorate degree in 1962. Her teacher was Roy Brahana. Renu Laskar became the first Indian woman to get a Ph.D. in Mathematics from that university. After finishing her Ph.D., she married Amulya Lal Laskar, who was a physicist she met in Illinois.
Before coming to the U.S., she had completed her Master's degree in Mathematics from B. R. Ambedkar Bihar University in 1955. After getting her Ph.D., she returned to India for a short time. She joined the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur as the first female professor there.
In 1965, Laskar moved back to the United States. She worked at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Then, in 1968, she joined the faculty at Clemson University.
A Career in Mathematics
Renu Laskar used every chance she had to succeed in mathematics. She helped set new examples for women in this field. She is known as one of the top women in discrete mathematics, which is a part of math dealing with separate, distinct values. She wrote over 100 research papers!
A big part of her success came from working with other mathematicians. Some of her important partners included Raj Chandra Bose and Paul Erdős. She also helped many students get their Ph.D. degrees, even after she retired in 2006.
In 1986, Laskar and Steve Hedetniemi started a special meeting called the Clemson University Discrete Math Miniconference. This event brings together mathematicians from all over the world every year.
Renu Laskar often talked about how important her relationships with other academics were. She said that many of her colleagues, like Paul Erdős, even stayed at her home. She loved teaching and helping students. She also enjoyed working with other mathematicians. She always said that Clemson University gave her a great place to do her best work and help her field of study grow.
Later Life and Passing
Renu Laskar passed away on September 17, 2024, in Mountain View, California. She was 92 years old.
