Richard M. Pollack facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Richard M. Pollack
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| Born | January 25, 1935 New York City, New York, U.S.
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| Died | September 18, 2018 (aged 83) Montclair, New Jersey, U.S.
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| Alma mater | Brooklyn College New York University |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Mathematics |
| Institutions | Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences, New York |
| Doctoral advisor | Harold N. Shapiro |
Richard M. Pollack (born January 25, 1935 – died September 18, 2018) was an American mathematician. He was known for his work in geometry, especially in a field called discrete geometry. He spent most of his career teaching at the Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences at New York University. He was a Professor Emeritus there until he passed away.
Contents
What is Discrete Geometry?
Richard Pollack was a geometer. This means he studied shapes, sizes, and the positions of figures in space. His main area was discrete geometry. This part of mathematics looks at collections of separate points, lines, and shapes. It's different from traditional geometry, which often deals with continuous, smooth shapes.
Working with Other Scientists
Pollack worked with many other smart people. He wrote several important papers with famous mathematicians like Paul Erdős and János Pach. Their work often involved combinatorics, which is about counting and arranging things.
He also worked closely with Jacob E. Goodman. Together, they made big steps in understanding how many different ways you can arrange points and shapes. They even helped start a special science journal called Discrete & Computational Geometry. This journal is where new ideas in these fields are shared.
Other Areas of Study
Pollack also explored real algebraic geometry. This field uses algebra to study shapes and curves. He wrote many papers and even a book on this topic with Saugata Basu and Marie-Françoise Roy.
Awards and Special Recognitions
Richard Pollack received many honors for his important work.
In 2003, a special collection of research papers was published. It was called Discrete and Computational Geometry: The Goodman–Pollack Festschrift. This book was a tribute to both Richard Pollack and Jacob E. Goodman. It celebrated their contributions to mathematics.
In 2012, he became a fellow of the American Mathematical Society. This is a high honor given to mathematicians who have made outstanding contributions to their field.
After his passing, a large memorial issue of the Discrete & Computational Geometry journal was published in October 2020. This special issue honored his life and his lasting impact on mathematics.
