A Pure Soul: Ennio De Giorgi, A Mathematical Genius

Description

This biography illuminates the life of Ennio De Giorgi, a mathematical genius in parallel with John Nash, the Nobel Prize Winner and protagonist of A Beautiful Mind. Beginning with his childhood and early years of research, into his solution of the 19th problem of Hilbert and his professorship, this book pushes beyond De Giorgi’s rich contributions to the mathematics community, to present his work in human rights, including involvement in the fight for Leonid Plyushch’s freedom and the defense of dissident Uruguayan mathematician José Luis Massera. Considered by many to be the greatest Italian analyst of the twentieth century, De Giorgi is described in this volume in full through documents and direct interviews with friends, family, colleagues, and former students. Front Matter ....Pages i-xiv Geese and Rabbits (Andrea Parlangeli)....Pages 1-10 Roman Halls (Andrea Parlangeli)....Pages 11-24 A Pure Soul (Andrea Parlangeli)....Pages 25-34 “The Radio Says: The Racers Are Running Away…” (Andrea Parlangeli)....Pages 35-39 Two on the Summit (Andrea Parlangeli)....Pages 41-49 The Professorship (Andrea Parlangeli)....Pages 51-56 Oregano from Sicily (Andrea Parlangeli)....Pages 57-61 Faedo’s Team (Andrea Parlangeli)....Pages 63-73 Incredible Ideas (Andrea Parlangeli)....Pages 75-84 It’s Too Easy (Andrea Parlangeli)....Pages 85-87 1968 (Andrea Parlangeli)....Pages 89-99 His Name Was Grifo (Andrea Parlangeli)....Pages 101-107 The Emperor’s Lions (Andrea Parlangeli)....Pages 109-116 Socrates (Andrea Parlangeli)....Pages 117-125 Euler and the Barrel (Andrea Parlangeli)....Pages 127-136 Let’s Save Plyushch! (Andrea Parlangeli)....Pages 137-145 A Revolutionary Message (Andrea Parlangeli)....Pages 147-149 Waves of Refugees (Andrea Parlangeli)....Pages 151-157 Solidarity, Liquid Crystals, and Computer Vision (Andrea Parlangeli)....Pages 159-170 Timor Domini Principium Sapientiae (Andrea Parlangeli)....Pages 171-172 Freedom to Dream (Andrea Parlangeli)....Pages 173-181 In the Shadow of Death (Andrea Parlangeli)....Pages 183-189 French Drums (Andrea Parlangeli)....Pages 191-208 The Last Exam (Andrea Parlangeli)....Pages 209-215 Back Matter ....Pages 217-227