Jean-Pierre Serre

Jean-Pierre Serre (born September 15, 1926) is one of the leading mathematicians of the twentieth century, active in algebraic geometry, number theory and topology.

Early work

From a very young age he was an outstanding figure in the school of Henri Cartan, working on algebraic topology, several complex variables and then commutative algebra and algebraic geometry, in the context of sheaf theory and homological algebra techniques. Serre's thesis refers to his dissertation on the Leray-Serre spectral sequence associated to a fibration.

Related Topics:
Henri Cartan - Algebraic topology - Several complex variables - Commutative algebra - Algebraic geometry - Sheaf - Homological algebra - Serre's thesis - Leray-Serre spectral sequence - Fibration

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In his speech at the Fields Medal award ceremony in 1954, Hermann Weyl praised Serre in apparently extravagant terms, and also made the point that the award was for the first time awarded to an algebraist.

Related Topics:
1954 - Hermann Weyl

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While Serre subsequently moved field — at this point he apparently thought that homotopy theory where he had started was already over-technical — Weyl's perception that the central place of classical analysis had been challenged by abstract algebra has subsequently been justified, as has his assessment of Serre's place in this change.

Related Topics:
Homotopy theory - Abstract algebra

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