Oswald Veblen

Oswald Veblen (24 June 1880 - 10 August, 1960) was an American mathematician. He proved the Jordan curve theorem in 1905.

Related Topics:
24 June - 1880 - 10 August - 1960 - American - Mathematician - Jordan curve theorem - 1905

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

He was born in Decorah, Iowa, to the mathematician brother of the famed-economist-to-be Thorstein Veblen.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

He earned his B.A. at the University of Iowa from 1894 to 1898.

Related Topics:
B.A. - University of Iowa

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In 1903, he completed his Ph.D. at the University of Chicago, with the thesis A System of Axioms for Geometry, and joined the faculty of Princeton University in 1905. In 1928 he began a one-year stint at Oxford University, trading places with G. H. Hardy. In 1932, as one of the organizers of the Institute for Advanced Study, he moved there from Princeton. His Ph.D. students include J. W. Alexander, Alonzo Church, and J. H. C. Whitehead.

Related Topics:
Ph.D. - University of Chicago - Princeton University - 1905 - Oxford University - G. H. Hardy - Institute for Advanced Study - J. W. Alexander - Alonzo Church - J. H. C. Whitehead

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Veblen was an active member of the American Mathematical Society, serving the Society as Vice-President in 1915 and President in 1923-24. He was the Colloquium Lecturer for the Society in 1916 when he gave a series of lectures on topology.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

He made important contributions in topology and in projective and differential geometries, including results important in modern physics. He was involved in overseeing the World War II work that produced the pioneering ENIAC electronic digital computer.

Related Topics:
Topology - Projective - Differential geometries - Modern physics - World War II - ENIAC - Digital computer

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

He gave a very curious definition of religion:

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Religion is a fabrication of vendible imponderables in the nth dimension.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

http://www.orkut.com/CommMsgs.aspx?cmm=66988&tid=14542859

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

He died in Brooklin, Maine in 1960 at age 80.

Related Topics:
Brooklin, Maine - 1960

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The American Mathematical Society created an award in his name, called the Oswald Veblen Prize. It is awarded every five years, and is the most prestigious award in recognition of outstanding research in geometry.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~