Contents
Stephen Smale
Transforming topology and developing tools for understanding chaotic dynamical systems.
Higher-dimensional Poincaré theorem · Smale horseshoe
- Born
- 15 July 1930
- Birthplace
- Flint, United States
More people
Stephen Smale
Stephen Smale is an American mathematician. His work connects the geometry of high-dimensional spaces with the behaviour of systems that change over time.
Early life
Michigan childhood
Was born in Flint, Michigan, in 1930.
Mathematical training
Earned his doctorate at the University of Michigan in 1957 under Raoul Bott.
Career
- 1957–1960s
Topology breakthroughs
Worked on sphere eversion and the higher-dimensional Poincaré conjecture.
- 1964–1995
Berkeley
Spent the main part of his academic career at the University of California, Berkeley.
- 1995 onward
Later research
Worked in Hong Kong and Chicago on computation and other mathematical problems.
Selected work
Higher-dimensional Poincaré theorem
Proved the generalised conjecture in dimensions greater than four.
Smale horseshoe
Developed a model showing how a simple dynamical rule can generate chaotic behaviour.
Complexity and Real Computation
Co-wrote a book extending computational complexity to real-number settings.
Beyond work
Political activism
Opposed the Vietnam War and spoke publicly against political repression.
Mineral collecting
Built a major collection of crystals and mineral specimens.
Sources & photo credit
Life, career and references ↗Further biography and career ↗Photo: George Bergman. CC BY-SA 4.0 · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.
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