Charles E. M. Pearce
Encyclopedia
Charles Edward Miller Pearce (29 March 1940, Wellington
) is a New Zealand
/Australian mathematician.
He is currently the Elder Professor of Applied Mathematics at the University of Adelaide
.
. The Bachelor's degree was from the University of New Zealand
, as the constituent colleges of UNZ, of which Victoria University College was one of four, had proliferated into four autonomous Universities by the time Pearce completed his Masters degree.
of Hutt Valley High School
in 1957.
Pearce throughout his career wore his New Zealand
origins with pride. Being descended from Maori people, he could claim his New Zealand ancestry was longer than almost all his peers from New Zealand, although he has not lived there since 1962.
He is descended from Alexander Gray, one of just five Scots who settled in New Zealand as part of the original and largely unsuccessful New Zealand Company settlement of 1826. The marriage in 1830 of his full Maori ancestor Hinerangi to Alexander is the first entry in the marriage register in Paihia
in the Bay of Islands
. His long history of New Zealand connections (some 22 generations, no less) has led to his having a life-long passion for Maoritanga
. He claims with great pride his connection back to three waka (canoes) in the heke (migration): Aotea, Kurahaupo and Takatimu. His principal tribal connection is with the Ngati Ruanui
, which is a tribe based in the southern Taranaki.
(ANU) in Canberra
, under the supervision of Pat Moran
. Thereafter followed short stints (1 to 3 years) as Lecturer in ANU; University of Queensland
(visiting Professor); Université de Rennes 1
, France; and University of Sheffield
(1966 –68). He was appointed to the University of Adelaide
in 1968 and has remained there for the ensuing years having been appointed Reader in 1982. He is a leading figure in the Department of Applied Mathematics there, being appointed in 2005 to the chair of Applied Mathematics. While at ANU, he met and married Frances (née O'Connor), and they have brought up their family in Adelaide
.
and is published by Kluwer Academic Press. His applied interests include queuing theory, road traffic
, telecommunications, and urban planning
. With former student Bill Henderson, who followed him from Sheffield to Adelaide, he helped establish the successful Teletraffic Centre in the University of Adelaide
. Publications are numerous and include a book (with S.S. Dragomir), 23 book chapters, and well over 200 research articles.
With the formation of the Division of Applied Mathematics of the Australian Mathematical society, Pearce soon emerged as a key figure. The most enduring significant role is as Chief Editor of their Applied Mathematics Journal, now called The ANZIAM Journal of Applied Mathematics. The formation of ANZIAM in 1993 was close to Pearce's heart, as it encapsulated the union he espoused of joint activity in Applied Mathematics involving both Australia and New Zealand. He has been a strong worker for ANZIAM and it was fitting that this, along with his outstanding research work, was recognised by the award of the ANZIAM Medal in 2001.
Pearce was elected as a Fellow of the New Zealand Mathematical Society.
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
) is a New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
/Australian mathematician.
He is currently the Elder Professor of Applied Mathematics at the University of Adelaide
University of Adelaide
The University of Adelaide is a public university located in Adelaide, South Australia. Established in 1874, it is the third oldest university in Australia...
.
Education
He earned his Bachelor of Science (a double major in Applied and Pure Mathematics and a further double major in Physics and Mathematical Physics) and in 1962 he earned a Masters of Science with first class honours in Mathematics, all from Victoria University of WellingtonVictoria University of Wellington
Victoria University of Wellington was established in 1897 by Act of Parliament, and was a former constituent college of the University of New Zealand. It is particularly well known for its programmes in law, the humanities, and some scientific disciplines, but offers a broad range of other courses...
. The Bachelor's degree was from the University of New Zealand
University of New Zealand
The University of New Zealand was the New Zealand university from 1870 to 1961. It was the sole New Zealand university, having a federal structure embracing several constituent colleges at various locations around New Zealand...
, as the constituent colleges of UNZ, of which Victoria University College was one of four, had proliferated into four autonomous Universities by the time Pearce completed his Masters degree.
New Zealand origins
His early schooling was in Wellington and he was duxDux
Dux is Latin for leader and later for Duke and its variant forms ....
of Hutt Valley High School
Hutt Valley High School
Hutt Valley High School is a state co-educational secondary school located in Lower Hutt, New Zealand. It is a uniformed school, with the uniform coming under review roughly every 5 years by the order of the Board of Trustee’s. The current principal is Ross Sinclair...
in 1957.
Pearce throughout his career wore his New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
origins with pride. Being descended from Maori people, he could claim his New Zealand ancestry was longer than almost all his peers from New Zealand, although he has not lived there since 1962.
He is descended from Alexander Gray, one of just five Scots who settled in New Zealand as part of the original and largely unsuccessful New Zealand Company settlement of 1826. The marriage in 1830 of his full Maori ancestor Hinerangi to Alexander is the first entry in the marriage register in Paihia
Paihia
Paihia is the main tourist town in the Bay of Islands in the far north of the North Island of New Zealand. It is located close to the historic towns of Russell, and Kerikeri, 60 kilometres north of Whangarei. The origin of the name Paihia is obscure. One, possibily apocryphal, attribution is to...
in the Bay of Islands
Bay of Islands
The Bay of Islands is an area in the Northland Region of the North Island of New Zealand. Located 60 km north-west of Whangarei, it is close to the northern tip of the country....
. His long history of New Zealand connections (some 22 generations, no less) has led to his having a life-long passion for Maoritanga
Maori culture
Māori culture is the culture of the Māori of New Zealand, an Eastern Polynesian people, and forms a distinctive part of New Zealand culture. Within the Māori community, and to a lesser extent throughout New Zealand as a whole, the word Māoritanga is often used as an approximate synonym for Māori...
. He claims with great pride his connection back to three waka (canoes) in the heke (migration): Aotea, Kurahaupo and Takatimu. His principal tribal connection is with the Ngati Ruanui
Ngati Ruanui
Ngāti Ruanui is a Māori iwi traditionally based in the Taranaki region of New Zealand. In the 2006 census, 7,035 people claimed affiliation to the iwi. However, most members now live outside the traditional areas of the iwi.-Early history:...
, which is a tribe based in the southern Taranaki.
Life and career
In 1963 Pearce left New Zealand for doctoral study at the Australian National UniversityAustralian National University
The Australian National University is a teaching and research university located in the Australian capital, Canberra.As of 2009, the ANU employs 3,945 administrative staff who teach approximately 10,000 undergraduates, and 7,500 postgraduate students...
(ANU) in Canberra
Canberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
, under the supervision of Pat Moran
Patrick Alfred Pierce Moran
Patrick Alfred Pierce Moran FRS , commonly known as Pat Moran was an Australian statistician who made significant contributions to probability theory and its application to population and evolutionary genetics....
. Thereafter followed short stints (1 to 3 years) as Lecturer in ANU; University of Queensland
University of Queensland
The University of Queensland, also known as UQ, is a public university located in state of Queensland, Australia. Founded in 1909, it is the oldest and largest university in Queensland and the fifth oldest in the nation...
(visiting Professor); Université de Rennes 1
University of Rennes 1
The University of Rennes 1 is one of the two main universities in the city of Rennes, France. It is under the Academy of Rennes. It specializes in science, technology, law, economy, management and philosophy. The University of Rennes 1 has been in existence since 1969, but its heritage stems back...
, France; and University of Sheffield
University of Sheffield
The University of Sheffield is a research university based in the city of Sheffield in South Yorkshire, England. It is one of the original 'red brick' universities and is a member of the Russell Group of leading research intensive universities...
(1966 –68). He was appointed to the University of Adelaide
University of Adelaide
The University of Adelaide is a public university located in Adelaide, South Australia. Established in 1874, it is the third oldest university in Australia...
in 1968 and has remained there for the ensuing years having been appointed Reader in 1982. He is a leading figure in the Department of Applied Mathematics there, being appointed in 2005 to the chair of Applied Mathematics. While at ANU, he met and married Frances (née O'Connor), and they have brought up their family in Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
.
Mathematical Work
He is known for probabilistic and statistical modelling. Pearce has published prolifically in the area of probabilistic and statistical modelling and analysis, with strong contributions being made in both theory and practice. His book (with Dragomir) addresses the fine points of the Hermite–Hadamard inequalityHermite–Hadamard inequality
In mathematics, the Hermite–Hadamard inequality, named after Charles Hermite and Jacques Hadamard and sometimes also called Hadamard's inequality, states that if a function ƒ : [a, b] → R is convex, then...
and is published by Kluwer Academic Press. His applied interests include queuing theory, road traffic
Traffic optimization
- Need for traffic optimization :Texas Transportation Institute estimates travel delays of 220,000,000 hours all over the U.S. and between 17–55 hours of delay per person relating to congestion on the streets. Traffic device optimization hence becomes a significant aspect of operations.-...
, telecommunications, and urban planning
Urban planning
Urban planning incorporates areas such as economics, design, ecology, sociology, geography, law, political science, and statistics to guide and ensure the orderly development of settlements and communities....
. With former student Bill Henderson, who followed him from Sheffield to Adelaide, he helped establish the successful Teletraffic Centre in the University of Adelaide
University of Adelaide
The University of Adelaide is a public university located in Adelaide, South Australia. Established in 1874, it is the third oldest university in Australia...
. Publications are numerous and include a book (with S.S. Dragomir), 23 book chapters, and well over 200 research articles.
With the formation of the Division of Applied Mathematics of the Australian Mathematical society, Pearce soon emerged as a key figure. The most enduring significant role is as Chief Editor of their Applied Mathematics Journal, now called The ANZIAM Journal of Applied Mathematics. The formation of ANZIAM in 1993 was close to Pearce's heart, as it encapsulated the union he espoused of joint activity in Applied Mathematics involving both Australia and New Zealand. He has been a strong worker for ANZIAM and it was fitting that this, along with his outstanding research work, was recognised by the award of the ANZIAM Medal in 2001.
Pearce was elected as a Fellow of the New Zealand Mathematical Society.
Books by Pearce
- Mark D. McDonnellMark D. McDonnellMark Damian McDonnell born 28 February 1975, Adelaide, Australia, is an electronic engineer and mathematician notable for his work on stochastic resonance and more specifically suprathreshold stochastic resonance.-Education:...
, Nigel G. StocksNigel G. StocksNigel Geoffrey Stocks, born 6 September 1964, Bradford, West Yorkshire, UK, is a physicist notable for discovering suprathreshold stochastic resonance and its application to cochlear implant technology.-Education:...
, Charles E. M. Pearce, and Derek AbbottDerek AbbottDerek Abbott is a physicist and electronic engineer. He is a Professor of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at the University of Adelaide, Australia...
, Stochastic ResonanceStochastic Resonance (book)Stochastic Resonance: From Suprathreshold Stochastic Resonance to Stochastic Signal Quantization, is a science text, with a foreword by Sergey M. Bezrukov and Bart Kosko, which notably explores the relationships between stochastic resonance, suprathreshold stochastic resonance, stochastic...
, Cambridge University PressCambridge University PressCambridge University Press is the publishing business of the University of Cambridge. Granted letters patent by Henry VIII in 1534, it is the world's oldest publishing house, and the second largest university press in the world...
, 2008, ISBN 9780521882620.