David Rees (mathematician)
Encyclopedia
David Rees ScD
Cantab
, FIMA
, FRS (Mathematics) (born 28 May 1918) is an emeritus professor of pure mathematics at the University of Exeter
, having been head of the Mathematics / Mathematical Sciences Department at Exeter for many years.
During the Second World War, Rees was active on Enigma
research in Hut 6
at Bletchley Park
.
He initially worked on semigroup theory, and Rees factor semigroup
is named after him. He also gave a characterization of completely simple and completely 0-simple semigroups, nowadays known as Rees's theorem. The matrix-based semigroups used in this characterization are called Rees matrix semigroups.
At the behest of Douglas Northcott
he switched his research focus to commutative algebra
. In 1954, in a joint paper with Northcott, Rees introduced the Northcott-Rees theory of reductions and integral closures which has subsequently been influential in commutative algebra
.
In 1993, he was awarded the Pólya Prize
by the London Mathematical Society
.
In August 1998, a conference on Commutative Algebra was held at Exeter in honour of David Rees' 80th Year.
He is an Honorary Fellow of Downing College, Cambridge
Doctor of Science
Doctor of Science , usually abbreviated Sc.D., D.Sc., S.D. or Dr.Sc., is an academic research degree awarded in a number of countries throughout the world. In some countries Doctor of Science is the name used for the standard doctorate in the sciences, elsewhere the Sc.D...
Cantab
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
, FIMA
Institute of Mathematics and its Applications
The Institute of Mathematics and its Applications is the UK's chartered professional body for mathematicians and one of the UK's learned societies for mathematics ....
, FRS (Mathematics) (born 28 May 1918) is an emeritus professor of pure mathematics at the University of Exeter
University of Exeter
The University of Exeter is a public university in South West England. It belongs to the 1994 Group, an association of 19 of the United Kingdom's smaller research-intensive universities....
, having been head of the Mathematics / Mathematical Sciences Department at Exeter for many years.
During the Second World War, Rees was active on Enigma
Enigma machine
An Enigma machine is any of a family of related electro-mechanical rotor cipher machines used for the encryption and decryption of secret messages. Enigma was invented by German engineer Arthur Scherbius at the end of World War I...
research in Hut 6
Hut 6
Hut 6 was a wartime section of Bletchley Park tasked with the solution of German Army and Air Force Enigma machine ciphers. Hut 8, by contrast, attacked Naval Enigma...
at Bletchley Park
Bletchley Park
Bletchley Park is an estate located in the town of Bletchley, in Buckinghamshire, England, which currently houses the National Museum of Computing...
.
He initially worked on semigroup theory, and Rees factor semigroup
Rees factor semigroup
In mathematics, in semigroup theory, a Rees factor semigroup is a certain semigroup constructed using a semigroup and an ideal of the semigroup....
is named after him. He also gave a characterization of completely simple and completely 0-simple semigroups, nowadays known as Rees's theorem. The matrix-based semigroups used in this characterization are called Rees matrix semigroups.
At the behest of Douglas Northcott
Douglas Northcott
Douglas Geoffrey Northcott, FRS was a British mathematician who worked on ideal theory.He was educated at Christ's Hospital and St John's College, Cambridge.He started research under the supervision of G.H...
he switched his research focus to commutative algebra
Commutative algebra
Commutative algebra is the branch of abstract algebra that studies commutative rings, their ideals, and modules over such rings. Both algebraic geometry and algebraic number theory build on commutative algebra...
. In 1954, in a joint paper with Northcott, Rees introduced the Northcott-Rees theory of reductions and integral closures which has subsequently been influential in commutative algebra
Commutative algebra
Commutative algebra is the branch of abstract algebra that studies commutative rings, their ideals, and modules over such rings. Both algebraic geometry and algebraic number theory build on commutative algebra...
.
In 1993, he was awarded the Pólya Prize
Pólya Prize (LMS)
The Pólya Prize is a prize in mathematics, awarded by the London Mathematical Society. Second only to the triennial De Morgan Medal in prestige among the society's awards, it is awarded in the years that are not divisible by three – those in which the De Morgan Medal is not awarded...
by the London Mathematical Society
London Mathematical Society
-See also:* American Mathematical Society* Edinburgh Mathematical Society* European Mathematical Society* List of Mathematical Societies* Council for the Mathematical Sciences* BCS-FACS Specialist Group-External links:* * *...
.
In August 1998, a conference on Commutative Algebra was held at Exeter in honour of David Rees' 80th Year.
He is an Honorary Fellow of Downing College, Cambridge
Downing College, Cambridge
Downing College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. The college was founded in 1800 and currently has around 650 students.- History :...
Family
In 1952, he married Dr Joan S. Cushen, who, as Dr Joan Rees, became a Senior Lecturer in Mathematics at Exeter, with several children, including:- Professor (Susan) Mary ReesMary ReesSusan Mary Rees, FRS is a British mathematician and a Professor of Mathematics at Liverpool University since 2002, specialising in research in complex dynamical systems....
FRS, Professor of Mathematics at the University of LiverpoolUniversity of LiverpoolThe University of Liverpool is a teaching and research university in the city of Liverpool, England. It is a member of the Russell Group of large research-intensive universities and the N8 Group for research collaboration. Founded in 1881 , it is also one of the six original "red brick" civic...
, b. 1953 - Rebecca Rees, b. 1955
- Professor Sarah E. Rees, Professor of Pure Mathematics at Newcastle University, b. 1957
- Deborah Rees, b. 1960