Jonathan Borwein
Encyclopedia
Jonathan Michael Borwein (born 20 May 1951, St. Andrews, Scotland
) is a Scottish
mathematician
who holds an appointment as Laureate Professor of mathematics
at the University of Newcastle, Australia
. Noted for his prolific and creative work throughout the international mathematical community, he is a close associate of David H. Bailey
, and they have recently been prominent public advocates of Experimental mathematics
.
Borwein was Shrum Professor of Science (1993–2003) and a Canada Research Chair in Information Technology (2001–08) at Simon Fraser University
, where he was founding Director of the Centre for Experimental and Constructive Mathematics. In 2004, he (re-)joined the Faculty of Computer Science at Dalhousie University
as a Canada Research Chair in Distributed and Collaborative Research, cross-appointed in Mathematics, while preserving an adjunct appointment at Simon Fraser.
He was born in St. Andrews, Scotland in 1951, and received his D.Phil. from Oxford University in 1974 as a Rhodes Scholar
at Jesus College
. Prior to joining SFU in 1993, he worked at Dalhousie University
(1974–91), Carnegie-Mellon (1980–82) and the University of Waterloo
(1991–93). He has received various awards including the Chauvenet Prize
(1993), Fellowship in the Royal Society of Canada
(1994), Fellowship in the American Association for the Advancement of Science
(2002), an honorary degree from Limoges
(1999), and foreign membership in the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
(2003). He was recently elected as a Fellow to the Australian Academy of Science
(2010). He is an ISI highly cited mathematician for the period 1981-1999.
Borwein has varied scientific administration experience. For example, he was Governor at large of the Mathematical Association of America
(2004–07), is a past president of the Canadian Mathematical Society
(2000–02) and past chair of (the Canadian National Science Library) NRC-CISTI
Advisory Board (2000–2003). He has served as chair of various of NATO's scientific programs. He is currently Chair of the Scientific Advisory Committee of the Australian Mathematical Sciences Institute (AMSI). He has chaired the Canadian HPC consortium, now Compute Canada and the International Mathematical Union
's Committee on Electronic Information and Communications (2002–2008).
His interests span pure mathematics
(analysis), applied mathematics
(optimization), computational mathematics
(numerical and computational analysis), and high performance computing. He has authored ten books (most recently several on Experimental Mathematics and a monograph
on convex functions, and over 400 refereed articles. He was a co-founder (1995) of a software company MathResources --- to which he is now unconnected --- consulting and producing interactive software primarily for school and university mathematics.
Borwein is also an expert on the number Pi
and especially its computation.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
) is a Scottish
Scottish people
The Scottish people , or Scots, are a nation and ethnic group native to Scotland. Historically they emerged from an amalgamation of the Picts and Gaels, incorporating neighbouring Britons to the south as well as invading Germanic peoples such as the Anglo-Saxons and the Norse.In modern use,...
mathematician
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
who holds an appointment as Laureate Professor of mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
at the University of Newcastle, Australia
University of Newcastle, Australia
The University of Newcastle is an Australian public university that was established in 1965. The University's main and largest campus is located in Callaghan, a suburb of Newcastle in New South Wales...
. Noted for his prolific and creative work throughout the international mathematical community, he is a close associate of David H. Bailey
David H. Bailey
David Harold Bailey is a mathematician and computer scientist. He received his B.S. in mathematics from Brigham Young University in 1972 and his Ph.D. in mathematics from Stanford University in 1976...
, and they have recently been prominent public advocates of Experimental mathematics
Experimental mathematics
Experimental mathematics is an approach to mathematics in which numerical computation is used to investigate mathematical objects and identify properties and patterns...
.
Borwein was Shrum Professor of Science (1993–2003) and a Canada Research Chair in Information Technology (2001–08) at Simon Fraser University
Simon Fraser University
Simon Fraser University is a Canadian public research university in British Columbia with its main campus on Burnaby Mountain in Burnaby, and satellite campuses in Vancouver and Surrey. The main campus in Burnaby, located from downtown Vancouver, was established in 1965 and has more than 34,000...
, where he was founding Director of the Centre for Experimental and Constructive Mathematics. In 2004, he (re-)joined the Faculty of Computer Science at Dalhousie University
Dalhousie University
Dalhousie University is a public research university located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. The university comprises eleven faculties including Schulich School of Law and Dalhousie University Faculty of Medicine. It also includes the faculties of architecture, planning and engineering located at...
as a Canada Research Chair in Distributed and Collaborative Research, cross-appointed in Mathematics, while preserving an adjunct appointment at Simon Fraser.
He was born in St. Andrews, Scotland in 1951, and received his D.Phil. from Oxford University in 1974 as a Rhodes Scholar
Rhodes Scholarship
The Rhodes Scholarship, named after Cecil Rhodes, is an international postgraduate award for study at the University of Oxford. It was the first large-scale programme of international scholarships, and is widely considered the "world's most prestigious scholarship" by many public sources such as...
at Jesus College
Jesus College, Oxford
Jesus College is one of the colleges of the University of Oxford in England. It is in the centre of the city, on a site between Turl Street, Ship Street, Cornmarket Street and Market Street...
. Prior to joining SFU in 1993, he worked at Dalhousie University
Dalhousie University
Dalhousie University is a public research university located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. The university comprises eleven faculties including Schulich School of Law and Dalhousie University Faculty of Medicine. It also includes the faculties of architecture, planning and engineering located at...
(1974–91), Carnegie-Mellon (1980–82) and the University of Waterloo
University of Waterloo
The University of Waterloo is a comprehensive public university in the city of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. The school was founded in 1957 by Drs. Gerry Hagey and Ira G. Needles, and has since grown to an institution of more than 30,000 students, faculty, and staff...
(1991–93). He has received various awards including the Chauvenet Prize
Chauvenet Prize
The Chauvenet Prize is the highest award for mathematical expository writing. It consists of a prize of $1,000 and a certificate, and is awarded yearly by the Mathematical Association of America in recognition of an outstanding expository article on a mathematical topic. The prize is named in...
(1993), Fellowship in the Royal Society of Canada
Royal Society of Canada
The Royal Society of Canada , may also operate under the more descriptive name RSC: The Academies of Arts, Humanities and Sciences of Canada , is the oldest association of scientists and scholars in Canada...
(1994), Fellowship in the American Association for the Advancement of Science
American Association for the Advancement of Science
The American Association for the Advancement of Science is an international non-profit organization with the stated goals of promoting cooperation among scientists, defending scientific freedom, encouraging scientific responsibility, and supporting scientific education and science outreach for the...
(2002), an honorary degree from Limoges
Limoges
Limoges |Limousin]] dialect of Occitan) is a city and commune, the capital of the Haute-Vienne department and the administrative capital of the Limousin région in west-central France....
(1999), and foreign membership in the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
The Bulgarian Academy of Sciences is the National Academy of Bulgaria, established in 1869. The Academy is autonomous and has a Society of Academicians, Correspondent Members and Foreign Members...
(2003). He was recently elected as a Fellow to the Australian Academy of Science
Australian Academy of Science
The Australian Academy of Science was founded in 1954 by a group of distinguished Australians, including Australian Fellows of the Royal Society of London. The first president was Sir Mark Oliphant. The Academy is modelled after the Royal Society and operates under a Royal Charter; as such it is...
(2010). He is an ISI highly cited mathematician for the period 1981-1999.
Borwein has varied scientific administration experience. For example, he was Governor at large of the Mathematical Association of America
Mathematical Association of America
The Mathematical Association of America is a professional society that focuses on mathematics accessible at the undergraduate level. Members include university, college, and high school teachers; graduate and undergraduate students; pure and applied mathematicians; computer scientists;...
(2004–07), is a past president of the Canadian Mathematical Society
Canadian Mathematical Society
The Canadian Mathematical Society is an association of professional mathematicians dedicated to the interests of mathematical research and education in Canada.It was originally conceived in June 1945 as the Canadian Mathematical Congress...
(2000–02) and past chair of (the Canadian National Science Library) NRC-CISTI
CISTI
The Canada Institute for Scientific and Technical Information began in 1924 as the library of the National Research Council of Canada , the leading agency for research and development in Canada. This library took on the role of national science library unofficially in 1957 and became the official...
Advisory Board (2000–2003). He has served as chair of various of NATO's scientific programs. He is currently Chair of the Scientific Advisory Committee of the Australian Mathematical Sciences Institute (AMSI). He has chaired the Canadian HPC consortium, now Compute Canada and the International Mathematical Union
International Mathematical Union
The International Mathematical Union is an international non-governmental organisation devoted to international cooperation in the field of mathematics across the world. It is a member of the International Council for Science and supports the International Congress of Mathematicians...
's Committee on Electronic Information and Communications (2002–2008).
His interests span pure mathematics
Pure mathematics
Broadly speaking, pure mathematics is mathematics which studies entirely abstract concepts. From the eighteenth century onwards, this was a recognized category of mathematical activity, sometimes characterized as speculative mathematics, and at variance with the trend towards meeting the needs of...
(analysis), applied mathematics
Applied mathematics
Applied mathematics is a branch of mathematics that concerns itself with mathematical methods that are typically used in science, engineering, business, and industry. Thus, "applied mathematics" is a mathematical science with specialized knowledge...
(optimization), computational mathematics
Computational mathematics
Computational mathematics involves mathematical research in areas of science where computing plays a central and essential role, emphasizing algorithms, numerical methods, and symbolic methods. Computation in the research is prominent. Computational mathematics emerged as a distinct part of applied...
(numerical and computational analysis), and high performance computing. He has authored ten books (most recently several on Experimental Mathematics and a monograph
Monograph
A monograph is a work of writing upon a single subject, usually by a single author.It is often a scholarly essay or learned treatise, and may be released in the manner of a book or journal article. It is by definition a single document that forms a complete text in itself...
on convex functions, and over 400 refereed articles. He was a co-founder (1995) of a software company MathResources --- to which he is now unconnected --- consulting and producing interactive software primarily for school and university mathematics.
Borwein is also an expert on the number Pi
Pi
' is a mathematical constant that is the ratio of any circle's circumference to its diameter. is approximately equal to 3.14. Many formulae in mathematics, science, and engineering involve , which makes it one of the most important mathematical constants...
and especially its computation.
See also
- Borwein integralBorwein integralIn mathematics, a Borwein integral is an integral studied by involving products of sinc, where the sinc function is given by sinc = sin/x. These integrals are notorious for exhibiting apparent patterns that eventually break down...
- Borwein's algorithmBorwein's algorithmIn mathematics, Borwein's algorithm is an algorithm devised by Jonathan and Peter Borwein to calculate the value of 1/π.-Jonathan Borwein and Peter Borwein's Version :Start out by setting A &= 63365028312971999585426220 \\...
- Peter BorweinPeter BorweinPeter Benjamin Borwein is a Canadian mathematicianand a professor at Simon Fraser University. He is known as a co-discoverer of the Bailey-Borwein-Plouffe algorithm for computing π.-First interest in mathematics:...
, his brother and co-researcher - David BorweinDavid BorweinDavid Borwein is a Canadian mathematician of Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry, known for his research in the summability theory of series and integrals. He has also done work in measure theory and probability theory, number theory, and approximate subgradients and coderivatives. He has recently...
, his father and co-researcher - David H. BaileyDavid H. BaileyDavid Harold Bailey is a mathematician and computer scientist. He received his B.S. in mathematics from Brigham Young University in 1972 and his Ph.D. in mathematics from Stanford University in 1976...
, co-researcher and co-author