Maurice Nivat
Encyclopedia
Maurice Paul Nivat is a French computer scientist
. His research spans the areas of formal languages, programming language semantics and discrete geometry
. A 2006 citation for an honorary doctorate called Nivat one of the fathers of theoretical computer science
. He was a Professor at the University Paris Diderot until 2001.
, France. His parents were high-school teachers; his father taught languages while his mother taught mathematics.
In 1954, Nivat moved with his family to Paris. Nivat was admitted to the École Normale Supérieure
in 1956, but began working at the Blaise Pascal Institute of the French National Centre for Scientific Research, a newly established computing laboratory, in 1959. He returned to study in matehmatics in 1961 under the supervision of Marcel-Paul Schützenberger
. His 1967 thesis was entitled Transductions des langages de Chomsky" ("Transductions
of Chomsky Languages
").
Nivat was involved in many endeavours in theoretical computer science in Europe: he was one of the founders of the EATCS
in 1972 and organized the first ICALP conference in the same year at INRIA (then called IRIA) in Paris. In 1975, he was a founder of the journal Theoretical Computer Science
. He was editor-in-chief of the journal for over 25 years.
. Nivat is also an officer of both the Legion d'honneur
and the Ordre national du Mérite
in France. Nivat won the EATCS
award in 2002. He has received honourary doctorates from the University of Bologna
in 1997 and the University of Quebec at Montreal in 2006.
Computer science
Computer science or computing science is the study of the theoretical foundations of information and computation and of practical techniques for their implementation and application in computer systems...
. His research spans the areas of formal languages, programming language semantics and discrete geometry
Discrete geometry
Discrete geometry and combinatorial geometry are branches of geometry that study combinatorial properties and constructive methods of discrete geometric objects. Most questions in discrete geometry involve finite or discrete sets of basic geometric objects, such as points, lines, planes, circles,...
. A 2006 citation for an honorary doctorate called Nivat one of the fathers of theoretical computer science
Theoretical computer science
Theoretical computer science is a division or subset of general computer science and mathematics which focuses on more abstract or mathematical aspects of computing....
. He was a Professor at the University Paris Diderot until 2001.
Early life and education
Nivat was born in Clermont-FerrandClermont-Ferrand
Clermont-Ferrand is a city and commune of France, in the Auvergne region, with a population of 140,700 . Its metropolitan area had 409,558 inhabitants at the 1999 census. It is the prefecture of the Puy-de-Dôme department...
, France. His parents were high-school teachers; his father taught languages while his mother taught mathematics.
In 1954, Nivat moved with his family to Paris. Nivat was admitted to the École Normale Supérieure
École Normale Supérieure
The École normale supérieure is one of the most prestigious French grandes écoles...
in 1956, but began working at the Blaise Pascal Institute of the French National Centre for Scientific Research, a newly established computing laboratory, in 1959. He returned to study in matehmatics in 1961 under the supervision of Marcel-Paul Schützenberger
Marcel-Paul Schützenberger
Marcel-Paul "Marco" Schützenberger was a French mathematician and Doctor of Medicine. His work had impact across the fields of formal language, combinatorics, and information theory...
. His 1967 thesis was entitled Transductions des langages de Chomsky" ("Transductions
Finite state transducer
A finite state transducer is a finite state machine with two tapes: an input tape and an output tape. This contrasts with an ordinary finite state automaton , which has a single tape.-Overview:...
of Chomsky Languages
Chomsky hierarchy
Within the field of computer science, specifically in the area of formal languages, the Chomsky hierarchy is a containment hierarchy of classes of formal grammars....
").
Career
In 1969, Nivat became a professor at Universite Paris VII and taught until 2002. He is currently a professor emeritus.Nivat was involved in many endeavours in theoretical computer science in Europe: he was one of the founders of the EATCS
EATCS
The European Association for Theoretical Computer Science is an international organization with a European focus, founded in 1972...
in 1972 and organized the first ICALP conference in the same year at INRIA (then called IRIA) in Paris. In 1975, he was a founder of the journal Theoretical Computer Science
Theoretical Computer Science (journal)
Theoretical Computer Science is a computer science journal published by Elsevier, started in 1975 and covering theoretical computer science. The journal publishes 52 issues a year. It is abstracted and indexed by Scopus and the Science Citation Index...
. He was editor-in-chief of the journal for over 25 years.
Awards
Since 1983, Nivat has been a corresponding member of the French Academy of SciencesFrench Academy of Sciences
The French Academy of Sciences is a learned society, founded in 1666 by Louis XIV at the suggestion of Jean-Baptiste Colbert, to encourage and protect the spirit of French scientific research...
. Nivat is also an officer of both the Legion d'honneur
Légion d'honneur
The Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of the Consulat which succeeded to the First Republic, on 19 May 1802...
and the Ordre national du Mérite
Ordre National du Mérite
The Ordre national du Mérite is an Order of State awarded by the President of the French Republic. It was founded on 3 December 1963 by President Charles de Gaulle...
in France. Nivat won the EATCS
EATCS
The European Association for Theoretical Computer Science is an international organization with a European focus, founded in 1972...
award in 2002. He has received honourary doctorates from the University of Bologna
University of Bologna
The Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna is the oldest continually operating university in the world, the word 'universitas' being first used by this institution at its foundation. The true date of its founding is uncertain, but believed by most accounts to have been 1088...
in 1997 and the University of Quebec at Montreal in 2006.