Valentina Borok
Encyclopedia
Valentina Mikhailovna Borok (9 July 1931, Kharkiv
, Ukraine
, USSR–4 February
2004, Haifa
, Israel
) was a Soviet Ukrainian
mathematician
. She is mainly known for her work on partial differential equations.
in Ukraine. Her father, Michail Borok, was a chemist
, scientist
and an expert in material science. Her mother, the jewish Bella Sigal, was a well-known economist. Because of her mothers' high position at the ministry of Economics
, she had a privileged early childhood. Because of the political situation, her mother voluntarily resigned in 1937 and took a lower position, presumably because she hoped it would make them safer. It is believed it helped the Borok family survive World War II
.
In 1949, Borok started to study Mathematics at Kiev State University. There she met Yakov Zhitomirskii, who would be her husband until her death. In 1954, she graduated and moved to Moscow State University
. In 1957, she received her PhD
for her thesis On Systems of Linear Partial Differential Equations with Constant Coefficients. In 1960, she moved to Kharkiv State University, where she stayed until 1994.
In 1994, Borok became ill and moved to Haifa
, Israel
, because medical treatment was not possible in Ukraine. She died at the age of 72 in 2004.
Kharkiv
Kharkiv or Kharkov is the second-largest city in Ukraine.The city was founded in 1654 and was a major centre of Ukrainian culture in the Russian Empire. Kharkiv became the first city in Ukraine where the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic was proclaimed in December 1917 and Soviet government was...
, Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
, USSR–4 February
2004, Haifa
Haifa
Haifa is the largest city in northern Israel, and the third-largest city in the country, with a population of over 268,000. Another 300,000 people live in towns directly adjacent to the city including the cities of the Krayot, as well as, Tirat Carmel, Daliyat al-Karmel and Nesher...
, Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
) was a Soviet Ukrainian
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
mathematician
Mathematician
A mathematician is a person whose primary area of study is the field of mathematics. Mathematicians are concerned with quantity, structure, space, and change....
. She is mainly known for her work on partial differential equations.
Life
Borok was born in 1931 in KharkivKharkiv
Kharkiv or Kharkov is the second-largest city in Ukraine.The city was founded in 1654 and was a major centre of Ukrainian culture in the Russian Empire. Kharkiv became the first city in Ukraine where the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic was proclaimed in December 1917 and Soviet government was...
in Ukraine. Her father, Michail Borok, was a chemist
Chemist
A chemist is a scientist trained in the study of chemistry. Chemists study the composition of matter and its properties such as density and acidity. Chemists carefully describe the properties they study in terms of quantities, with detail on the level of molecules and their component atoms...
, scientist
Scientist
A scientist in a broad sense is one engaging in a systematic activity to acquire knowledge. In a more restricted sense, a scientist is an individual who uses the scientific method. The person may be an expert in one or more areas of science. This article focuses on the more restricted use of the word...
and an expert in material science. Her mother, the jewish Bella Sigal, was a well-known economist. Because of her mothers' high position at the ministry of Economics
Economics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
, she had a privileged early childhood. Because of the political situation, her mother voluntarily resigned in 1937 and took a lower position, presumably because she hoped it would make them safer. It is believed it helped the Borok family survive World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
In 1949, Borok started to study Mathematics at Kiev State University. There she met Yakov Zhitomirskii, who would be her husband until her death. In 1954, she graduated and moved to Moscow State University
Moscow State University
Lomonosov Moscow State University , previously known as Lomonosov University or MSU , is the largest university in Russia. Founded in 1755, it also claims to be one of the oldest university in Russia and to have the tallest educational building in the world. Its current rector is Viktor Sadovnichiy...
. In 1957, she received her PhD
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
for her thesis On Systems of Linear Partial Differential Equations with Constant Coefficients. In 1960, she moved to Kharkiv State University, where she stayed until 1994.
In 1994, Borok became ill and moved to Haifa
Haifa
Haifa is the largest city in northern Israel, and the third-largest city in the country, with a population of over 268,000. Another 300,000 people live in towns directly adjacent to the city including the cities of the Krayot, as well as, Tirat Carmel, Daliyat al-Karmel and Nesher...
, Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
, because medical treatment was not possible in Ukraine. She died at the age of 72 in 2004.