The Chaire de la Vallée Poussin 2018 at the Université Catholique de Louvain was awarded to Bernard Dacorogna, a Swiss mathematician. Born in Alexandria in 1953, he built an academic career centered on the rigorous study of mathematical analysis, specializing specifically in the calculus of variations and partial differential equations throughout his tenure at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne.
Academic Foundation
Dacorogna pursued his undergraduate education at the University of Geneva. He later relocated to Scotland to attend Heriot-Watt University, where he completed his doctoral studies in 1980. His research during this formative period was conducted under the supervision of John M. Ball, establishing the technical focus on non-linear functionals that would define his later work.
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Throughout his career, Dacorogna authored several foundational texts within his field. His 1982 publication, Weak continuity and weak lower semi-continuity of non linear functionals, was released through Springer-Verlag. He followed this with Direct methods in the calculus of variations in 1989, which reached a second edition in 2007. His Introduction to the calculus of variations, published by Imperial College Press, saw successive editions in 2004, 2009, and 2014. These works, alongside his collaborations, including Implicit partial differential equations with P. Marcellini and The pullback equation for differential forms with G. Csato and O. Kneuss, serve as primary references for researchers in calculus and differential equations.
Professional Tenure
As a professor at the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Dacorogna maintained a consistent focus on the intersection of calculus and theoretical analysis. His work operates within the broader context of twentieth-century mathematical specialization, addressing complex theoretical frameworks that underpin computational and scientific modeling. He remains active in the field, with his research output and teaching record reflecting the institutional academic standards of Switzerland.
Fast facts
- Born: 1953, Alexandria
- Citizenship: Switzerland
- Doctoral Supervision: John M. Ball
- Primary Fields: Calculus of variations, partial differential equations
- Academic Home: Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne
- Languages: French, English
- Notable Recognition: Chaire de la Vallée Poussin 2018
Questions readers ask
Where did Bernard Dacorogna complete his doctorate?
He earned his Ph.D. at Heriot-Watt University in 1980.
What subjects does Dacorogna research?
His work focuses on the calculus of variations and partial differential equations.
Achievements
- Held posts at Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne
- Fields: mathematics, calculus of variations and partial differential equation
