Systems of Conservation Laws, a foundational two-volume work published between 1999 and 2000, establishes the research trajectory of French mathematician Denis Serre. Born in 1954 in Nancy, he has dedicated his career to the rigorous study of mathematical physics, fluid mechanics, and partial differential equations, holding significant academic appointments within the French university system for over four decades.
Academic Formation and Early Career
Serre pursued his higher education at the University of Paris-Sud, completing his studies between 1977 and 1978. His early professional journey involved diverse institutional roles, beginning as a student teacher at the École Normale Supérieure de St-Cloud from 1974 to 1978. He subsequently held positions at the Centre national de la recherche scientifique in Orsay from 1978 to 1983 and at the University of St. Etienne from 1983 to 1987.
Twenty questions, eight minutes on the clock, and a percentile measured against everyone who has taken it. No sign-up.
Take the IQ test →Contributions to Mathematics
In 1987, Serre joined the École Normale Supérieure de Lyon, where he maintained a consistent faculty presence until 2019 and served as the mathematics department chair starting in 2012. His research output spans matrix theory and multidimensional hyperbolic partial differential equations. Beyond his specialized journal articles, he authored Matrices: Theory and Applications, published by Springer in 2002 with a second edition following in 2010, and co-authored Multidimensional Hyperbolic Partial Differential Equations: First-Order Systems and Applications with Sylvie Benzoni-Gavage in 2007.
Professional Recognition and Honors
Serre has received several distinctions for his work in mathematical exposition and hyperbolic conservation laws. He was awarded the Blaise-Pascal Award in 1990 and the Jacques-Louis Lions Award from the Académie des Sciences in 2017. Additionally, he was elected as a fellow of the American Mathematical Society in 2015 and recognized as a Knight of the French Order of Academic Palms.
Fast facts
- Born: 1954, Nancy, France
- Primary Field: Analysis
- Education: University of Paris-Sud
- Primary Employer: École Normale Supérieure de Lyon
- Notable Publication: Systems of Conservation Laws
- Fellowship: American Mathematical Society (2015)
- Award: Jacques-Louis Lions Award (2017)
Questions readers ask
What subjects does Denis Serre research?
His work focuses on mathematical physics, fluid mechanics, partial differential equations, and matrix theory.
Where did he hold his primary academic position?
He was a long-term faculty member at the École Normale Supérieure de Lyon, where he also chaired the mathematics department.
Achievements
- Knight of the French Order of Academic Palms
- Held posts at École Normale Supérieure de Lyon
- Fields: mathematics, partial differential equation and mathematical physics
