The Peter Henrici Prize was awarded to Gerhard Wanner in 2003, recognizing his fundamental contributions to numerical analysis and the study of differential equations. Born in Innsbruck in 1942, Wanner has built a career bridging the divide between academic research and the historical foundations of mathematics, publishing extensively in both German and English throughout his professional tenure.
Academic Foundations and Early Career
Raised in Seefeld in Tirol, Wanner pursued his higher education at the University of Innsbruck. He earned his doctorate in 1965 under the supervision of Wolfgang Gröbner, focusing his dissertation on the numerical treatment of boundary value problems related to ordinary differential equations. After holding teaching positions in Innsbruck, he moved to the University of Geneva in 1973, where he continued his work in the field of numerical analysis.
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Wanner is known for his two-volume monograph series, Solving Ordinary Differential Equations, written alongside Ernst Hairer and Syvert Nørsett. These volumes provide a technical examination of stiff and nonstiff problems. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, he co-authored various articles detailing Nyström methods and algebraically stable Runge-Kutta methods, advancing the implementation of high-order integration techniques for complex systems.
Historical and Geometrical Perspective
Beyond his research in differential equations, Wanner has collaborated on undergraduate textbooks that emphasize the historical development of mathematical concepts. His publications include Analysis by Its History and Geometry by Its History, written with Alexander Ostermann. In 2012, he co-authored an examination of historical computing trajectories, tracing themes from Euler and Ritz to modern algorithmic applications. He also served as the president of the Swiss Mathematical Society from 1998 to 1999.
Fast facts
- Born: 1942, Innsbruck, Austria
- Citizenship: Austrian and Swiss
- Doctorate: University of Innsbruck, 1965
- Notable Award: Peter Henrici Prize, 2003
- Notable Award: George Pólya Prize, 2015
- Primary Fields: Geometry, Numerical Analysis
- President of Swiss Mathematical Society: 1998-1999
Questions readers ask
What is the primary focus of Gerhard Wanner's research?
His work concentrates on the numerical analysis of ordinary differential equations and geometry, often utilizing historically oriented approaches to explain mathematical development.
Which major awards has Wanner received?
He received the Peter Henrici Prize in 2003 and the SIAM George Pólya Prize for Mathematical Exposition in 2015.
Achievements
- Peter Henrici Prize — 2003
- Notable work: Solving Ordinary Differential Equations II
- Notable work: Analysis by Its History
- Held posts at University of Innsbruck and University of Geneva
- Fields: geometry, numerical analysis and real-valued function
