The Bulirsch–Stoer algorithm remains a foundational component of numerical analysis, providing methods for solving ordinary differential equations that continue to influence computational mathematics. Roland Bulirsch, a German mathematician born in Liberec in 1932, dedicated his career to refining these techniques while shaping the academic landscape of applied mathematics at the Technical University of Munich and beyond.
Formative Years and Early Education
Born on 10 November 1932, Bulirsch left Czechoslovakia in 1946. He began his professional path as a machinist apprentice with Siemens-Schuckert in Nuremberg, completing his training in 1951. After securing his Abitur in Nördlingen in 1954, he pursued mathematics and physics at the Technical University of Munich. He earned his Ph.D. in 1961 under the supervision of Klaus Samelson and attained his habilitation in 1965.
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Bulirsch served as an associated professor at the University of California, San Diego, between 1967 and 1969. He subsequently accepted a professorship in applied mathematics at the University of Cologne in 1969 before returning to the faculty of the Technical University of Munich in 1973. His research focused heavily on numerical analysis, a field he significantly advanced through his co-authored reference text, Introduction to Numerical Analysis, written alongside Josef Stoer.
Professional Recognition and Legacy
In 1998, Bulirsch was appointed president of the edition of works by Johannes Kepler. His contributions earned him numerous distinctions, including the Bavarian Maximilian Order for Science and Art in 1998, the Ritter-von-Gerstner Medal in 2002, and the Alwin-Walther medal in 2004. He held memberships in the European Academy of Sciences and Arts, the Bavarian Academy of Sciences and Humanities, the German Academy of Science and Engineering, and the Sudeten German Academy of Sciences and Arts. He retired in 2001 and died in Gauting in 2022.
Fast facts
- Born: 10 November 1932, Liberec
- Died: 21 September 2022, Gauting
- Field: Numerical analysis
- Ph.D. Supervisor: Klaus Samelson
- Education: Technical University of Munich
- Notable Award: Bavarian Maximilian Order for Science and Art (1998)
- Notable Award: Alwin-Walther medal (2004)
- Notable Award: Ritter-von-Gerstner Medal (2002)
Questions readers ask
What is the Bulirsch–Stoer algorithm?
It is a mathematical method for the numerical solution of ordinary differential equations, named after Roland Bulirsch and Josef Stoer.
Where did Roland Bulirsch teach?
He taught at the Technical University of Munich, the University of Cologne, and served as a visiting professor at the University of California, San Diego.
Achievements
- Alwin-Walther medal — 2004
- Ritter-von-Gerstner Medal — 2002
- Held posts at Technical University of Munich and University of Cologne
- Fields: numerical analysis and mathematics
