The Generalized Gauss-Bonnet theorem remains a cornerstone of modern geometry, representing one of several fundamental contributions made by the mathematician Shiing-Shen Chern. Throughout a career spanning over seven decades, he shifted the trajectory of differential geometry and topology, moving between academic institutions in China, Europe, and the United States to establish frameworks still utilized in contemporary physics and mathematics.
Academic Foundations and European Training
Born in 1911 in Jiaxing, Chern began his formal education at Nankai University, where he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in 1930. He continued his studies at Tsinghua University, completing the first master's degree in mathematics ever issued in China in 1934. He then moved to the University of Hamburg, receiving his doctorate in 1936 under the guidance of Wilhelm Blaschke. During 1936 and 1937, he conducted further research at the Science Faculty of Paris, where he was mentored by Élie-Joseph Cartan.
Twenty questions, eight minutes on the clock, and a percentile measured against everyone who has taken it. No sign-up.
Take the IQ test →Professional Career and Institutional Roles
Chern held academic positions globally, including teaching roles at Tsinghua University and the National Southwestern Associated University during the war years. His career in the United States included tenures at Princeton University from 1943 to 1945, the University of Chicago from 1949 to 1960, and the University of California, Berkeley, where he served from 1960 until 1979. He also served as the director of the Mathematical Sciences Research Institute between 1982 and 1984 and again from 1985 to 1992. His global influence extended to the University of Amsterdam, where he worked in 1967.
Mathematical Contributions and Recognition
The research conducted by Chern provided the basis for the Chern class, Chern–Simons theory, and Chern–Weil theory. These developments proved essential for various scientific fields, including topology and quantum field theory. His achievements were recognized with numerous honors, including the Chauvenet Prize in 1970, the Leroy P. Steele Prize in 1983, and the Lobachevsky Prize in 2002. He held honorary doctorates from institutions such as ETH Zürich, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, and Nankai University. He was a member of esteemed organizations, including the Royal Society, the French Academy of Sciences, and the Russian Academy of Sciences.
Fast facts
- Born: 1911, Jiaxing
- Died: 2004, Tianjin
- Fields of work: Differential geometry, topology
- Doctorate: University of Hamburg, 1936
- Key works: Chern-Simons theory, Chern class
- Notable awards: Chauvenet Prize, Lobachevsky Prize
- Languages: Chinese, English, German
- Religion: Atheism
Questions readers ask
What is the origin of the spelling Chern?
The spelling is derived from the Gwoyeu Romatzyh romanization system, differing from the more common romanization of Chen.
Did Chern hold dual citizenship?
Yes, he held citizenship in both the United States and the People's Republic of China.
Achievements
- National Medal of Science — 1975
- Grand Cross of the National Order of Scientific Merit — 1996
- Lobachevsky Prize — 2002
- Wolf Prize in Mathematics — 1983
- The Shaw Prize in Mathematical Sciences — 2004
- Notable work: Chern class
- Notable work: Chern–Weil theory
- Notable work: Chern–Simons theory
- Notable work: Chern–Simons form
- Held posts at Princeton University, University of California, Berkeley and University of Chicago
