Period three implies chaos serves as the title of the 1975 paper that introduced the term chaos into mathematical discourse. Co-authored by Tien-Yien Li, this work remains a central reference point in the study of dynamical systems. Over a career spanning four decades, Li moved from his early education in Taiwan to a prolific tenure in American academia.
Early Education and Academic Foundation
Born in 1945 in the Shaxian District of China, Li moved to Taiwan at the age of three. He pursued his undergraduate studies at National Tsing Hua University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics in 1968. He later traveled to the United States for advanced study, completing his doctorate at the University of Maryland in 1974.
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Li spent 42 years on the faculty at Michigan State University, joining the department in 1976 and achieving the rank of full professor by 1983. His research output was extensive, particularly regarding the computation of invariant measures for chaotic systems where he provided a formal proof for Ulam's conjecture. Furthermore, his work on Brouwer's fixed point utilized numerical techniques to refine modern Homotopy Continuation methods, bridging the gap between abstract theory and computational practice.
Institutional Tenure and Recognition
Throughout his tenure, Li mentored 26 Ph.D. students and received multiple accolades for his teaching and academic service. He was honored with the J.S. Frame Teaching Award in 1996 and was named a University Distinguished Professor at Michigan State University in 1998. Additional recognition included a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1995 and several awards for his status as a distinguished alumnus of Tsing Hua University in Taiwan. He retired as a University Distinguished Professor Emeritus in 2018.
Fast facts
- Born: 1945, Shaxian District
- Died: 2020, Michigan
- Citizenship: United States
- Education: National Tsing Hua University, University of Maryland
- Primary Employer: Michigan State University
- Field: Mathematics
- Guggenheim Fellowship: 1995
Questions readers ask
What is the significance of the 1975 paper co-authored by Li?
The paper, titled Period three implies chaos, is responsible for coining the mathematical term chaos.
How many doctoral students did Li supervise during his career?
He supervised 26 Ph.D. dissertations during his 42-year career at Michigan State University.
Achievements
- Held posts at Michigan State University and University of Michigan
- Fields: mathematics
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