Thomas Callister Hales
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| Born | {{{birth_date}}} |
|---|---|
| Residence |  USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Field | Mathematician |
| Institution | University of Pittsburgh |
| Alma mater | Princeton University |
| Known for | Kepler Conjecture |
Thomas Callister Hales is an American mathematician who provided computer-aided proof of the Kepler Conjecture that the most efficient way to pack spheres was in a pyramid shape.
Hales, the University of Pittsburgh Mellon Professor of mathematics, advocates the formalization of mathematics to ensure rigor in an era where proofs are becoming increasingly complex and computers are becoming necessary to perform verification.
Hales's current project, called Flyspeck, seeks to formalize his proof of the Kepler Conjecture in the computer theorem prover HOL Light.
[edit] Education and career
Hales received his Ph.D in mathematics from Princeton University. In 1998, he had a proof of the Kepler Conjecture. Today, he is the University of Pittsburgh Mellon Professor of mathematics.
[edit] References
- (2005) "Proof and Beauty". The Economist.
[edit] External links
- Hales's page at the University of Pittsburgh Math Department
- The Flyspeck Project
- Hales solves oldest problem in discrete geometry
