Constantine Dafermos

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Constantine Dafermos (Greek: Κωνσταντίνος Δαφέρμος) is a Greek Applied Mathematician. He received a Diploma in Civil Engineering from the National Technical University of Athens (1964) and a Ph.D. in Mechanics from Johns Hopkins University (1967). He has been an Assistant Professor at Cornell University (1968-1971) and an Associate Professor (1971-1975) and Professor (1975-) in the Division of Applied Mathematics at Brown University. Since 1984, he have been the Alumni-Alumnae University Professor at Brown.

In recent years, his research has focused on nonlinear hyperbolic systems of conservation laws whose solutions spontaneously develop singularities propagating as shock waves. In particular, he is studying the interplay between thermodynamics and analysis in the theory of these systems and he is analyzing the fundamental role of entropy as a stabilizing agent.

[edit] Awards

  • Honorary Doctorate, University of Athens, 1987.
  • Honorary Doctorate, National Technical University (Greece), 1991.
  • Honorary Doctorate, University of Crete, 2001.
  • SIAM W.T. and Idalia Reid Prize, 2000.

[edit] Affiliations

  • Fellow American Academy of Arts and Sciences, 2001-.
  • Correspondent Member, Academy of Athens, 1988-.
  • Honorary Professor, Academia Sinica, China, 2004-.
  • Member, Board of Governors, Weizmann Institute of Science (Israel), 1995-.

[edit] Sources