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Ian R. Porteous

January 01, 1970

Ian Robertson Porteous (9 October 1930 – 30 January 2011) was a Scottish mathematician at the University of Liverpool and an educator on Merseyside. He is best known for three books on geometry and modern algebra. In Liverpool he and Peter Giblin are known for their registered charity Mathematical Education on Merseyside which promotes enthusiasm for mathematics through sponsorship of an annual competition.[1]

Ian R. Porteous
Born(1930-10-09)9 October 1930
Died30 January 2011(2011-01-30) (aged 80)
NationalityBritish
Alma materUniversity of Cambridge
Scientific career
FieldsMathematics
InstitutionsUniversity of Liverpool
Doctoral advisorW. V. D. Hodge
Michael Atiyah

Family and early life edit

Porteous was born on 9 October 1930. He was one of six children of Reverend Norman Walker Porteous (later a theologian and Old Testament academic), from Crossgates, Fife and May Hadwen Robertson of Kirkcaldy, Fife. He attended George Watson's College in Edinburgh, and the University of Edinburgh, obtaining his first mathematical degree in 1952.[2] After a time in national service, he took up study at Trinity College, Cambridge. Porteous wrote his thesis Algebraic Geometry under W.V.D. Hodge and Michael Atiyah at University of Cambridge in 1961.[3]

Early career edit

Porteous began teaching at the University of Liverpool as a lecturer in 1959, becoming senior lecturer in 1972. During a year (1961–62) at Columbia University in New York, Porteous was influenced by Serge Lang. He continued to do research on manifolds in differential geometry. In 1971 his article "The normal singularities of a submanifold" was published in Journal of Differential Geometry 5:543–64. It was concerned with the smooth embeddings of an m-manifold in Rn.

In 1969 Porteous published Topological Geometry with Van Nostrand Reinhold and Company. It was reviewed in Mathematical Reviews by J. Eells, who interpreted it as a three-term textbook for a sequence in abstract algebra, geometric algebra, and differential calculus in Euclidean and Banach spaces and on manifolds. Eells says "Surely this book is the product of substantial thought and care, both from the standpoints of consistent mathematical presentation and of student's pedagogical requirements." In 1981 a second edition was published with Cambridge University Press.

Later career and works edit

In 1995 Ian Porteous published Clifford Algebras and the Classical Groups which was reviewed by Peter R. Law.[4] In praise, Law says "Porteous' presentation of the subject matter sets a standard by which others may be judged." The book has 24 chapters including 8:quaternions, 13:The classical groups, 15:Clifford algebras, 16:Spin groups, 17:Conjugation, 20:Topological spaces, 21:Manifolds, 22:Lie groups. In the preface Porteous acknowledges the contribution of his master's degree student Tony Hampson and anticipatory work by Terry Wall. See references to a link where misprints may be found.

The textbook Geometric Differentiation (1994) is a modern, elementary study of differential geometry. The subtitle, "for the intelligence of curves and surfaces" indicates its extent in the differential geometry of curves and differential geometry of surfaces. The review by D.R.J. Chillingworth[5] says it is "aimed at advanced undergraduates or beginning graduate students in mathematics..." Chillingworth notes "a peculiar feature of the book is its use of compact notation for differentiation using numerical subscripts that allow tidy presentation of calculations." For instance, Porteous gives Faa di Bruno's formula. Furthermore, the reviewer notes that this mathematics has "connections to optics, kinematics and architecture as well as (more recently) geology, tomography, computer vision and face-recognition." These applications follow from the theories of contact, umbilical points, ridges, germs, and cusps. Porteous has suggestions for readers wanting to know more about singularity theory. The underlying theme is the study of critical points of appropriate distance-squared functions. A second edition was published in 2001, where the author was able to report on related work by Vladimir Arnold on spherical curves. In fact, Porteous had translated Arnold's paper from the Russian.

Death and legacy edit

Porteous' commitment to mathematics education can be seen through the work of his charity "Mathematical Education on Merseyside" (see references). As recounted in the book Challenging Mathematics, in 1978 Giblin and Porteous began to organise a Challenge competition for first and second formers in secondary school. By 1989 they were drawing 3,500 participants each year. The competition was held over two weekends in the Spring Term. Students considered six questions in each round. Marking was arranged through the mathematics department of Liverpool University, and prizes were awarded at "an evening of mathematical recreation". Broad participation was encouraged by making half the problems widely accessible. Solutions to the problems appear in their book.

Beyond mathematics, Porteous enjoyed hill-walking and sang in his church choir. He served as a Liberal councillor on Liverpool City Council from 1974 to 1978.

He died suddenly of a suspected heart attack on 30 January 2011.[1][2]

Selected publications edit

  • Porteous, Ian R. (1981), Topological Geometry (2nd ed.), Cambridge University Press, p. 486, ISBN 0-521-23160-4
  • Porteous, Ian R. (1995), Clifford Algebras and the Classical Groups, Cambridge Studies in Advanced Mathematics, vol. 50, Cambridge University Press, ISBN 978-0-521-55177-9[6]
  • Porteous, Ian R. (2001), Geometric Differentiation, For the Intelligence of Curves and Surfaces (2nd ed.), Cambridge University Press, p. 350, ISBN 978-0-521-00264-6
  • Giblin, P.J.; Porteus, I. R. (1990), Challenging Mathematics, Oxford University Press, ISBN 0-19-914361-7
  • Vladimir Arnold (1995) "The geometry of spherical curves and the algebra of quaternions", translated by Ian Porteous, Russian Mathematical Surveys 50:1–68.

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b Department of Mathematical Sciences. "In Memoriam: Dr Ian Porteous". University of Liverpool.
  2. ^ a b Peter Giblin (17 February 2011). "Ian Porteous obituary". The Guardian.
  3. ^ Ian R. Porteous at the Mathematics Genealogy Project
  4. ^ Peter R. Law, Review of Clifford Algebras and the Classical Groups, MR1369094
  5. ^ D.R.J. Chillingworth, Review of Geometric Differentiation, MR1302171
  6. ^ Corrections to Clifford Algebras and the Classical Groups 25 March 2009 at the Wayback Machine

External links edit

  • Ian R. Porteous at the Mathematics Genealogy Project
  • Hodge Institute (2011) Ian Porteous
  • Peter Giblin (2012) In Memoriam, Ian R. Porteous 9 October 1930 – 30 January 2011, Journal of Singularities, Volume 6.

January 01, 1970
porteous, robertson, porteous, october, 1930, january, 2011, scottish, mathematician, university, liverpool, educator, merseyside, best, known, three, books, geometry, modern, algebra, liverpool, peter, giblin, known, their, registered, charity, mathematical, . Ian Robertson Porteous 9 October 1930 30 January 2011 was a Scottish mathematician at the University of Liverpool and an educator on Merseyside He is best known for three books on geometry and modern algebra In Liverpool he and Peter Giblin are known for their registered charity Mathematical Education on Merseyside which promotes enthusiasm for mathematics through sponsorship of an annual competition 1 Ian R PorteousBorn 1930 10 09 9 October 1930Died30 January 2011 2011 01 30 aged 80 NationalityBritishAlma materUniversity of CambridgeScientific careerFieldsMathematicsInstitutionsUniversity of LiverpoolDoctoral advisorW V D HodgeMichael Atiyah Contents 1 Family and early life 2 Early career 3 Later career and works 4 Death and legacy 5 Selected publications 6 See also 7 References 8 External linksFamily and early life editPorteous was born on 9 October 1930 He was one of six children of Reverend Norman Walker Porteous later a theologian and Old Testament academic from Crossgates Fife and May Hadwen Robertson of Kirkcaldy Fife He attended George Watson s College in Edinburgh and the University of Edinburgh obtaining his first mathematical degree in 1952 2 After a time in national service he took up study at Trinity College Cambridge Porteous wrote his thesis Algebraic Geometry under W V D Hodge and Michael Atiyah at University of Cambridge in 1961 3 Early career editPorteous began teaching at the University of Liverpool as a lecturer in 1959 becoming senior lecturer in 1972 During a year 1961 62 at Columbia University in New York Porteous was influenced by Serge Lang He continued to do research on manifolds in differential geometry In 1971 his article The normal singularities of a submanifold was published in Journal of Differential Geometry 5 543 64 It was concerned with the smooth embeddings of an m manifold in Rn In 1969 Porteous published Topological Geometry with Van Nostrand Reinhold and Company It was reviewed in Mathematical Reviews by J Eells who interpreted it as a three term textbook for a sequence in abstract algebra geometric algebra and differential calculus in Euclidean and Banach spaces and on manifolds Eells says Surely this book is the product of substantial thought and care both from the standpoints of consistent mathematical presentation and of student s pedagogical requirements In 1981 a second edition was published with Cambridge University Press Later career and works editIn 1995 Ian Porteous published Clifford Algebras and the Classical Groups which was reviewed by Peter R Law 4 In praise Law says Porteous presentation of the subject matter sets a standard by which others may be judged The book has 24 chapters including 8 quaternions 13 The classical groups 15 Clifford algebras 16 Spin groups 17 Conjugation 20 Topological spaces 21 Manifolds 22 Lie groups In the preface Porteous acknowledges the contribution of his master s degree student Tony Hampson and anticipatory work by Terry Wall See references to a link where misprints may be found The textbook Geometric Differentiation 1994 is a modern elementary study of differential geometry The subtitle for the intelligence of curves and surfaces indicates its extent in the differential geometry of curves and differential geometry of surfaces The review by D R J Chillingworth 5 says it is aimed at advanced undergraduates or beginning graduate students in mathematics Chillingworth notes a peculiar feature of the book is its use of compact notation for differentiation using numerical subscripts that allow tidy presentation of calculations For instance Porteous gives Faa di Bruno s formula Furthermore the reviewer notes that this mathematics has connections to optics kinematics and architecture as well as more recently geology tomography computer vision and face recognition These applications follow from the theories of contact umbilical points ridges germs and cusps Porteous has suggestions for readers wanting to know more about singularity theory The underlying theme is the study of critical points of appropriate distance squared functions A second edition was published in 2001 where the author was able to report on related work by Vladimir Arnold on spherical curves In fact Porteous had translated Arnold s paper from the Russian Death and legacy editPorteous commitment to mathematics education can be seen through the work of his charity Mathematical Education on Merseyside see references As recounted in the book Challenging Mathematics in 1978 Giblin and Porteous began to organise a Challenge competition for first and second formers in secondary school By 1989 they were drawing 3 500 participants each year The competition was held over two weekends in the Spring Term Students considered six questions in each round Marking was arranged through the mathematics department of Liverpool University and prizes were awarded at an evening of mathematical recreation Broad participation was encouraged by making half the problems widely accessible Solutions to the problems appear in their book Beyond mathematics Porteous enjoyed hill walking and sang in his church choir He served as a Liberal councillor on Liverpool City Council from 1974 to 1978 He died suddenly of a suspected heart attack on 30 January 2011 1 2 Selected publications editPorteous Ian R 1981 Topological Geometry 2nd ed Cambridge University Press p 486 ISBN 0 521 23160 4 Porteous Ian R 1995 Clifford Algebras and the Classical Groups Cambridge Studies in Advanced Mathematics vol 50 Cambridge University Press ISBN 978 0 521 55177 9 6 Porteous Ian R 2001 Geometric Differentiation For the Intelligence of Curves and Surfaces 2nd ed Cambridge University Press p 350 ISBN 978 0 521 00264 6 Giblin P J Porteus I R 1990 Challenging Mathematics Oxford University Press ISBN 0 19 914361 7 Vladimir Arnold 1995 The geometry of spherical curves and the algebra of quaternions translated by Ian Porteous Russian Mathematical Surveys 50 1 68 See also editPorteous formulaReferences edit a b Department of Mathematical Sciences In Memoriam Dr Ian Porteous University of Liverpool a b Peter Giblin 17 February 2011 Ian Porteous obituary The Guardian Ian R Porteous at the Mathematics Genealogy Project Peter R Law Review of Clifford Algebras and the Classical Groups MR1369094 D R J Chillingworth Review of Geometric Differentiation MR1302171 Corrections to Clifford Algebras and the Classical Groups Archived 25 March 2009 at the Wayback MachineExternal links editIan R Porteous at the Mathematics Genealogy Project Hodge Institute 2011 Ian Porteous Peter Giblin 2012 In Memoriam Ian R Porteous 9 October 1930 30 January 2011 Journal of Singularities Volume 6 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ian R Porteous amp oldid 1149845645, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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