Charles Colbourn
Encyclopedia
Charles Joseph Colbourn is a Canadian computer scientist
and mathematician
, whose research concerns graph algorithms, combinatorial design
s, and their applications. From 1996 to 2001 he was the Dorothean Professor of Computer Science at the University of Vermont
; since then he has been a professor of Computer Science and Engineering at Arizona State University
.
Colbourn was born on October 24, 1953, in Toronto
, Ontario
, Canada
; despite working in the United States since 1996 he retains his Canadian citizenship. He did his undergraduate studies at the University of Toronto
, graduating in 1976; after a masters degree at the University of Waterloo
, he returned to Toronto for a Ph.D., which he received in 1980 under the supervision of Derek Corneil. He has held faculty positions at the University of Saskatchewan
, University of Waterloo, University of Vermont, and Arizona State University, as well as visiting positions at several other universities. He has been one of three editors-in-chief of the Journal of Combinatorial Designs since 1992.
In 2004, the Institute of Combinatorics and its Applications
named Colbourn as that year's winner of their Euler Medal
for lifetime achievements in combinatorics
.
Computer science
Computer science or computing science is the study of the theoretical foundations of information and computation and of practical techniques for their implementation and application in computer systems...
and mathematician
Mathematician
A mathematician is a person whose primary area of study is the field of mathematics. Mathematicians are concerned with quantity, structure, space, and change....
, whose research concerns graph algorithms, combinatorial design
Combinatorial design
Combinatorial design theory is the part of combinatorial mathematics that deals with the existence and construction of systems of finite sets whose intersections have specified numerical properties....
s, and their applications. From 1996 to 2001 he was the Dorothean Professor of Computer Science at the University of Vermont
University of Vermont
The University of Vermont comprises seven undergraduate schools, an honors college, a graduate college, and a college of medicine. The Honors College does not offer its own degrees; students in the Honors College concurrently enroll in one of the university's seven undergraduate colleges or...
; since then he has been a professor of Computer Science and Engineering at Arizona State University
Arizona State University
Arizona State University is a public research university located in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area of the State of Arizona...
.
Colbourn was born on October 24, 1953, in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
; despite working in the United States since 1996 he retains his Canadian citizenship. He did his undergraduate studies at the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
, graduating in 1976; after a masters degree at the University of Waterloo
University of Waterloo
The University of Waterloo is a comprehensive public university in the city of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. The school was founded in 1957 by Drs. Gerry Hagey and Ira G. Needles, and has since grown to an institution of more than 30,000 students, faculty, and staff...
, he returned to Toronto for a Ph.D., which he received in 1980 under the supervision of Derek Corneil. He has held faculty positions at the University of Saskatchewan
University of Saskatchewan
The University of Saskatchewan is a Canadian public research university, founded in 1907, and located on the east side of the South Saskatchewan River in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. An "Act to establish and incorporate a University for the Province of Saskatchewan" was passed by the...
, University of Waterloo, University of Vermont, and Arizona State University, as well as visiting positions at several other universities. He has been one of three editors-in-chief of the Journal of Combinatorial Designs since 1992.
In 2004, the Institute of Combinatorics and its Applications
Institute of Combinatorics and its Applications
The Institute of Combinatorics and its Applications is an international scientific organization. It was formed in 1990 and is based in Winnipeg, Canada.-Aim and membership:...
named Colbourn as that year's winner of their Euler Medal
Euler Medal
The Euler Medal, named after the 18th century mathematician Leonhard Euler, is an honor awarded annually by the Institute of Combinatorics and its Applications to a member with a distinguished lifetime contribution to combinatorial research who are still active in research.-Laureates:* 2008: Gabor...
for lifetime achievements in combinatorics
Combinatorics
Combinatorics is a branch of mathematics concerning the study of finite or countable discrete structures. Aspects of combinatorics include counting the structures of a given kind and size , deciding when certain criteria can be met, and constructing and analyzing objects meeting the criteria ,...
.