Evelyn Nelson (mathematician)
Encyclopedia
Evelyn Merle Nelson born Evelyn Merle Roden, was a Canadian
mathematician
. Nelson made contributions to the area of universal algebra
with applications to theoretical computer science
. She, along with Cecilia Krieger
, is the namesake of the Krieger–Nelson Prize,
awarded by the Canadian Mathematical Society
for outstanding research by a female mathematician.
, Canada
. Her parents were immigrants from Russia
in the 1920s. Nelson went to high school at Westdale Secondary School
in Hamilton.
, Nelson returned to Hamilton
to study at McMaster University
. She received her B.Sc
in mathematics
from
McMaster in 1965, followed by an M.Sc
in mathematics from McMaster in 1967. She succeeded in having her thesis work published in the Canadian Journal of Mathematics
, also in 1967; the article was entitled "Finiteness of semigroups of operators in universal algebra".
Nelson completed her Ph.D in 1970. Her thesis was entitled "The lattice of equational classes of commutative semigroups", and the ideas also formed a journal paper published in the Canadian Journal of Mathematics
.
in 1983.
Nelson's teaching record was, according to one colleague, "invariably of the highest order". However, before earning a faculty position at McMaster, prejudice against her lead to doubts about her teaching ability.
Nelson published over 40 papers during her 20-year career. She died from cancer
in 1987.
, of the Krieger–Nelson Prize, which is awarded to a female mathematician in recognition
of outstanding achievement. The Department of Mathematics at McMaster University
has a lecture series, "The Evelyn
Nelson Lectures", held since 1991.
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...
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....
. Nelson made contributions to the area of universal algebra
Universal algebra
Universal algebra is the field of mathematics that studies algebraic structures themselves, not examples of algebraic structures....
with applications to theoretical computer science
Theoretical computer science
Theoretical computer science is a division or subset of general computer science and mathematics which focuses on more abstract or mathematical aspects of computing....
. She, along with Cecilia Krieger
Cecilia Krieger
Cypra Cecilia Krieger-Dunaij was an Austro-Hungarian -born mathematician of Jewish ancestry who lived and worked in Canada....
, is the namesake of the Krieger–Nelson Prize,
awarded by the Canadian Mathematical Society
Canadian Mathematical Society
The Canadian Mathematical Society is an association of professional mathematicians dedicated to the interests of mathematical research and education in Canada.It was originally conceived in June 1945 as the Canadian Mathematical Congress...
for outstanding research by a female mathematician.
Early life
Nelson was born on November 25, 1943 in Hamilton, OntarioHamilton, Ontario
Hamilton is a port city in the Canadian province of Ontario. Conceived by George Hamilton when he purchased the Durand farm shortly after the War of 1812, Hamilton has become the centre of a densely populated and industrialized region at the west end of Lake Ontario known as the Golden Horseshoe...
, 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...
. Her parents were immigrants from Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
in the 1920s. Nelson went to high school at Westdale Secondary School
Westdale Secondary School
Westdale Secondary School is a public high school founded in 1931 in Hamilton, Ontario. It is the second oldest high school in the city of Hamilton and is located in Westdale Village, a suburb in the west-end of the city. It is administered by the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board...
in Hamilton.
Education
After spending two years at the University of TorontoUniversity 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...
, Nelson returned to Hamilton
Hamilton, Ontario
Hamilton is a port city in the Canadian province of Ontario. Conceived by George Hamilton when he purchased the Durand farm shortly after the War of 1812, Hamilton has become the centre of a densely populated and industrialized region at the west end of Lake Ontario known as the Golden Horseshoe...
to study at McMaster University
McMaster University
McMaster University is a public research university whose main campus is located in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. The main campus is located on of land in the residential neighbourhood of Westdale, adjacent to Hamilton's Royal Botanical Gardens...
. She received her B.Sc
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
in mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
from
McMaster in 1965, followed by an M.Sc
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
in mathematics from McMaster in 1967. She succeeded in having her thesis work published in the Canadian Journal of Mathematics
Canadian Journal of Mathematics
The Canadian Journal of Mathematics is a bimonthly mathematics journal published by the Canadian Mathematical Society. It was established in 1949 by H.S.M. Coxeter and G. de B. Robinson. The current editors of the journal are Henry Kim and Robert McCann. The journal publishes articles in all...
, also in 1967; the article was entitled "Finiteness of semigroups of operators in universal algebra".
Nelson completed her Ph.D in 1970. Her thesis was entitled "The lattice of equational classes of commutative semigroups", and the ideas also formed a journal paper published in the Canadian Journal of Mathematics
Canadian Journal of Mathematics
The Canadian Journal of Mathematics is a bimonthly mathematics journal published by the Canadian Mathematical Society. It was established in 1949 by H.S.M. Coxeter and G. de B. Robinson. The current editors of the journal are Henry Kim and Robert McCann. The journal publishes articles in all...
.
Career
From the completion of her Ph.D in 1970 until 1978, Nelson continued at McMaster, first as a post-doctoral researcher, and later, under the title of "research associate". In 1978, Nelson was appointed as an Associate Professor. Nelson served as the chair of the Unit of Computer Science at McMaster from 1982 until 1984. She was appointed as a full ProfessorProfessor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
in 1983.
Nelson's teaching record was, according to one colleague, "invariably of the highest order". However, before earning a faculty position at McMaster, prejudice against her lead to doubts about her teaching ability.
Nelson published over 40 papers during her 20-year career. She died from cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
in 1987.
Recognition
Nelson is the namesake, along with Cecilia KriegerCecilia Krieger
Cypra Cecilia Krieger-Dunaij was an Austro-Hungarian -born mathematician of Jewish ancestry who lived and worked in Canada....
, of the Krieger–Nelson Prize, which is awarded to a female mathematician in recognition
of outstanding achievement. The Department of Mathematics at McMaster University
McMaster University
McMaster University is a public research university whose main campus is located in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. The main campus is located on of land in the residential neighbourhood of Westdale, adjacent to Hamilton's Royal Botanical Gardens...
has a lecture series, "The Evelyn
Nelson Lectures", held since 1991.
External links
- "Evelyn M. Nelson", Biographies of Women Mathematicians, Agnes Scott CollegeAgnes Scott CollegeAgnes Scott College is a private undergraduate college in the United States. Agnes Scott's campus lies in downtown Decatur, Georgia, nestled inside the perimeter of the bustling metro-Atlanta area....