Geoffrey Grimmett
Encyclopedia
Geoffrey Richard Grimmett (born 20 December 1950) is a mathematician
working in probability theory
. He is the Professor of Mathematical Statistics
in the Statistical Laboratory, University of Cambridge.
He is known for his work on the mathematics of random systems arising in probability theory
and statistical mechanics
, especially percolation theory
and the contact process.
He competed at the 1976 Summer Olympics
in Montreal
as a member of the Great Britain
Men's Foil
Team, finishing 6th. He was awarded the Rollo Davidson Prize
in 1989. He was the managing editor of the journal Probability Theory and Related Fields from 2000–2005, and was appointed managing editor of Probability Surveys in 2009.
Grimmett was educated at King Edward's School
, Birmingham
and Merton College, Oxford
. He graduated in 1971, and completed his PhD
in 1974 under the supervision of John Hammersley
and Dominic Welsh. He was the IBM
Research Fellow at New College, Oxford
from 1974–1976 before moving to Bristol University. He was appointed Professor of Mathematical Statistics
at Cambridge University in 1992, and is a fellow of Churchill College
. He was Director of the Statistical Laboratory from 1994–2000, Head of the Department of Pure Mathematics and Mathematical Statistics from 2002–2007, and is a trustee of the Rollo Davidson Trust.
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....
working in probability theory
Probability theory
Probability theory is the branch of mathematics concerned with analysis of random phenomena. The central objects of probability theory are random variables, stochastic processes, and events: mathematical abstractions of non-deterministic events or measured quantities that may either be single...
. He is the Professor of Mathematical Statistics
Professorship of Mathematical Statistics, University of Cambridge
The Professorship of Mathematical Statistics at the University of Cambridge was established in 1961 with the support of the Royal Statistical Society and the aid of donations from various companies and banks. It was the first professorship in the Statistical Laboratory, and the first in Cambridge...
in the Statistical Laboratory, University of Cambridge.
He is known for his work on the mathematics of random systems arising in probability theory
Probability theory
Probability theory is the branch of mathematics concerned with analysis of random phenomena. The central objects of probability theory are random variables, stochastic processes, and events: mathematical abstractions of non-deterministic events or measured quantities that may either be single...
and statistical mechanics
Statistical mechanics
Statistical mechanics or statistical thermodynamicsThe terms statistical mechanics and statistical thermodynamics are used interchangeably...
, especially percolation theory
Percolation theory
In mathematics, percolation theory describes the behavior of connected clusters in a random graph. The applications of percolation theory to materials science and other domains are discussed in the article percolation.-Introduction:...
and the contact process.
He competed at the 1976 Summer Olympics
1976 Summer Olympics
The 1976 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXI Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event celebrated in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, in 1976. Montreal was awarded the rights to the 1976 Games on May 12, 1970, at the 69th IOC Session in Amsterdam, over the bids of Moscow and...
in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
as a member of the Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
Men's Foil
Foil (fencing)
A foil is a type of weapon used in fencing. It is the most common weapon in terms of usage in competition, and is usually the choice for elementary classes for fencing in general.- Components:...
Team, finishing 6th. He was awarded the Rollo Davidson Prize
Davidson Prize
The Rollo Davidson Prize is a prize awarded annually to early-career probabilists by the Rollo Davidson trustees.- History :In 1970, Rollo Davidson, a Fellow-elect of Churchill College, Cambridge died on Piz Bernina, a mountain in Switzerland...
in 1989. He was the managing editor of the journal Probability Theory and Related Fields from 2000–2005, and was appointed managing editor of Probability Surveys in 2009.
Grimmett was educated at King Edward's School
King Edward's School, Birmingham
King Edward's School is an independent secondary school in Birmingham, England, founded by King Edward VI in 1552. It is part of the Foundation of the Schools of King Edward VI in Birmingham, and is widely regarded as one of the most academically successful schools in the country, according to...
, Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
and Merton College, Oxford
Merton College, Oxford
Merton College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. Its foundation can be traced back to the 1260s when Walter de Merton, chancellor to Henry III and later to Edward I, first drew up statutes for an independent academic community and established endowments to...
. He graduated in 1971, and completed his PhD
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
in 1974 under the supervision of John Hammersley
John Hammersley
John Michael Hammersley was a British mathematician best known for his foundational work in the theory of self-avoiding walks and percolation theory. He was born in Helensburgh in Dunbartonshire, and educated at Sedbergh School. He started reading mathematics at Emmanuel College, Cambridge but was...
and Dominic Welsh. He was the IBM
IBM
International Business Machines Corporation or IBM is an American multinational technology and consulting corporation headquartered in Armonk, New York, United States. IBM manufactures and sells computer hardware and software, and it offers infrastructure, hosting and consulting services in areas...
Research Fellow at New College, Oxford
New College, Oxford
New College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom.- Overview :The College's official name, College of St Mary, is the same as that of the older Oriel College; hence, it has been referred to as the "New College of St Mary", and is now almost always...
from 1974–1976 before moving to Bristol University. He was appointed Professor of Mathematical Statistics
Professorship of Mathematical Statistics, University of Cambridge
The Professorship of Mathematical Statistics at the University of Cambridge was established in 1961 with the support of the Royal Statistical Society and the aid of donations from various companies and banks. It was the first professorship in the Statistical Laboratory, and the first in Cambridge...
at Cambridge University in 1992, and is a fellow of Churchill College
Churchill College, Cambridge
Churchill College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England.In 1958, a Trust was established with Sir Winston Churchill as its Chairman of Trustees, to build and endow a college for 60 fellows and 540 Students as a national and Commonwealth memorial to Winston Churchill; its...
. He was Director of the Statistical Laboratory from 1994–2000, Head of the Department of Pure Mathematics and Mathematical Statistics from 2002–2007, and is a trustee of the Rollo Davidson Trust.