Hellmuth Stachel
Encyclopedia
Hellmuth Stachel is an Austrian
mathematician
, a Professor of Geometry at the Technical University of Vienna, who is known due to his contributions to geometry
, kinematics
and computer-aided design
.
to the family of primary school teachers. He graduated from an elementary school in Trofaiach
and secondary school (gymnasium) in Leoben
. In 1965 he graduated from the University of Graz
and Graz University of Technology
, obtaining a diploma of a school teacher in “mathematics
” and “descriptive geometry
.” As a Ph.D. student of Graz University he majored in “mathematics, astronomy
and philosophy
.” His doctoral advisor was Professor Fritz Hohenberg. Hellmuth Stachel obtained his doctorate
in 1969 from Graz University and passed thought habilitation
in 1971 at the Technical University of Graz. In 1980 he moved to the Vienna University of Technology
.
Hellmuth Stachel held several visiting positions in China
: in August 1984 he was a visiting professor at South China University of Technology
in Guangzhou
and, in October 1989, at Tongji University
in Shanghai
.
Professor Stachel takes an active part in the work of “International Society for Geometry and Graphics” (ISGG). In 1990 he was elected a chairman and, in 1994, a vice-president of the society. In 1996 he has created the scientific journal Journal for Geometry and Graphics and since then serves it as the Editor-in-Chief.
, kinematics
and the theory of mechanisms, as well as on computer aided design. He studied flexible polyhedra
in the 4-dimensional Euclidean space and 3-dimensional Lobachevsky space
.
. In 1993 he received the “German-Austrian University-Software Award” for the development of educational Cad-3D programs. In 2004 he received The Steve M. Slaby Award. On November, 1st 2010 Hellmuth Stachel received a honorary doctorate from the Dresden University of Technology
.
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
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....
, a Professor of Geometry at the Technical University of Vienna, who is known due to his contributions to geometry
Geometry
Geometry arose as the field of knowledge dealing with spatial relationships. Geometry was one of the two fields of pre-modern mathematics, the other being the study of numbers ....
, kinematics
Kinematics
Kinematics is the branch of classical mechanics that describes the motion of bodies and systems without consideration of the forces that cause the motion....
and computer-aided design
Computer-aided design
Computer-aided design , also known as computer-aided design and drafting , is the use of computer technology for the process of design and design-documentation. Computer Aided Drafting describes the process of drafting with a computer...
.
Biography
Hellmuth Stachel was born on October 6, 1942 in GrazGraz
The more recent population figures do not give the whole picture as only people with principal residence status are counted and people with secondary residence status are not. Most of the people with secondary residence status in Graz are students...
to the family of primary school teachers. He graduated from an elementary school in Trofaiach
Trofaiach
Trofaiach is a municipality in the Leoben district of the state of Styria in Austria, the site of a post World War II British sector displaced person camp....
and secondary school (gymnasium) in Leoben
Leoben
Leoben is a Styrian city in central Austria, located by the Mur river. With a population of about 25,000 it is a local industrial center and hosts the University of Leoben which specialises in mining...
. In 1965 he graduated from the University of Graz
University of Graz
The University of Graz , a university located in Graz, Austria, is the second-largest and second-oldest university in Austria....
and Graz University of Technology
Graz University of Technology
The Graz University of Technology is the second largest university in Styria, Austria, after the University of Graz. Austria has three universities of technology – in Graz, in Leoben, and in Vienna. The Graz University of Technology was founded in 1811 by Archduke John of Austria. TUG, as the...
, obtaining a diploma of a school teacher 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...
” and “descriptive geometry
Descriptive geometry
Descriptive geometry is the branch of geometry which allows the representation of three-dimensional objects in two dimensions, by using a specific set of procedures. The resulting techniques are important for engineering, architecture, design and in art...
.” As a Ph.D. student of Graz University he majored in “mathematics, astronomy
Astronomy
Astronomy is a natural science that deals with the study of celestial objects and phenomena that originate outside the atmosphere of Earth...
and philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
.” His doctoral advisor was Professor Fritz Hohenberg. Hellmuth Stachel obtained his doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
in 1969 from Graz University and passed thought habilitation
Habilitation
Habilitation is the highest academic qualification a scholar can achieve by his or her own pursuit in several European and Asian countries. Earned after obtaining a research doctorate, such as a PhD, habilitation requires the candidate to write a professorial thesis based on independent...
in 1971 at the Technical University of Graz. In 1980 he moved to the Vienna University of Technology
Vienna University of Technology
Vienna University of Technology is one of the major universities in Vienna, the capital of Austria. Founded in 1815 as the "Imperial-Royal Polytechnic Institute" , it currently has about 26,200 students , 8 faculties and about 4,000 staff members...
.
Hellmuth Stachel held several visiting positions in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
: in August 1984 he was a visiting professor at South China University of Technology
South China University of Technology
South China University of Technology is a Chinese university located in Guangzhou, capital of the Guangdong province. In 1999, SCUT ranked No...
in Guangzhou
Guangzhou
Guangzhou , known historically as Canton or Kwangchow, is the capital and largest city of the Guangdong province in the People's Republic of China. Located in southern China on the Pearl River, about north-northwest of Hong Kong, Guangzhou is a key national transportation hub and trading port...
and, in October 1989, at Tongji University
Tongji University
Tongji University , colloquially known as Tongji , located in Shanghai, has more than 30,000 students and 8,000 staff members . It offers degree programs at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels...
in Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
.
Professor Stachel takes an active part in the work of “International Society for Geometry and Graphics” (ISGG). In 1990 he was elected a chairman and, in 1994, a vice-president of the society. In 1996 he has created the scientific journal Journal for Geometry and Graphics and since then serves it as the Editor-in-Chief.
Research
Hellmuth Stachel wrote 3 books (in cooperation with other scholars) and approximately 120 scientific articles on classical and descriptive geometryGeometry
Geometry arose as the field of knowledge dealing with spatial relationships. Geometry was one of the two fields of pre-modern mathematics, the other being the study of numbers ....
, kinematics
Kinematics
Kinematics is the branch of classical mechanics that describes the motion of bodies and systems without consideration of the forces that cause the motion....
and the theory of mechanisms, as well as on computer aided design. He studied flexible polyhedra
Flexible polyhedron
In geometry, a flexible polyhedron is a polyhedral surface that allows continuous non-rigid deformations such that all faces remain rigid. The Cauchy rigidity theorem shows that in dimension 3 such a polyhedron cannot be convex .The first examples of flexible polyhedra, now called Bricard's...
in the 4-dimensional Euclidean space and 3-dimensional Lobachevsky space
Hyperbolic geometry
In mathematics, hyperbolic geometry is a non-Euclidean geometry, meaning that the parallel postulate of Euclidean geometry is replaced...
.
Awards and prizes
In 1991 Hellmuth Stachel was elected a corresponding member of the Austrian Academy of SciencesAustrian Academy of Sciences
The Austrian Academy of Sciences is a legal entity under the special protection of the Federal Republic of Austria. According to the statutes of the Academy its mission is to promote the sciences and humanities in every respect and in every field, particularly in fundamental research...
. In 1993 he received the “German-Austrian University-Software Award” for the development of educational Cad-3D programs. In 2004 he received The Steve M. Slaby Award. On November, 1st 2010 Hellmuth Stachel received a honorary doctorate from the Dresden University of Technology
Dresden University of Technology
The Technische Universität Dresden is the largest institute of higher education in the city of Dresden, the largest university in Saxony and one of the 10 largest universities in Germany with 36,066 students...
.
Books
- G. Glaeser and H. Stachel. Open Geometry: OpenGL + Advanced Geometry. Springer: New York, 1999. ISBN 0-387-98599-9.
- T. Arens, F. Hettlich, Ch. Karpfinger, U. Kockelkorn, K. Lichtenegger, and H. Stachel. Mathematik, 1.Aufl. Spektrum: Heidelberg, 2008, 1500 p. ISBN 978-3-8274-1758-9.
- T. Arens, F. Hettlich, Ch. Karpfinger, U. Kockelkorn, K. Lichtenegger, and H. Stachel. Arbeitsbuch Mathematik. Spektrum: Heidelberg, 2009, 683 p. ISBN 978-3-8274-2123-4.
Articles on flexible polyhedra
- H. Stachel. Flexible octahedra in the hyperbolic space. In the book: Non-Euclidean geometries. János Bolyai memorial volume (Eds. A. Prékopa et al.). New York: Springer. Mathematics and its Applications (Springer) 581, 209–225 (2006). ISBN 0-387-29554-2.
- H. Stachel. Flexible cross-polytopes in the Euclidean 4-space. J. Geom. Graph. 4, No.2, 159–167 (2000). ISSN 1433-8157.
- H. Stachel. Higher order flexibility of octahedra. Period. Math. Hung. 39, No.1–3, 225–240 (1999). ISSN 0031-5303.
Further reading
- To 60th birthday of Professor Hellmuth Stachel, the ISGG vice-president. In the book: Applied Geometry and Graphics (The interdepartmental collection of proceedings), issue 72. Kyiv: KNUBA, 2003. P. 222–223. ISSN 0131-579X.