William Arthur Kirk
Encyclopedia
William Arthur Kirk is an American mathematician
. His research interests include nonlinear functional analysis
, the geometry of Banach space
s and metric spaces. In particular, he has made notable contributions to the fixed point theory
of metric spaces; for example, he is one of the two namesakes of the Caristi-Kirk fixed point theorem of 1976. He is also known for the Kirk theorem of 1964.
He completed his PhD, entitled "Metrization of Surface Curvature", at the University of Missouri
in August 1962 under the supervision of Leonard Blumenthal
. He then became an Assistant Professor of Mathematics at the University of California, Riverside
from 1962 to 1967. Since 1967 he has worked from the University of Iowa
, as a full Professor of Mathematics since 1971 and as Department Chair from 1985 to 1991.
He holds an honorary doctorate from Maria Curie-Skłodowska University, an institution which was an early centre of study for the fixed point theory of metric spaces.
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....
. His research interests include nonlinear functional analysis
Nonlinear functional analysis
Nonlinear functional analysis is a branch of Mathematical Analysis. It deals with nonlinear mappings and its subject matter includes:* generalizations of calculus to Banach spaces* implicit function theorems...
, the geometry of Banach space
Banach space
In mathematics, Banach spaces is the name for complete normed vector spaces, one of the central objects of study in functional analysis. A complete normed vector space is a vector space V with a norm ||·|| such that every Cauchy sequence in V has a limit in V In mathematics, Banach spaces is the...
s and metric spaces. In particular, he has made notable contributions to the fixed point theory
Fixed point (mathematics)
In mathematics, a fixed point of a function is a point that is mapped to itself by the function. A set of fixed points is sometimes called a fixed set...
of metric spaces; for example, he is one of the two namesakes of the Caristi-Kirk fixed point theorem of 1976. He is also known for the Kirk theorem of 1964.
He completed his PhD, entitled "Metrization of Surface Curvature", at the University of Missouri
University of Missouri
The University of Missouri System is a state university system providing centralized administration for four universities, a health care system, an extension program, five research and technology parks, and a publishing press. More than 64,000 students are currently enrolled at its four campuses...
in August 1962 under the supervision of Leonard Blumenthal
Leonard Blumenthal
Leonard Mascot Blumenthal was an American mathematician.He received his Ph.D. in 1927 from Johns Hopkins University, under the supervision of Frank Morley; his dissertation was titled Lagrange Resolvents in Euclidean Geometry...
. He then became an Assistant Professor of Mathematics at the University of California, Riverside
University of California, Riverside
The University of California, Riverside, commonly known as UCR or UC Riverside, is a public research university and one of the ten general campuses of the University of California system. UCR is consistently ranked as one of the most ethnically and economically diverse universities in the United...
from 1962 to 1967. Since 1967 he has worked from the University of Iowa
University of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
, as a full Professor of Mathematics since 1971 and as Department Chair from 1985 to 1991.
He holds an honorary doctorate from Maria Curie-Skłodowska University, an institution which was an early centre of study for the fixed point theory of metric spaces.
External links
- William A. Kirk's personal webpage at the University of Iowa
- Honorary doctorate from Maria Curie-Skłodowska University: