During ancient times the Greeks, Pythagoras, Archimedes, and Euclid made a significant contribution to Mathematics. Even today, some outstanding Greek Mathematicians doing relevant work in contributing toward mathematical studies within our present day society.
Dr. Anastasios Panagiotelis is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Econometrics and Business Statistics at Monash University in Australia. He presented an interesting lecture on the life and achievements of two of the top Greek Mathematicians of the twentieth century. His lecture was part of the seminars regarding Greek history and culture held at the Greek Center. The seminars were organized by the Greek Orthodox Community of Melbourne and Victoria in early August this year.
There was a discussion on the Mathematician, Constantin Caratheodory. He was born in Germany where he spent most of his professional career and also the Dean of the Ionian University of Smyrna during the early 1920s.
[caption id="attachment_2584" align="alignright" width="298"] The two Greek Mathematicians, Constantin Caratheodory, and Nicholas Metropolis, who had a profound influence on the world of Mathematics[/caption]
Nicholas Metropolis is the other Greek Mathematician who featured in the lecture. A Greek-American, born in Chicago in 1915. His work on the 'Manhattan Project' was notable during his career, and he also made important contributions toward the development of the first digital computers.
Panagiotelis, born in Sydney, completed his doctorate at Sydney University in 2009 and was also awarded a prestigious scholarship to do postdoctoral research in Germany. There, he worked in the Department of Mathematics at the Technical University of Munich.
His research, for which he has been well-recognized aims at the "development and application of statistical and mathematical models" to assist in the world of business and economy.
It is evident how Greeks have been able to connect with their roots through Mathematics and Science which have always been such a vital part of the Greek history and culture and is still present in today's society.