Le Van Thiem
Encyclopedia
Lê Văn Thiêm was one of the most prominent scientists of Vietnam
in the 20th century. Together with Hoàng Tụy
, he is considered the father of Vietnam Mathematics society.
He was the first director of Vietnam Institute of Mathematics and the first Headmaster of Hanoi National University of Education
and Hanoi University of Science
.
district, Hà Tĩnh province, to an intellectual family.
After the death of his parents in 1930, he moved to live with his older brother in Quy Nhơn and attended the Collège de Quy Nhơn. In this school, Thiêm appeared to stand out from the other students in science, especially mathematics. Within 4 years, he finished the 9-year education (equivalent to K-12 system of the US) and went to University of Indochina for his higher education. Because of the humble scale of the university at that moment, no Math course was offered. Therefore, he enrolled in the PCB (Physics
- Chemistry
- Biology
) class.
In 1939, after passing the final term examination excellently, Lê Văn Thiêm was offered a scholarship to study at École Normale Supérieure
. His education was interrupted by the outbreak of the Second World War, and only continues in 1941. He graduated with Bachelor Degree of Mathematics within a year, rather than the conventional 3-year time. Under the direction of Professor Georges Valiron, he defended his Ph.D.
dissertation successfully in Germany
at 1945 and then moved to the University of Zurich
where he met and worked with Rolf Herman Nevanlinna
for some years.
In 1949, following the call of Hồ Chí Minh
, Lê Văn Thiêm returned to Vietnam to support the war of decolonizing Vietnam.
Moving through many positions in North Vietnam's science institutions and government, in the mid-1950s he was appointed headmaster of the National University of Advanced Education and School of Basic Science (now the Hanoi National University of Education
and the Hanoi University of Science
, Vietnam National University, Hanoi). In 1960s, he was one of the scientists who suggested opening two national high schools (Hanoi National University of Education High school
and Hanoi University of Science High school) to foster Vietnamese mathematics talents.
In 1970 he became the first director of the Vietnam Institute of Mathematics.
Later on, he also became the founder and first editor-in-chief of two of Vietnam's Mathematical Journals: Acta Mathematica Vietnamica (in Latin) and Vietnam Journal of Mathematics (in English).
Lê Văn Thiêm died in 1991 in Ho Chi Minh city
.
A scholarship for Young Vietnamese Mathematics Talents was named after him.
He was the first Modern Mathematician of Vietnam to have his name used for a street (in Hanoi).
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
in the 20th century. Together with Hoàng Tụy
Hoang Tuy
Hoàng "Jefferson" Tụy is a prominent Vietnamese applied mathematician. He is one of two founders of Vietnamese Mathematics, the other is Lê Văn Thiêm....
, he is considered the father of Vietnam Mathematics society.
He was the first director of Vietnam Institute of Mathematics and the first Headmaster of Hanoi National University of Education
Hanoi National University of Education
Hanoi National University of Education is a public university in Vietnam. Established in 1951 as the fourth university in Vietnam , it is now still one of the largest higher education institutions in this country...
and Hanoi University of Science
Hanoi University of Science
Hanoi University of Science is a member of Vietnam National University, Hanoi. Founded in 1904 as Indochina University, the university has changed its name three times: School of Basic Science , University of Hanoi , Hanoi University of Science...
.
Biography
Lê Văn Thiêm was born in 1918 at Trung Lễ Commune, Đức ThọDuc Tho
Đức Thọ is a rural district of Ha Tinh Province in the North Central Coast region of Vietnam. The village of Đông Thái, where the noted 19th century anti-colonial leader Phan Đình Phùng was born, is located in Đức Thọ. As of 2003 the district had a population of 117,730. The district covers an...
district, Hà Tĩnh province, to an intellectual family.
After the death of his parents in 1930, he moved to live with his older brother in Quy Nhơn and attended the Collège de Quy Nhơn. In this school, Thiêm appeared to stand out from the other students in science, especially mathematics. Within 4 years, he finished the 9-year education (equivalent to K-12 system of the US) and went to University of Indochina for his higher education. Because of the humble scale of the university at that moment, no Math course was offered. Therefore, he enrolled in the PCB (Physics
Physics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
- Chemistry
Chemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
- Biology
Biology
Biology is a natural science concerned with the study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. Biology is a vast subject containing many subdivisions, topics, and disciplines...
) class.
In 1939, after passing the final term examination excellently, Lê Văn Thiêm was offered a scholarship to study at École Normale Supérieure
École Normale Supérieure
The École normale supérieure is one of the most prestigious French grandes écoles...
. His education was interrupted by the outbreak of the Second World War, and only continues in 1941. He graduated with Bachelor Degree of Mathematics within a year, rather than the conventional 3-year time. Under the direction of Professor Georges Valiron, he defended his Ph.D.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
dissertation successfully in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
at 1945 and then moved to the University of Zurich
University of Zurich
The University of Zurich , located in the city of Zurich, is the largest university in Switzerland, with over 25,000 students. It was founded in 1833 from the existing colleges of theology, law, medicine and a new faculty of philosophy....
where he met and worked with Rolf Herman Nevanlinna
Rolf Nevanlinna
Rolf Herman Nevanlinna was one of the most famous Finnish mathematicians. He was particularly appreciated for his work in complex analysis.- The Nevanlinna family :...
for some years.
In 1949, following the call of Hồ Chí Minh
Ho Chi Minh
Hồ Chí Minh , born Nguyễn Sinh Cung and also known as Nguyễn Ái Quốc, was a Vietnamese Marxist-Leninist revolutionary leader who was prime minister and president of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam...
, Lê Văn Thiêm returned to Vietnam to support the war of decolonizing Vietnam.
Moving through many positions in North Vietnam's science institutions and government, in the mid-1950s he was appointed headmaster of the National University of Advanced Education and School of Basic Science (now the Hanoi National University of Education
Hanoi National University of Education
Hanoi National University of Education is a public university in Vietnam. Established in 1951 as the fourth university in Vietnam , it is now still one of the largest higher education institutions in this country...
and the Hanoi University of Science
Hanoi University of Science
Hanoi University of Science is a member of Vietnam National University, Hanoi. Founded in 1904 as Indochina University, the university has changed its name three times: School of Basic Science , University of Hanoi , Hanoi University of Science...
, Vietnam National University, Hanoi). In 1960s, he was one of the scientists who suggested opening two national high schools (Hanoi National University of Education High school
Hanoi National University of Education High School for Gifted Students
The High School for Gifted Students, Hanoi National University of Education is a specialized public high school in Hanoi, Vietnam...
and Hanoi University of Science High school) to foster Vietnamese mathematics talents.
In 1970 he became the first director of the Vietnam Institute of Mathematics.
Later on, he also became the founder and first editor-in-chief of two of Vietnam's Mathematical Journals: Acta Mathematica Vietnamica (in Latin) and Vietnam Journal of Mathematics (in English).
Lê Văn Thiêm died in 1991 in Ho Chi Minh city
Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City , formerly named Saigon is the largest city in Vietnam...
.
Public recognition
Awards:- The 3rd degree Nation Liberation Decoration
- The 2nd degree Labor Decoration
- The 1st degree Independence Decoration
- Hồ Chí Minh Award
A scholarship for Young Vietnamese Mathematics Talents was named after him.
He was the first Modern Mathematician of Vietnam to have his name used for a street (in Hanoi).