A West Virginia University mathematics professor will give the final Benedum Distinguished Scholar Awards lecture at 4 p.m. Monday, April 24, in the Mountainlair Rhododendron Room.
Dr. Harry Gingold, whose research covers everything mathematical from differential equations to mathematic physics, will lecture on Asymptotics in Pure and Applied Mathematics.
Gingold is one of four recipients of this years Benedum Awards, which recognize WVU faculty for achievements in research, scholarship and creative endeavors. Other 1999-2000 winners are James Harmes, associate professor of English; Ali AbuRahma, professor of surgery, Charleston Division; and Ronald Balvers, professor of economics. Recipients receive $2,500 awards and give lectures related to their fields.
Gingold, whose award is in physical sciences and technologies, was born in Romania and grew up in Israel. He developed a love of numbers during high school and went on to earn bachelors, masters and doctoral degrees in mathematics from the Israel Institute of Technology.
He came to the United States in 1974 as a visiting instructor at the University of Southern California. After that, he was a visiting instructor at the University of Utah, an assistant professor at the G.O.I. and visiting assistant professor at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo.
Gingold joined the mathematics faculty in WVUs Eberly College of Arts and Sciences in 1985. While at WVU , he has published extensively and guest lectured on differential equations, asymptotic methods, summability, mathematic physics, linear algebra, and combinatorics.
The math professor also has a meteorology diploma from the University of Jerusalem and Israel Meteorology Service and spent three years as a weather forecaster.
The Benedum and Distinguished Professors of WVU created the Benedum Distinguished Scholar Awards in 1985-86. The awards recognize either a single recent achievement of note or a long, distinguished career that is still ongoing. The program is funded by the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation and coordinated by the Office of Academic Affairs and Research.