Stephen Smale - Reaching Higher Dimensions

Book excerpt: In 2000, the American Mathematical Society published a biography of Professor Stephen Smale, who had recently retired from a prestigious career at the University of California, Berkeley. But in retirement, Professor Smale has continued his academic pursuits through the present day, resulting in numerous additional publications and honors in the past 20+ years. As part of the CityU Legacy Series, this book documents Professor Smale's time at City University of Hong Kong, during his first appointment as a Distinguished University Professor in the Department of Mathematics from 1995-2001 as well as when he returned from 2009-2016. It also covers colorful and adventurous aspects of his life, including his impressive mineral collection and intrepid sailing and hiking trips to exotic locales. So that readers can experience the full extent of Professor Smale's notable life and work, the previous biography about him is included to provide a complete picture of this renowned scholar of international influence. "A fascinating and inspiring story of how Steve Smale, a bright yet seemingly unexceptional country boy ... became one of the most brilliant and in influential mathematicians on the planet." Lenore Blum Distinguished Career Professor of Computer Science, Emerita Carnegie Mellon University "I first met Steve during a visit to Berkeley … I did not foresee that the visit would mark the beginning of a long-lasting relationship including, but going well beyond, mathematical collaboration." Felipe Cucker Emeritus Professor, Department of Mathematics City University of Hong Kong