Nothing is enough for the man to whom enough is too little. – Epicurus
Brief CV
I was born and educated in Romania, where I received my MSc degree in mathematics (from the West University of Timisoara, 1982). I held an academic position—assistant professor—at the "Politechnica" University of Timisoara from 1987 to 1991. In 1991 I moved to South Africa, where I received my PhD degree in mathematics (from Rhodes University, 1994). After a short spell at the University of Namibia, I returned to Rhodes University in 1998. I am currently an associate professor (emeritus). Postgraduate research supervision
C.E. McLean (née Bartlett) (PhD, 2018)
D.I. Barrett (PhD, 2017)
R. Biggs (PhD, 2015)
R.M. Adams (PhD, 2015)
C.E. Bartlett (MSc, 2015)
D.I. Barrett (MSc, 2014)
R. Biggs (MSc, 2012)
H.C. Henninger (MSc, 2012)
R.M. Adams (MSc, 2011)
J.K. Rodgerson (MSc, 2009)
Professional membership (current)
American Mathematical Society (since 1991)
Events & Visits (selective)
Events
2024: 2nd Joint Meeting AMS--UMI, Palermo (Italy), 23--26 July
2024: 9th European Congress of Mathematics (9ECM 2024), Sevilla (Spain), 15--19 July
2023: Conference on Geometry: Theory and Applications (CGTA 2023), Kefermarkt (Austria), 19--23 June
2023: CIMPA School on Contemporary Geometry, Windhoek (Namibia), 16--27 January
2021: 8th European Congress of Mathematics (8ECM 2021), Portoroz (Slovenia), 5--11 July (on-line)
2019: Second Mini-Symposium on Geometry, Groups, and Control (2MS GGC), Grahamstown, 6 December
2019: Conference on Geometry: Theory and Applications (CGTA 2019), Innsbruck (Austria), 3--7 June
2018: First Mini-Symposium on Geometry, Groups, and Control (1MS GGC), Grahamstown, 6 December
2018: South African Mathematical Society Annual Congress, Grahamstown, 3–5 December
2018: 12th ICMAT International Summer School on Geometry, Mechanics and Control, Santiago de Compostela (Spain), 2--6 July
2017: Conference on Geometry : Theory and Applications (CGTA 2017), Pilsen (Czech Republic), 26--30 June
2016: 7th European Congress of Mathematics (7ECM 2016), Berlin (Germany), 18--22 July
2016: Differential Geometry and its Applications (DGA 2016), Brno (Czech Republic), 11--15 July
2016: 4th International Conference on Lie Groups, Differential Equations and Geometry, Modica (Italy), 8--15 June
Visits
2024: Universita degli Studi di Palermo (Italy)
2024: AIMS South Africa (Muizenberg, South Africa)
2023: Universita degli Studi di Palermo (Italy)
2023: University of Namibia (Windhoek, Namibia)
2018: University of Santiago de Compostela (Spain)
2016: Universita degli Studi di Palermo (Italy)
2016: Masaryk University (Czech Republic)
2015: University of Debrecen (Hungary)
2015: Obuda University (Hungary)
2015: University of Ostrava (Czech Republic)
2014: University of Reading (UK)
2014: University of Debrecen (Hungary)
2014: University of Ostrava (Czech Republic)
2014: Universita degli Studi di Palermo (Italy)
2013: University of Reading (UK)
2013: University of Debrecen (Hungary)
2013: Universita degli Studi di Palermo (Italy)
2013: Masaryk University (Czech Republic)
2013: West University of Timisoara (Romania)
2012: University of Reading (UK)
2012: University of Debrecen (Hungary)
2012: West University of Timisoara (Romania)
2011: West University of Timisoara (Romania)
2010: University of Rouen (France)
2010: University of Burgundy (France)
Miscellany
Mathematical folklore
The highest moments in the life of a mathematician are the first few moments after one has proved the result, but before one finds the mistake.
Golden rule of deriving: never trust any result that was proved after 11 p.m.
The professional quality of a mathematician is inversely proportional to the importance it attaches to space and equipment.
Relations between pure and applied mathematicians are based on trust and understanding. Namely, pure mathematicians do not trust applied mathematicians, and applied mathematicians do not understand pure mathematicians.
Some mathematicians become so tense these days that they do not go to sleep during seminars.
In the sciences, we are now uniquely privileged to sit by side with the giants on whose shoulders we stand.
If I have not seen as far as others, it is because giants were standing on my shoulders.
Mathematicians stand on each other's shoulders while computer scientists stand on each other's toes.
These days even the most pure and abstract mathematics is in danger to be applied.
The reason that every (major) university maintains a department of mathematics is that is cheaper to do this than to institutionalize all those people.
Proof by funding: How could three different government agencies be wrong?
Proof by example: The author gives only the case n = 2 and suggests that it contains most of the ideas of the general proof.
Proof by omission: The reader may easily supply the details. (VARIATION: The other 253 cases are analogous.)
Proof by intimidation: Trivial.
Proof by seduction: Convince yourself that this is true!
Proof by cumbersome notation: Best done with access to at least four alphabets and special symbols.
Proof by wishful citation: The author cites the negation, converse, or generalization of a theorem from the literature to support his/her claim.
Proof by reference to inaccessible literature: The author cites a simple corollary of a theorem to be found in a privately circulated memoir of the Slovenian Philological Society, 1883.
Proof by importance: A large body of useful consequences all follow from the proposition in question.
Proof by accumulated evidence: Long and diligent search has not revealed a counterexample.
Proof by cosmology: The negation of the proposition is unimaginable or meaningless.
Quotations
What I cannot create, I do not understand. – R. FEYNMAN
Imagination is more important than knowledge. – A. EINSTEIN
Most people do not really want freedom, because freedom involves responsibility, and most people are frightened of responsibility. -- S. FREUD
Everything you can imagine is real. – P. PICASSO
Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication. -- Leonardo da VINCI
The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science. – A. EINSTEIN
Besides language and music, mathematics is one of the primary manifestations of the free creative power of the human mind. – H. WEYL
The author of the Iliad is either Homer or, if not Homer, somebody else of the same name. – A. HUXLEY
Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored. – A. HUXLEY
We are never deceived; we deceive ourselves. – J.W. von GOETHE
The trouble with the rat race is that even if you win, you're still a rat. – L. TOMLIN
If you're not a rat, you don't have to race. -- Anonymous
When the only tool you have is a hammer, everything begins to look like a nail. – L. ZADEH
It is a miracle that curiosity survives formal education. – A. EINSTEIN
Only professional mathematicians learn anything from proofs. Other people learn from explanations. – R.P. BOAS
What we think we become. -- Anonymous
It is easy to be certain. One has only to be sufficiently vague. – C.S. PEIRCE
If you can't understand it without an explanation, you can't understand it with an explanation. – H. MURAKAMI
Your manuscript is both good and original. However, that which is good is not original, and that which is original is not good. – S. JOHNSON
Hobbies/pastimes Books (mainly non-fiction: philosophy, arts, science vs religion, history) I enjoy reading good thinkers who can write well. Some of my favourites authors are (not necessarily in this order):
Anthony C. GRAYLING
Daniel C. DENNETT
Steven PINKER
Sam HARRIS
Christopher HITCHENS
Richard DAWKINS
Rebecca GOLDSTEIN
Richard HOLLOWAY
Karen ARMSTRONG
Matt RIDLEY
I treasure John Brockman's EDGE collection: fourteen regular collective volumes (2005–2018) as well as six special volumes ("Intelligent Thought" – 2006; "Culture" – 2011; "The Mind" – 2011; "Thinking" – 2013; "The Universe" – 2014; "Life" – 2016)
"This Idea Is Brilliant" (2018)
"Know This" (2017)
"What to Think About Machines That Think" (2016)
"This Idea Must Die" (2015)
"What Should We Be Worried About?" (2014)
"This Explains Everything" (2013)
"This Will Make You Smarter" (2012)
"Is the Internet Changing the Way You Think?" (2011)
"This Will Change Everything" (2010)
"What Have You Changed Your Mind About?" (2009)
"Science at the Edge" (2008)
"What are You Optimistic About?" (2007)
"What Is Your Dangerous Idea?" (2006)
"What We Believe but Cannot Prove" (2005)
Classical music (especially chamber music) I am particularly very fond of the string quartet repertoire. Some of my favorite composers are (not necessarily in this order):
Joseph HAYDN
Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART
Ludwig von BEETHOVEN
Franz SCHUBERT
Arcangelo CORELLI
Bela BARTOK
Dmitri SHOSTAKOVICH
Arvo PART
Gustav MAHLER
Johannes BRAHMS
(NB: A beautiful book: Paul Griffiths –"The String Quartet. A History", 1983; 240 pages)
Football (particularly, the British Premier League) I am a staunch supporter of the Manchester United Football Club, the Red Devils. My BPL favourite/best footballers—mainly Man Utd players, of course—are (in this particular order):
Eric CANTONA (the "King")
Roy KEANE
Ryan GIGGS
Paul SCHOLES
Peter SCHMEICHEL
Cristiano RONALDO
Thierry Henry
Alan Shearer
Steven Gerrard
Wayne ROONEY
Movies (particularly, art films) Some of my favourite movies:
The Remains of the Day (Anthony Hopkins and Emma Thompson; Columbia Pictures, 1993)
The Godfather I,II, III (Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, and Robert Duvall; Paramount Pictures, 1972/1974/1990)
Forrest Gump (Tom Hanks and Gary Sinise; Paramount Pictures, 1994)
Falling Down (Michael Douglas and Robert Duvall; Warner Bros, 1993)
Wines (good wines I can reasonably afford: mainly South African; also—whenever possible—French or Italian). I particularly enjoy:
Pinot Noir
Viognier/Colombar
Shiraz
Chenin Blanc
Chardonnay
(NB: A marvelous book: Roger Scruton –"I Drink, Therefore I am. A Philosopher's Guide to Wine", 2010; 224 pages)