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John David Crawford

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John David Crawford
Born1954 (1954)
DiedAugust 23, 1998(1998-08-23) (aged 43–44)
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, US
Occupation(s)Physicist, professor
Years active1977–1998?
EmployerUniversity of Pittsburgh
Known forResearch in theoretical physics

John David Crawford (1954–1998[1]) was a physicist and professor at the University of Pittsburgh.[1] He obtained his undergraduate degree with honors from Princeton University in 1977 and his Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley in 1983.[1]

An internationally recognized researcher in theoretical physics, he specialized in plasma physics and nonlinear dynamics.[2] His broad physical insight and deep knowledge of mathematics enabled him to make profound contributions to dynamical systems.[2] He published more than 80 research papers and wrote a landmark review on bifurcation theory.[3] Additionally, he was also a codirector of the "Research Experiences for Undergraduates" program, which exposed undergraduates to scientific study, in 1997.[1]

Apart from his research, he was a passionate mountain climber. He died on August 23, 1998, at the Montefiore Hospital in Pittsburgh of Burkitt's lymphoma, a form of lymph cancer.[1]

In 2001, SIAM's Activity Group in Dynamical Systems established the J.D. Crawford Prize, which is now the world's top award in dynamical systems.[4]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "John David Crawford '77". Princeton Alumni Weekly. June 9, 1999. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
  2. ^ a b Knobloch, Edgar (October 1998). "1954–1998". Dynamical Systems Magazine. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  3. ^ Crawford, John David (1 October 1991). "Introduction to bifurcation theory" (PDF). Reviews of Modern Physics. 63 (4). American Physical Society: 991–1037. Bibcode:1991RvMP...63..991C. doi:10.1103/revmodphys.63.991. hdl:2152/61063.
  4. ^ "J.D. Crawford Prize (SIAG/Dynamical Systems)". SIAM. Retrieved 20 May 2015.