Born: 19 November 1901
Died: 15 July 1961
Biography:
Nina Karlovna Bari, born on 19 November 1901 and died on 15 July 1961, was a prominent Soviet mathematician who made significant contributions to the field of trigonometric series. She is also well-known for her two influential textbooks, Higher Algebra and The Theory of Series. Bari’s remarkable achievements and dedication to her work have solidified her place in the history of mathematics.
Bari was born in Russia to parents Olga and Karl Adolfovich Bari, a physician. In 1918, she became one of the first women to be admitted to the prestigious Moscow State University’s Department of Physics and Mathematics. Despite the challenges faced by women in academia during that time, Bari graduated in 1921, a remarkable feat considering she completed her degree in just three years.
Following her graduation, Bari embarked on her teaching career. She delivered lectures at various esteemed institutions, including the Moscow Forestry Institute, the Moscow Polytechnic Institute, and the Sverdlov Communist Institute. Bari’s exceptional talent and dedication to mathematics earned her the only paid research fellowship offered by the newly established Research Institute of Mathematics and Mechanics. As a student, Bari was drawn to an exclusive group known as the Luzitania, an informal academic and social organization. Under the mentorship of Nikolai Luzin, she specialized in studying trigonometric series and functions, quickly becoming one of his most accomplished students.
In 1922, Bari made history as the first woman to address the Moscow Mathematical Society, where she presented her groundbreaking research findings. Four years later, in 1926, she successfully completed her doctoral work on the subject of trigonometric expansions, earning her the prestigious Glavnauk Prize for her outstanding thesis work. Bari’s academic pursuits took her to Paris, where she had the opportunity to study at the Sorbonne and the College de France. She also attended the Polish Mathematical Congress in Lwów, Poland, with financial support from a Rockefeller grant. It is believed that Bari’s decision to travel was influenced by the disintegration of the Luzitania group, as Luzin’s difficult personality had driven many mathematicians away. By 1930, the Luzitania movement had dissolved entirely, and Luzin left Moscow State University for the Steklov Institute of Mathematics at the Academy of Sciences.
In 1932, Bari joined the faculty at Moscow State University as a professor. Three years later, she was awarded the prestigious title of Doctor of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, a distinction beyond the traditional Ph.D. degree. By this time, Bari had made substantial contributions to the field of trigonometric series, further solidifying her reputation as a leading mathematician.
Throughout her career, Bari collaborated closely with Dmitrii Menshov on various research projects. Together, they assumed responsibility for function theory work at Moscow State University during the 1940s. Bari’s work on primitive functions and the almost everywhere convergence of trigonometric series garnered significant attention when she published an influential piece in 1952. She also presented her findings at the 1956 Third All-Union Congress in Moscow and the 1958 International Congress of Mathematicians in Edinburgh.
Although mathematics was the cornerstone of Bari’s intellectual life, she had a deep appreciation for literature and the arts. She was a well-rounded individual who found joy in exploring multiple disciplines.
Nina Bari’s contributions to mathematics, particularly in the field of trigonometric series, have left an indelible mark on the discipline. Her dedication, perseverance, and groundbreaking research have served as an inspiration to aspiring mathematicians, especially women, and have paved the way for future generations of mathematicians to thrive.
Awards:
– Glavnauk Prize for her doctoral research in 1926