Evans Harrell


Evans Malott Harrell II is an American mathematician known for his research in mathematical physics and the spectral theory of linear operators, particularly related to the Schrödinger equation. From 2005 to 2014 he was Professor and Associate Dean in the School of Mathematics at the Georgia Institute of Technology.
WWW people.math.gatech.edu/~h...

Early life and education

Harrell was born in 1950 in Indianapolis, Indiana. He earned his undergraduate degree from Stanford University and completed his Ph.D. at Princeton University in 1976, where his doctoral dissertation was titled "Schrödinger Operators with Singular Perturbation Potentials" under the advisor Barry Simon. He held visiting and postdoctoral posts at Haverford, the University of Vienna, and MIT before his first tenure-track role at Johns Hopkins. He joined Georgia Tech in 1983 and remained there until his retirement.

Research and Academic Contributions

Harrell’s research focuses on the analysis of differential equations, particularly in the spectral theory of elliptic operators and semiclassical quantum mechanics. He is recognized for his work on the influence of geometry on the eigenvalues and eigenvectors of differential equations, as well as for studying the behavior of quantum systems at atomic scales.

Education reform

Harrell has been an active voice in science education reform and has contributed to international mathematics education. He participated in scientific exchanges and delivered lectures in countries that included Benin, Senegal, and Mali. Additionally, he serves on the board of the educational foundation Gathering 4 Gardner.

Science Communication through the Arts

Harrell integrates dance, music, circus arts, and drama into his science communication efforts. He founded Mathematics in Motion, a production company devoted to blending mathematics with the lively arts. Through this initiative, Harrell has produced and directed science-themed performances at various events, including the Atlanta Science Festival and the Julia Robinson Mathematics Festival.

Honors

Harrell won a Sloan Research Fellowship in 1983. He is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Georgia Tech awarded him an Outstanding Service Award in 1996 and the Eichholtz Teaching Award in 2006.

Papers

Books