France, Dec. 31 -- Joseph Fourier was a French mathematician, born on 21 March 1768 in Auxerre, France. His name is closely associated with the Fourier series and Fourier transform, mathematical tools utilised in a wide range of applications. He is also one of the 72 scientists and mathematicians whose names are engraved on the Eiffel Tower.
Fourier is celebrated for his extraordinary analytical skills and his pioneering theory of heat, which opened up an entirely new branch of physics and mathematics.
According to Cedric Villani, a mathematician and Fields Medal laureate, Fourier's work placed him at the forefront of scientific innovation.
"For the generations after him, Fourier remained the emblematic hero of mathematical physics. Some...