Kenneth L. Cooke

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Kenneth L. Cooke (August 13, 1925 – August 25, 2007) was an American mathematical biologist known for his contributions to the study of epidemics.[1][2] He was the W. M. Keck Professor of Mathematics at Pomona College in Claremont, California.[3]

Early life and education[edit]

Cooke was born in Kansas City, Missouri, in 1925.[2] He enrolled at Pomona College, graduating in 1947 after serving in the Navy as a radar and radio technician during World War II.[2] He subsequently earned a doctorate in mathematics from Stanford University.[2]

Career[edit]

Cooke taught at Washington State University for seven years.[2] He then joined the Pomona faculty in 1957 and remained at the college for the rest of his career.[2] He was promoted to a named professorship in 1985.[3]

His work on epidemics involved modeling parameters under which a disease will spread or die out.[2] He studied HIV/AIDS and other contagious diseases.[2] His work also involved delay differential equations.[2]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Van Den Driessche, P. (2002), Castillo-Chavez, Carlos; Blower, Sally; van den Driessche, Pauline; Kirschner, Denise (eds.), "Kenneth L. Cooke: Researcher, Educator Par Excellence", Mathematical Approaches for Emerging and Reemerging Infectious Diseases: Models, Methods, and Theory, The IMA Volumes in Mathematics and its Applications, vol. 126, New York, NY: Springer New York, pp. 21–30, doi:10.1007/978-1-4613-0065-6_3, ISBN 978-1-4612-6550-4, retrieved July 5, 2021
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Stewart, Jocelyn Y. (September 8, 2007). "Kenneth Cooke, 82; world-renowned mathematician". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
  3. ^ a b "Keck service professorships awarded to 3 - Newspapers.com". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 5, 2021.