Dr. Catherine Bandle is a distinguished mathematician renowned for her pioneering contributions to the field of differential equations and isoperimetric inequalities. She currently holds the position of professor emerita at the University of Basel where she served as a full professor from 1975 until her retirement in 2003. After completing her doctorate at ETH Zurich in 1971 under the supervision of Joseph Hersch and Alfred Huber she made history as the first woman mathematician to earn a habilitation at ETH Zurich in 1974. Her academic journey began with exceptional promise as evidenced by receiving the prestigious ETH Silver Medal for her dissertation on isoperimetric inequalities in mathematical physics an honor previously awarded only to Alice Roth among women mathematicians.
Dr. Bandle's groundbreaking research has fundamentally advanced the understanding of semilinear elliptic equations reaction-diffusion equations and isoperimetric inequalities with significant applications in mathematical physics. Her seminal 1980 book Isoperimetric Inequalities and Applications established a comprehensive framework that built upon and significantly expanded the foundational work of George Pólya and Gábor Szegő providing the mathematical community with the most up-to-date treatment of the subject at that time. Her theoretical developments have proven instrumental in solving complex problems across multiple domains of mathematical physics influencing generations of researchers in the field. The enduring relevance of her work was further demonstrated by her 2023 publication Shape Optimization - Variations of Domains and Applications co-authored with Alfred Wagner which showcases her continued intellectual vitality and contribution to contemporary mathematical research.
Beyond her personal research achievements Dr. Bandle has played a pivotal role in advancing the field through her collaborative work particularly with Maria Assunta Pozio on destabilized elliptic equations fostering important cross-border mathematical dialogue. Her career has served as an inspiration for women in mathematics breaking barriers as one of the earliest women to achieve habilitation at ETH Zurich and maintaining a distinguished career at the University of Basel for nearly three decades. While officially retired since 2003 her continued scholarly activity including recent publications demonstrates her enduring commitment to mathematical inquiry and knowledge dissemination. Dr. Bandle's legacy continues to shape the direction of research in partial differential equations and optimization with her theoretical frameworks remaining essential references for contemporary mathematicians working at the intersection of geometry and mathematical physics.
