Albrecht Dold

Who is Albrecht Dold?

Albrecht Dold was a German mathematician specializing in algebraic topology who proved the Dold–Thom theorem, the Dold–Kan theorem, and introduced Dold manifolds, Dold–Puppe stabilization, and Dold fibrations.

Albrecht Dold studied mathematics and physics at the University of Heidelberg, then worked for some years at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, at Columbia University, New York and at the University of Zürich. In 1963 he returned to Heidelberg, where he stayed most of his career.

Dold's seminal work in algebraic topology, in particular, his work on fixed-point theory has made him known in economics as well as mathematics, and his book "Lectures on Algebraic Topology" is a standard reference among economists as well as mathematicians. He had 19 students and 58 descendants and he was himself a student of Herbert Seifert.

Dold was married to Dr. Yvonne Dold-Samplonius, a distinguished historian of mathematics.