Sir Alexander Oppenheim, OBE FRSE KT SMN (4 February 19031997) was a public intellectual, mathematician, and political advisor. Oppenheim served as a professor of mathematics, dean, vice chancellor and chief academic and administrative officer of numerous universities throughout the world. In mathematics, his most notable contribution is his Oppenheim conjecture, which was later proven to be true. The original Oppenheim conjecture that Oppenheim presented to The National Academy of Sciences at age 26, can be viewed Here. Oppenheim's mathematical work and conjectures laid the foundation for half a century's work into ergodic theory and diophantine approximation. Oppenheim, with the help of his colleague Harold Davenport, revised his conjecture a number of times. Having been raised in an ethnic minority and having suffered extraordinary physical and emotional abuse while being held as prisoner of war, he was known for his prolific international social and political advocacy and commentary and promotion of social and human rights. Sir Sydney Caine, the director of The London School of Economics, and a former colleague of Oppenheim's in Malaysia, called him "a great mathematician, and an even greater humanitarian." Oppenheim received numerous awards including a knighthood and OBE from Queen Elizabeth II, foreign honors from several monarchs including the Sultan of Malaysia, election to the Royal Society and a number of honorary doctorates.
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