Abstract:

This special issue of Acta Mathematica Scientia is dedicated to the celebration of the 70th birthday of Constantine M. Dafermos. Costas is the Alumni-Alumnae University Professor of Brown University, a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, a Correspondent Member of the Academy of Athens, a Foreign Member of the Academia Nazionale dei Lincei, a SIAM Fellow, and an Honorary Professor of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. He is also an Editor-in-Chief of this journal. Costas has done extensive research at the interface of partial di?erential equations and continuum physics. He is a world leader in nonlinear hyperbolic conservation laws. He has also made fundamental contributions on the mathematical theory of the equa-
tions of thermomechanics. Almost uniquely among today’s mathematicians, Costas has seen the greater picture in understanding the fundamental issues of continuum physics and their role in developing new techniques of mathematical analysis. Over the years, Costas has been enthusiastic in advising and helping young mathematicians and is an exemplary figure for many mathematicians around the world. The papers herein are contributed by his former students, postdoctoral fellows, collaborators, and friends from all over the world. They stand as a modest testimony of their appreciation for his scientific eminence and human qualities and of their admi-ration for an exceptional advisor, mentor, collaborator, and colleague. On this special occasion of his 70th birthday, we wish Costas the very best in his scientific endeavours for many decades to come with us.