University of Erlangen Emmy Noether

paul gordan supervised noether s doctoral dissertation on invariants of biquadratic forms.

noether showed proficiency in french , english. in spring of 1900 took examination teachers of these languages , received overall score of sehr gut (very good). performance qualified teach languages @ schools reserved girls, chose instead continue studies @ university of erlangen.

this unconventional decision; 2 years earlier, academic senate of university had declared allowing mixed-sex education overthrow academic order . 1 of 2 women students in university of 986, noether allowed audit classes rather participate fully, , required permission of individual professors lectures wished attend. despite these obstacles, on 14 july 1903 passed graduation exam @ realgymnasium in nuremberg.

during 1903–04 winter semester, studied @ university of göttingen, attending lectures given astronomer karl schwarzschild , mathematicians hermann minkowski, otto blumenthal, felix klein, , david hilbert. thereafter, restrictions on women s participation in university rescinded.

noether returned erlangen. officially reentered university on 24 october 1904, , declared intention focus solely on mathematics. under supervision of paul gordan wrote dissertation, Über die bildung des formensystems der ternären biquadratischen form (on complete systems of invariants ternary biquadratic forms, 1907). although had been received, noether later described thesis crap .

for next 7 years (1908–15) taught @ university of erlangen s mathematical institute without pay, substituting father when ill lecture. in 1910 , 1911 published extension of thesis work 3 variables n variables.

noether used postcards discuss abstract algebra colleague, ernst fischer. card postmarked 10 april 1915.

gordan retired in spring of 1910, continued teach successor, erhard schmidt, left shortly afterward position in breslau. gordan retired teaching altogether in 1911 arrival of schmidt s successor ernst fischer, , died in december 1912.

according hermann weyl, fischer important influence on noether, in particular introducing work of david hilbert. 1913 1916 noether published several papers extending , applying hilbert s methods mathematical objects such fields of rational functions , invariants of finite groups. phase marks beginning of engagement abstract algebra, field of mathematics make groundbreaking contributions.

noether , fischer shared lively enjoyment of mathematics , discuss lectures long after over; noether known have sent postcards fischer continuing train of mathematical thoughts.