Mehdi Behzad is an Iranian mathematician specializing in graph theory. He introduced his total coloring theory during his Ph.D. studies in 1965. Despite the active work during the last 50 years this conjecture remains as challenging as it is open. In fact, Behzad's conjecture now belongs to mathematics’ classic open problems. Behzad has been instrumental in institutionalizing mathematics education and popularization of mathematics in Iran, and has received numerous awards and recognition for his lifetime service to the Iranian scientific community.
Graph theory
Behzad is the coauthor of two text books on graph theory published in 1972 and 1979 in the U.S., which were among the key references on this new field of mathematics. He has been one of the direct collaborators of Paul Erdős.
Behzad has played an important role in institutionalizing and advancement of basic sciences in his home country of Iran. In recognition of his executive contributions during his lifetime, the Iranian Mathematical Society has established the Dr. Mehdi Behzad’s Award, an annual multinational award for recognition of individuals with outstanding leadership role in advancement of mathematics in their respective countries. Behzad's executive contributions include:
A founding member and the first secretary general of Iranian Academy of Sciences, referred to as Imperial Iranian Academy of Sciences, before Iran's revolution, consisting of internationally renowned Iranian elites in the fields of Basic Sciences, Engineering, Medicine, Agriculture, and Liberal Arts and Anthropology, 1975-1979.
A founding member and the first president of Iranian Mathematical Society , the first registered scientific society in Iran and arguably one of the most active ones. He led IMS as its president from 1971 to 1973 and later on from 1997-2003 for two additional terms.
A founding member of Council for Iranian Scientific Societies.
A founding member and vice chancellor at Reza Shah-e-Kabir University since inception in 1976 till 1979. This was the first university in Iran, and arguably in the Middle East, which admitted Ph.D. students in the fields of mathematics, physics, chemistry, and anthropology. Despite the extensive planning and collaboration with Harvard University, the ambitious goals of this institution was never achieved due to the post-revolutionary circumstances in the country.
Chairman at School of Mathematical Sciences at Arya-Mehr University of Technology, currently Sharif University of Technology from 1971 to 1973.
Behzad has been interviewed repeatedly by the national TV, radio, and newspapers. He has received numerous awards and recognition for his contributions such as:
Nationally honored as Prominent Figure of Mathematics in Iran,.
Recipient of the national Alame Tabatabyi Award as the Outstanding Professor of National Elite Foundation in 2011.
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Books
M. Behzad and G. Chartrand, Introduction to the Theory of Graphs, Allyn and Bacon, 1971, 271 pages.
M. Behzad, G. Chartrand, and L. Lesniak, Graphs & Digraphs, Wadsworth, Inc., 1979, 406 pages.
M. Behzad, Graphs and Their Chromatic Numbers, Michigan State University, Department of Mathematics, 1965, 124 pages.
