<p>Sofia Kovalevskaya (January 15, 1850 – February 10, 1891) was a Russian mathematician and writer who made significant contributions to the field of mathematics, particularly in the areas of partial differential equations and the theory of differential equations. She was the first woman to hold a full professorship in mathematics in Europe and the first female Fields Medalist.</p><p></p><p>Kovalevskaya was born in Moscow, Russia, and her early education was largely self-taught. She was not allowed to attend university in Russia because of her gender, so she studied mathematics in secret with private tutors. In 1869, she moved to Heidelberg, Germany, where she studied mathematics under the guidance of Karl Weierstrass, one of the leading mathematicians of the time.</p><p></p><p>In 1874, Kovalevskaya submitted her doctoral thesis, "On the Rotation of a Solid Body around a Fixed Point," to the University of Göttingen in Germany. The thesis was groundbreaking and solved a problem that had been open for decades. It was also the first time a woman had been awarded a Ph.D. in mathematics in Europe.</p><p></p><p>After receiving her Ph.D., Kovalevskaya held various academic positions in Germany, Sweden, and Russia. She made significant contributions to the field of mathematics, particularly in the areas of partial differential equations and the theory of differential equations. In 1888, she became the first woman to hold a full professorship in mathematics in Europe.</p><p></p><p>Kovalevskaya was also a writer and an advocate for women's rights. She wrote a novel, "Nihilist Girl," which was based on her own experiences as a woman in a male-dominated field. She also wrote articles and gave speeches on the topic of women's rights.</p><p></p><p>In conclusion, Sofia Kovalevskaya was a Russian mathematician and writer who made significant contributions to the field of mathematics, particularly in the areas of partial differential equations and the theory of differential equations. She was the first woman to hold a full professorship in mathematics in Europe and the first female Fields Medalist. She was also a writer and an advocate for women's rights and wrote a novel and articles on the topic of women's rights. She passed away in 1891.</p><p></p><p></p>