Charles François Sturm was born in Geneva, Switzerland, on September 29, 1803. He obtained his scientific education in this city and began his rich scientific career there through significant research in sound propagation and compressibility of fluids. In September of 2003, on the occasion of the 200th anniversary of his birth, his home city honoured his worldwide recognition with a colloquium and workshop under the sponsorship of the University of Geneva.

This volume is based on lectures presented at that colloquium, which focused on C.F. Sturm's own work. The book contains a selection of reproductions of his scientific publications. Sturm contributed notably to geometry (theory of polygons, elementary geometry, projective geometry, conic sections), algebra, analysis (differential equations, series), optics (caustics, physiological optics), mechanics, and other areas of physics (particularly fluid mechanics and speed of sound in water).

These original papers are accompanied by contributions from internationally renowned experts who have worked on and deepened understanding of many topics of interest to Sturm, in particular differential equations, optics and algebraic curves. The volume complements the book Sturm-Liouville Theory. Past and Present (ISBN 978-3-7643-7066-4) that also originates from that colloquium.