Keith Moffatt
Encyclopedia
Henry Keith Moffatt FRS FRSE (born 1935) is a Scottish
applied mathematician with principal research interests in the field of fluid dynamics
.
, particularly magnetohydrodynamics
and the theory of turbulence
.
His Ph.D.
thesis was on the subject of Magnetohydrodynamic Turbulence, and he has published more than 130 papers.
and Cambridge
. He attended George Watson's College
, then read Mathematical Sciences at Edinburgh University, graduating in 1957. He then went to Trinity College
, Cambridge
, where he read Mathematics
and was a Wrangler in 1959. He was awarded a Smith's Prize
in 1960 while preparing his Ph.D.
, on the subject of Magnetohydrodynamic Turbulence, which he completed in 1962.
as an Assistant Lecturer and became a Fellow of Trinity College
. He was appointed a Lecturer in 1964, and held the office of Tutor, then Senior Tutor, at Trinity between 1970 and 1976.
In 1977 he was appointed to the Chair of Applied Mathematics at Bristol University. He held this position until 1980 when he returned to Cambridge to accept a Chair in Mathematical Physics, renewing his Fellowship of Trinity College. In 2002 he was made an Emeritus Professor of the University (he remains a Fellow of Trinity).
Scottish people
The Scottish people , or Scots, are a nation and ethnic group native to Scotland. Historically they emerged from an amalgamation of the Picts and Gaels, incorporating neighbouring Britons to the south as well as invading Germanic peoples such as the Anglo-Saxons and the Norse.In modern use,...
applied mathematician with principal research interests in the field of fluid dynamics
Fluid dynamics
In physics, fluid dynamics is a sub-discipline of fluid mechanics that deals with fluid flow—the natural science of fluids in motion. It has several subdisciplines itself, including aerodynamics and hydrodynamics...
.
Research
Moffatt's main research interests lie in fluid dynamicsFluid dynamics
In physics, fluid dynamics is a sub-discipline of fluid mechanics that deals with fluid flow—the natural science of fluids in motion. It has several subdisciplines itself, including aerodynamics and hydrodynamics...
, particularly magnetohydrodynamics
Magnetohydrodynamics
Magnetohydrodynamics is an academic discipline which studies the dynamics of electrically conducting fluids. Examples of such fluids include plasmas, liquid metals, and salt water or electrolytes...
and the theory of turbulence
Turbulence
In fluid dynamics, turbulence or turbulent flow is a flow regime characterized by chaotic and stochastic property changes. This includes low momentum diffusion, high momentum convection, and rapid variation of pressure and velocity in space and time...
.
His Ph.D.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
thesis was on the subject of Magnetohydrodynamic Turbulence, and he has published more than 130 papers.
Education
Moffatt was educated in EdinburghEdinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
and Cambridge
Cambridge
The city of Cambridge is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It lies in East Anglia about north of London. Cambridge is at the heart of the high-technology centre known as Silicon Fen – a play on Silicon Valley and the fens surrounding the...
. He attended George Watson's College
George Watson's College
George Watson's College, known informally as Watson's, is a co-educational independent day school in Scotland, situated on Colinton Road, in the Merchiston area of Edinburgh. It was first established as a hospital school in 1741, became a day school in 1871 and was merged with its sister school...
, then read Mathematical Sciences at Edinburgh University, graduating in 1957. He then went to Trinity College
Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows...
, Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
, where he read Mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
and was a Wrangler in 1959. He was awarded a Smith's Prize
Smith's Prize
The Smith's Prize was the name of each of two prizes awarded annually to two research students in theoretical Physics, mathematics and applied mathematics at the University of Cambridge, Cambridge, England.- History :...
in 1960 while preparing his Ph.D.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
, on the subject of Magnetohydrodynamic Turbulence, which he completed in 1962.
Career
After completing his Ph.D., Moffatt joined the staff of the Mathematics Faculty in CambridgeUniversity of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
as an Assistant Lecturer and became a Fellow of Trinity College
Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows...
. He was appointed a Lecturer in 1964, and held the office of Tutor, then Senior Tutor, at Trinity between 1970 and 1976.
In 1977 he was appointed to the Chair of Applied Mathematics at Bristol University. He held this position until 1980 when he returned to Cambridge to accept a Chair in Mathematical Physics, renewing his Fellowship of Trinity College. In 2002 he was made an Emeritus Professor of the University (he remains a Fellow of Trinity).
Appointments
- DAMTP, University of CambridgeUniversity of CambridgeThe University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
: Assistant Lecturer, 1961–1964; Lecturer, 1964–1976 - Trinity College, CambridgeTrinity College, CambridgeTrinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows...
: Fellow, 1961–76; Tutor, 1970–1974; Senior Tutor, 1975–1976
- Bristol University: Professor of Applied Mathematics, 1977–1980
- DAMTP, University of CambridgeUniversity of CambridgeThe University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
: Professor of Mathematical Physics, 1980–2002; Head of Department, 1983–1991; Emeritus Professor, 2002-- - Trinity College, CambridgeTrinity College, CambridgeTrinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows...
: Fellow, 1980–- - Isaac Newton Institute for Mathematical Sciences, CambridgeCambridgeThe city of Cambridge is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It lies in East Anglia about north of London. Cambridge is at the heart of the high-technology centre known as Silicon Fen – a play on Silicon Valley and the fens surrounding the...
: Director, 1996–2001; Senior Fellow, 2001--
- Editor, Journal of Fluid MechanicsJournal of Fluid MechanicsThe Journal of Fluid Mechanics is the leading scientific journal in the field of fluid mechanics. It publishes original work on theoretical, computational and experimental aspects of the subject. The journal is usually referred to by its initials JFM by academics in the field. Within citations,...
, 1966–1983 - École PolytechniqueÉcole PolytechniqueThe École Polytechnique is a state-run institution of higher education and research in Palaiseau, Essonne, France, near Paris. Polytechnique is renowned for its four year undergraduate/graduate Master's program...
, PalaiseauPalaiseauPalaiseau is a commune in the southern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the center of Paris. Palaiseau is a sub-prefecture of the Essonne department and the seat of the Arrondissement of Palaiseau....
: Visiting Professor (professeur d'exercise partiel), 1992–1999 - École Normale SupérieureÉcole Normale SupérieureThe École normale supérieure is one of the most prestigious French grandes écoles...
, Paris: Chaire Internationale de Researche Blaise Pascal, 2001–2003 - African Institute for Mathematical Sciences, Muizenberg, South Africa: Trustee and Member of Council, 2003
- LeverhulmeLeverhulme TrustThe Leverhulme Trust was established in 1925 under the will of the First Viscount Leverhulme, William Hesketh Lever, with the instruction that its resources should be used to support "scholarships for the purposes of research and education."...
Emeritus Professor, 2003–2005 - International Union of Theoretical and Applied MechanicsInternational Union of Theoretical and Applied MechanicsThe International Union of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics is believed to have been founded when Aachen professor Theodore von Kármán held a conference in Innsbruck in September of 1922. The purpose of the 1922 conference was to discuss questions of hydrodynamics and aerodynamics. The...
(IUTAM): Member of Bureau, 1992–2000; President, 2000–2004; Vice-President, 2004--
Honours and Awards
- Fellow of the Royal Society, 1986
- Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, 1987
- Foreign Member of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and SciencesRoyal Netherlands Academy of Arts and SciencesThe Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences is an organisation dedicated to the advancement of science and literature in the Netherlands...
, 1991 - Member of Academia Europæa, 1994
- Foreign Member of the Academie des Sciences, Paris, 1998
- Officier des Palmes académiquesPalmes académiquesThe Ordre des Palmes Académiques is an Order of Chivalry of France for academics and cultural and educational figures...
, 1998 - Foreign Member of the Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei, Rome, 2001
- Panetti-Ferrari International Prize and Gold Medal, Academy of Sciences, Turin, 2001
- Fellow of the American Physical SocietyAmerican Physical SocietyThe American Physical Society is the world's second largest organization of physicists, behind the Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft. The Society publishes more than a dozen scientific journals, including the world renowned Physical Review and Physical Review Letters, and organizes more than 20...
, 2003 - Euromech Prize for Fluid Mechanics, 2003
- Caribbean Award for Fluid Dynamics, 2004
- Senior Whitehead PrizeSenior Whitehead PrizeThe Senior Whitehead Prize of the London Mathematical Society is currently awarded in odd numbered years in memory of John Henry Constantine Whitehead, president of the LMS between 1953 and 1955. The Prize is awarded to mathematicians normally resident in the United Kingdom on 1 January of the...
of the London Mathematical SocietyLondon Mathematical Society-See also:* American Mathematical Society* Edinburgh Mathematical Society* European Mathematical Society* List of Mathematical Societies* Council for the Mathematical Sciences* BCS-FACS Specialist Group-External links:* * *...
, 2005 - Hughes MedalHughes MedalThe Hughes Medal is awarded by the Royal Society of London "in recognition of an original discovery in the physical sciences, particularly electricity and magnetism or their applications". Named after David E. Hughes, the medal is awarded with a gift of £1000. The medal was first awarded in 1902 to...
of the Royal SocietyRoyal SocietyThe Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
, 2005