Professor Ian A. Friggard, University of British Columbia

Citation:

For distinguished contributions to the theory of dynamics of non-Newtonian fluids as well as industrial applications using mathematical modelling for oil well construction.


Short Bio:
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Dr Frigaard's work falls at the intersection of industrial research on the mathematical modelling of oil well construction and academic research on the dynamics of non-Newtonian fluids in general. His particular focus is on visco-elastic and visco-plastic fluids, and are where he made fundamental contributions.  While Dr Frigaard's research program is firmly grounded in Applied Mathematics, he also runs an experimental program in the Laboratory for Complex Fluids that he established at the University of British Columbia.  His research covers a range of approaches, from experimental fluids characterization and studies of flow behavior, through numerical simulations of the nonlinear field equations, to the analytical and semi-analytical solution of both linear and nonlinear stability problems. This breadth in research led to an impressive publication
record.  Dr Frigaard's research is not only inspired by industrial problems but it also contributes to help the industry progress and is frequently conducted in collaboration with industrial partners. Dr
Frigaard is an outstanding member of and leading example for the industrial mathematics community in Canada.

Professor Frigaard obtained his PhD from the University of Oxford in 1993. He was a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Linz in Austria from 1993 to 1995 and then a Research Scientist from 1995-1996 at Schlumberger Oilfield Services at Cambridge, UK. He won the American Society of Mechanical Engineers Curriculum Innovation Award in 2005 and
the Alfred Scow Award (UBC) in 2006 (for the MECH2 programme, shared team award). He is currently Professor of Mathematics and Mechanical Engineering at University of British Columbia.

The award consists of a cash prize of $1,000 and a commemorative plaque that will be presented at the International Congress on Industrial and Applied Mathematics (ICIAM) in Vancouver this coming July. Professor Frigaard will deliver a plenary lecture at the meeting as part of the award ceremony.