Alona Ben-Tal facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Alona Ben-Tal
|
|
|---|---|
| Alma mater | Technion – Israel Institute of Technology, University of Auckland |
| Known for | Mathematical modeling of human and bird breathing, electrical power systems |
| Awards | Fellow of the New Zealand Mathematical Society (2016) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Applied Mathematics |
| Institutions | Massey University |
| Doctoral advisor | Vivien Kirk, Graeme Wake, Geoff Nicholls |
Alona Ben-Tal is a smart scientist from Israel and New Zealand. She is an applied mathematician. This means she uses math to solve real-world problems.
She works as a professor at Massey University. Her main job is to teach and do research. Her research helps us understand how things work. She uses math to study how people and birds breathe. She also studies how electrical power systems work.
Contents
Becoming a Scientist
Alona Ben-Tal first studied mechanical engineering. This field is about designing and building machines. She earned two degrees in Israel. This was at the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology. She got her first degree in 1991 and a second in 1994.
After working for three years, she moved. She went to New Zealand with her family. There, she decided to study math more. She earned her Ph.D. in 2001. This top degree was from the University of Auckland. Her research was about "Symmetric Forced Oscillators."
After her Ph.D., she taught math. She worked at the University of Auckland. Later, she joined Massey University in 2005.
What She Discovered
Alona Ben-Tal's work helps us learn new things. She uses math to understand complex systems.
How Humans Breathe
She studied how our heart rate changes when we breathe. This is called respiratory sinus arrhythmia. It means your heart beats faster when you breathe in. It slows down when you breathe out.
She first thought this change helped us get more air. But her research showed something else. It actually helps your heart save energy. It still keeps your blood oxygen levels steady.
How Birds Breathe
Birds breathe in a special way. They have air passages that work like a one-way street. Air moves through them in only one direction. Alona Ben-Tal studied this unique system.
She found that birds can change how fast air moves. Sometimes, birds spend less time breathing in. They spend more time breathing out. Her math models help explain why.
Awards and Honors
Alona Ben-Tal is a respected scientist. In 2016, she received a special honor. She was named a fellow of the New Zealand Mathematical Society. This means she is recognized for her important contributions to math.
