Elizabeth B. Dussan V. facts for kids

Elizabeth B. Stein Dussan V, born in 1946, is an American scientist who works with numbers and how things move. She is an expert in applied mathematics, which uses math to solve real-world problems. She also studies condensed matter physics, which looks at how materials behave, and chemical engineering, which involves designing processes that change chemicals.

Her research often involves fluid dynamics, which is the study of how liquids and gases flow. She is especially known for her work on wetting (how liquids spread on surfaces), porous media (like sponges or rocks with tiny holes), and fluid-fluid interfaces (where two different liquids or gases meet).

Her Journey in Science

Dussan started her university studies at Stony Brook University, where she earned her first degree in applied mathematics in 1967. She then continued her education at Johns Hopkins University, completing her Ph.D. in 1972. Her Ph.D. project was about how a line where three different materials meet moves. Her supervisor, Stephen H. Davis, helped her with this important work.

After her studies, she became a Scientific Advisor at the Schlumberger-Doll Research Center. This is a place where scientists do research for a big company. She also taught chemical engineering at the University of Pennsylvania, sharing her knowledge with new students.

Awards and Recognition

Dussan has received many honors for her amazing work.

Guggenheim Fellowship

In 1984, she was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship. This is a special award that honors people for their important research. She received it for her studies on "spreading of liquids on solid surfaces," which helped us understand how liquids like water or oil spread out.

American Physical Society Fellow

The next year, in 1985, she became a Fellow of the American Physical Society. This group recognized her for her "deep insights" into how liquids and gases interact, especially when they move and meet each other.

National Academy of Engineering

In 2004, Dussan was chosen to be a member of the National Academy of Engineering. This is a very high honor for engineers in the United States. She was recognized for her new ideas about how liquids wet solid surfaces and how complex liquids flow through materials with many small holes.

Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics Fellow

In 2009, she became one of the first Fellows of the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM). This group recognized her for her important contributions to understanding wetting and how liquids flow through porous materials.

Stony Brook University Award

Her first university, Stony Brook University, also honored her in 1985. They gave her their Distinguished Alumni Award because of her excellent work as a Guggenheim Fellow and her recognition by the American Physical Society.