Keith Moffatt facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Keith Moffatt
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| Born | 12 April 1935 Edinburgh, Scotland
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| Other names | Henry Keith Moffatt |
| Alma mater | University of Edinburgh University of Cambridge |
| Known for | Moffatt eddies Helicity Non-axisymmetric Burgers vortices |
| Awards | Smith's Prize (1960) Senior Whitehead Prize (2005) Hughes Medal (2005) Fellow of the Royal Society (1986) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | magnetohydrodynamics |
| Institutions | University of Cambridge |
| Thesis | Magnetohydrodynamic Turbulence (1962) |
| Doctoral advisor | George Batchelor |
| Doctoral students | Michael Proctor Renzo Ricca Andrew Soward |
Henry Keith Moffatt, born on April 12, 1935, is a British mathematician. He studies how liquids and gases move, especially when they are affected by magnetic fields. This field is called magnetohydrodynamics. He also looks at how messy, swirling movements, known as turbulence, work. He was a professor at the University of Cambridge for many years.
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Growing Up and Schooling
Keith Moffatt was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, on April 12, 1935. His parents were Emmeline Marchant and Frederick Henry Moffatt. He went to school at George Watson's College in Edinburgh.
After high school, he studied math at the University of Edinburgh. He graduated in 1957. Then, he went to Trinity College, Cambridge, to continue his math studies. In 1959, he achieved a special honor called a Wrangler for his math skills.
In 1960, he won the Smith's Prize while working on his PhD. He earned his PhD in 1962. His main research was about "Magnetohydrodynamic Turbulence."
A Career in Mathematics
After getting his PhD, Moffatt started working at the University of Cambridge. He became an Assistant Lecturer in the Mathematics Faculty. He also became a Fellow at Trinity College, Cambridge.
In 1964, he was made a lecturer. He also served as a Tutor and then Senior Tutor at Trinity College from 1970 to 1976.
In 1977, he moved to the University of Bristol. There, he became a professor of Applied Mathematics. He stayed there until 1980.
Then, he returned to Cambridge to become the Professor of Mathematical Physics. He also rejoined Trinity College as a Fellow. In 2002, he became an Emeritus Professor, which means he retired but still holds an honorary title. He remains a Fellow of Trinity College.
From 2001 to 2003, he held a special research position in Paris, France. He was also a Leverhulme Professor from 2003 to 2005. He led the International Union of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics as its president from 2000 to 2004.
Awards and Honors
Keith Moffatt has received many important awards for his work.
- In 1986, he became a Fellow of the Royal Society.
- In 1987, he became a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh.
- In 1991, he was made a Foreign Member of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences.
- In 1994, he joined the Academia Europæa.
- In 1998, he became a Foreign Member of the Académie des Sciences in Paris.
- In 2001, he became a Foreign Member of the Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei in Rome.
- In 2003, he became a Fellow of the American Physical Society.
He also received several medals and prizes:
- In 1998, he was honored by the French government with the Palmes académiques.
- In 2001, he won the Panetti-Ferrari International Prize and Gold Medal.
- In 2003, he received the Euromech Prize for Fluid Mechanics.
- In 2004, he got the Caribbean Award for Fluid Dynamics.
- In 2005, he won the Senior Whitehead Prize from the London Mathematical Society.
- Also in 2005, he received the Hughes Medal from the Royal Society.
Family Life
In 1960, Keith Moffatt married Katharine, who was also known as Linty. They had four children together: two daughters and two sons. Sadly, one of their sons has passed away.
More Information
- Home page
- Biography
- Publications list
- CV
