Mathematical models developed by Alfio Quarteroni provided the simulations used to optimize the performance of the Alinghi yacht, which secured victories in the 2003 and 2007 editions of the America's Cup. Born in Ripalta Cremasca in 1952, he has dedicated his career to advancing numerical analysis, computational fluid dynamics, and the application of mathematical science to complex physical systems.
Academic Career and Institutional Leadership
Quarteroni completed his education at the University of Pavia between 1975 and 1979. He subsequently held a professorship at the Polytechnic University of Milan starting in 1989. In 1998, he moved to the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne, where he served as a professor until 2017 and directed the Chair of Modelling and Scientific Computing. He founded the MOX laboratory at the Polytechnic University of Milan in 2002 and later established MATHICSE at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in 2010.
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His research spans mathematical modelling, numerical analysis, and fluid mechanics. Beyond theoretical work, his group at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology contributed to the preliminary design of the Solar Impulse solar-powered aircraft. He has supervised 60 PhD students throughout his career and authored or edited 34 books, alongside approximately 400 papers published in scientific journals. He serves on the editorial boards of 25 international journals and remains an active member of organizations including the Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei and the Academia Europaea.
Awards and Professional Recognition
Quarteroni has received extensive recognition for his contributions to the field. Notable honors include the 1992 NASA Group Achievement Award for work in computational fluid dynamics and the 2015 International Galileo Galilei prize for Sciences. He was named a SIAM Fellow in 2009 and received the Blaise Pascal Medal in Mathematics in 2024. In 2022, he served on the IMU Fields Medal Committee for the International Congress of Mathematicians.
Fast facts
- Born: 1952, Ripalta Cremasca, Italy
- Education: University of Pavia, 1975-1979
- Professional Affiliation: Polytechnic University of Milan
- Professional Affiliation: Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne
- Award: NASA Group Achievement Award, 1992
- Award: International Galileo Galilei prize for Sciences, 2015
- Award: Blaise Pascal Medal in Mathematics, 2024
- Languages: Italian, English
Questions readers ask
What is the focus of Alfio Quarteroni's research?
His work centers on mathematical modelling, numerical analysis, scientific computing, and computational fluid dynamics, with applications ranging from medicine to sports performance.
Which major sporting projects used his mathematical simulations?
His team performed mathematical simulations to optimize the performance of the Alinghi yacht, which won the America's Cup in 2003 and 2007, and contributed to the design of the Solar Impulse aircraft.
Achievements
- Held posts at Polytechnic University of Milan, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne and MOX
- Fields: numerical analysis, computational science and computational fluid dynamics
