The Newell-Whitehead-Segel equation provides a framework for understanding how complex patterns emerge in systems driven by instability, such as liquids heated from below. Developed by Lee Segel in collaboration with peers, this mathematical model remains a significant contribution to fluid dynamics, demonstrating how simple nonlinear partial differential equations can govern the appearance of honeycomb cells or liquid rolls.
Academic Foundation
Born in Newton, Massachusetts, in 1932, Segel attended Newton North High School before enrolling at Harvard University in 1949. He completed his undergraduate studies in 1953, later moving to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. There, under the supervision of C. C. Lin, he focused on applied mathematics, earning his PhD in 1959. His early career included an appointment at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, where he served from 1960 until 1973.
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Segel contributed extensively to theoretical biology and chemotaxis. Working with Evelyn Keller, he created a model for the aggregation of Dictyostelium discoideum, a type of slime mold. The model proved that simple cellular assumptions regarding the secretion of cyclic AMP could explain how individual amoebas transition into a multicellular organism without requiring a central director. This research is noted as an early example of emergent systems in biological contexts.
Leadership and Administration
In 1973, Segel relocated to Israel to join the Weizmann Institute of Science, where he spent the remainder of his career. As dean of the Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science, he oversaw a major expansion of the institution's computer science department. He notably recruited four researchers—David Harel, Amir Pnueli, Adi Shamir, and Shimon Ullman—to lead these efforts. During his tenure, he also chaired the Scientific Council and edited the Bulletin of Mathematical Biology from 1986 to 2001.
Legacy and Publications
Beyond his research, Segel authored several textbooks that established standards for applied mathematics education. He co-authored Mathematics Applied to Deterministic Problems in the Natural Sciences with C. C. Lin, which was later selected as the inaugural volume in the SIAM Classics in Applied Mathematics series. He also served as a consultant for the theoretical biology group at Los Alamos National Laboratory and received a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1971.
Fast facts
- Born: 1932, Newton, Massachusetts
- Died: 2005, Rehovot, Israel
- Education: Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Notable Fields: Applied mathematics, chemotaxis, convection
- Key Academic Posts: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Weizmann Institute of Science
- Awards: Guggenheim Fellowship (1971)
- Significant Model: Newell-Whitehead-Segel equation
- Citizenship: United States
Questions readers ask
What is the significance of the Keller-Segel model?
It provided a mathematical explanation for how single-celled organisms like slime mold organize into multicellular structures through chemotaxis.
What role did Segel play at the Weizmann Institute?
He served as the chairman of the Applied Mathematics department, dean of the Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science, and chair of the Scientific Council.
Achievements
- Held posts at Weizmann Institute of Science and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
- Fields: mathematical biology, applied mathematics and chemotaxis
