Ian Sloan
Encyclopedia
Ian Hugh Sloan AO is an Australian applied mathematician.
He was educated at the University of Melbourne
(BSc 1958, BA (hons) 1960), University of Adelaide
(MSc, 1961) and University College London
, where he was supervised by renowned mathematical physicist Sir Harrie Massey
, and earned his PhD in 1964. He was a research scientist for the Colonial Sugar Refining company
1964–5, and since 1965 has been at the University of New South Wales
, where he has been Scientia Professor since 1999.
His early work was in theoretical nuclear physics
, but he moved to applied mathematics, especially numerical analysis
. His work has centred on numerical integration
in many dimensions, in recent years concentrating on Quasi-Monte Carlo Method
s.
He was educated at the University of Melbourne
University of Melbourne
The University of Melbourne is a public university located in Melbourne, Victoria. Founded in 1853, it is the second oldest university in Australia and the oldest in Victoria...
(BSc 1958, BA (hons) 1960), University of Adelaide
University of Adelaide
The University of Adelaide is a public university located in Adelaide, South Australia. Established in 1874, it is the third oldest university in Australia...
(MSc, 1961) and University College London
University College London
University College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and the oldest and largest constituent college of the federal University of London...
, where he was supervised by renowned mathematical physicist Sir Harrie Massey
Harrie Massey
Sir Harrie Stewart Wilson Massey FRS was an influential Australian mathematical physicist. He worked primarily in the fields of atomic and atmospheric physics.- Life and career :...
, and earned his PhD in 1964. He was a research scientist for the Colonial Sugar Refining company
CSR Limited
CSR Limited is a major Australian industrial company, producing aluminium and building products. It is publicly traded on the Australian Securities Exchange. In 2009, it has approximately 10,000 employees and during a period of a major cyclical downturn the company made an after-tax profit of...
1964–5, and since 1965 has been at the University of New South Wales
University of New South Wales
The University of New South Wales , is a research-focused university based in Kensington, a suburb in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
, where he has been Scientia Professor since 1999.
His early work was in theoretical nuclear physics
Nuclear physics
Nuclear physics is the field of physics that studies the building blocks and interactions of atomic nuclei. The most commonly known applications of nuclear physics are nuclear power generation and nuclear weapons technology, but the research has provided application in many fields, including those...
, but he moved to applied mathematics, especially numerical analysis
Numerical analysis
Numerical analysis is the study of algorithms that use numerical approximation for the problems of mathematical analysis ....
. His work has centred on numerical integration
Numerical integration
In numerical analysis, numerical integration constitutes a broad family of algorithms for calculating the numerical value of a definite integral, and by extension, the term is also sometimes used to describe the numerical solution of differential equations. This article focuses on calculation of...
in many dimensions, in recent years concentrating on Quasi-Monte Carlo Method
Quasi-Monte Carlo method
In numerical analysis, a quasi-Monte Carlo method is a method for the computation of an integral that is based on low-discrepancy sequences...
s.
Honours
- In 1993 he was elected a Fellow of the Australian Academy of ScienceAustralian Academy of ScienceThe Australian Academy of Science was founded in 1954 by a group of distinguished Australians, including Australian Fellows of the Royal Society of London. The first president was Sir Mark Oliphant. The Academy is modelled after the Royal Society and operates under a Royal Charter; as such it is...
- In 1997, he was awarded the ANZIAM Medal of the Australian Mathematical SocietyAustralian Mathematical SocietyThe Australian Mathematical Society was founded in 1956 and is the national society of the mathematics profession in Australia. One of the Society's listed purposes is to promote the cause of mathematics in the community by representing the interests of the profession to government. The Society...
. - During 1998–2000, he was President of the Australian Mathematical SocietyAustralian Mathematical SocietyThe Australian Mathematical Society was founded in 1956 and is the national society of the mathematics profession in Australia. One of the Society's listed purposes is to promote the cause of mathematics in the community by representing the interests of the profession to government. The Society...
. - He was the 2001 winner of the Thomas Ranken Lyle MedalThomas Ranken Lyle MedalThe Thomas Ranken Lyle Medal is awarded at most every two years by the Australian Academy of Science to a mathematician or physicist for his or her outstanding research accomplishments. It is named after Thomas Ranken Lyle, an Irish mathematical physicist who became a professor at the University of...
. - Also in 2001, he was awarded the Centenary MedalCentenary MedalThe Centenary Medal is an award created by the Australian Government in 2001. It was established to commemorate the Centenary of Federation of Australia and to honour people who have made a contribution to Australian society or government...
. - In 2002, he shared the inaugural George Szekeres MedalGeorge Szekeres MedalThe George Szekeres Medal is awarded by the Australian Mathematical Society for outstanding research contributions over a fifteen-year period. This award, established in 2001, is given biennially in even-numbered years for work that has been carried out primarily in Australia.This medal...
of the Australian Mathematical SocietyAustralian Mathematical SocietyThe Australian Mathematical Society was founded in 1956 and is the national society of the mathematics profession in Australia. One of the Society's listed purposes is to promote the cause of mathematics in the community by representing the interests of the profession to government. The Society...
with Alf van der Poorten of Macquarie UniversityMacquarie UniversityMacquarie University is an Australian public teaching and research university located in Sydney, with its main campus situated in Macquarie Park. Founded in 1964 by the New South Wales Government, it was the third university to be established in the metropolitan area of Sydney...
. - During 2003–2007, he was President of the International Council for Industrial and Applied MathematicsInternational Council for Industrial and Applied MathematicsThe International Council for Industrial and Applied Mathematics is a worldwide organisation for professional applied mathematics societies, and for other societies with a significant interest in industrial or applied mathematics...
(ICIAM). - In the June 2008 Queen's Birthday Honours List, he was proclaimed as an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO).
External links
- Ian Sloan homepage
- Personal web page, web.maths.unsw.edu.au
- Bright Sparcs entry, Ian Hugh Sloan
- High-Energy Physics Literature Database, Sloan, Ian H.
- Publication list 1964–2007, web.maths.unsw.edu.au