Nicholas Higham
Encyclopedia
Nicholas John Higham FRS (born Salford 25 December 1961) is a numerical analyst
and Richardson Professor of Applied Mathematics at the School of Mathematics, University of Manchester
.
He is a graduate of the Victoria University of Manchester
gaining his BA in 1982, MSc in and 1983 and PhD 1985. His PhD thesis was entitled Nearness Problems in Numerical Linear Algebra and his supervisor was George Hall. Higham is Director of Research within the School of Mathematics, Director of the Manchester Institute for Mathematical Sciences (MIMS), and Head of the Numerical Analysis Group. He held a prestigious Royal Society Wolfson Research Merit Award
(2003–2008) and is on the Institute for Scientific Information
Highly Cited Researcher list.
Higham is best known for his work on the accuracy and stability of numerical algorithms. He has more than 85 refereed publications on topics such as rounding error analysis, linear systems, least squares problems, matrix functions and nonlinear matrix equations, condition number estimation, and generalized eigenvalue problems. He has contributed software to LAPACK
and the NAG library
, and has contributed code included in the MATLAB
distribution.
Higham is a member of the editorial boards of the journals Linear Algebra and its Applications, SIAM Journal on Matrix Analysis and Applications, IMA Journal of Numerical Analysis], Numerical Algorithms, and Foundations of Computational Mathematics.
His honours include the Alston S. Householder
Award VI, 1987 (for the best Ph.D. thesis in numerical algebra 1984—1987), the 1988 Leslie Fox Prize for Numerical Analysis
, a 1999 Junior Whitehead Prize from the London Mathematical Society
. He was elected as Fellow of the Royal Society in 2007. In 2008 he was awarded the Fröhlich Prize
in recognition of 'his leading contributions to numerical linear algebra and numerical stability analysis'.
Higham has authored several books including Accuracy and Stability of Numerical Algorithms (2nd edition 2002), Handbook of Writing for the Mathematical Sciences (2nd edition, 1998), and MATLAB Guide (with his brother D.J. Higham, 2nd edition, 2005).
Numerical analysis
Numerical analysis is the study of algorithms that use numerical approximation for the problems of mathematical analysis ....
and Richardson Professor of Applied Mathematics at the School of Mathematics, University of Manchester
School of Mathematics, University of Manchester
The School of Mathematics at the University of Manchester is one of the largest mathematics departments in the United Kingdom, with around 80 academic staff and an undergraduate intake of roughly 400 a year and another 200 postgraduate students...
.
He is a graduate of the Victoria University of Manchester
Victoria University of Manchester
The Victoria University of Manchester was a university in Manchester, England. On 1 October 2004 it merged with the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology to form a new entity, "The University of Manchester".-1851 - 1951:The University was founded in 1851 as Owens College,...
gaining his BA in 1982, MSc in and 1983 and PhD 1985. His PhD thesis was entitled Nearness Problems in Numerical Linear Algebra and his supervisor was George Hall. Higham is Director of Research within the School of Mathematics, Director of the Manchester Institute for Mathematical Sciences (MIMS), and Head of the Numerical Analysis Group. He held a prestigious Royal Society Wolfson Research Merit Award
Royal Society Wolfson Research Merit Award
The Royal Society Wolfson Research Merit Award is an award to outstanding scientists holding posts at UK universities. It is administered by the Royal Society and jointly funded by the Wolfson Foundation and the UK Office of Science and Technology, this scheme aims to give universities additional...
(2003–2008) and is on the Institute for Scientific Information
Institute for Scientific Information
The Institute for Scientific Information was founded by Eugene Garfield in 1960. It was acquired by Thomson Scientific & Healthcare in 1992, became known as Thomson ISI and now is part of the Healthcare & Science business of the multi-billion dollar Thomson Reuters Corporation.ISI offered...
Highly Cited Researcher list.
Higham is best known for his work on the accuracy and stability of numerical algorithms. He has more than 85 refereed publications on topics such as rounding error analysis, linear systems, least squares problems, matrix functions and nonlinear matrix equations, condition number estimation, and generalized eigenvalue problems. He has contributed software to LAPACK
LAPACK
-External links:* : a modern replacement for PLAPACK and ScaLAPACK* on Netlib.org* * * : a modern replacement for LAPACK that is MultiGPU ready* on Sourceforge.net* * optimized LAPACK for Solaris OS on SPARC/x86/x64 and Linux* * *...
and the NAG library
Numerical Algorithms Group
The Numerical Algorithms Group is a software company which provides methods for the solution of mathematical and statistical problems, and offers services to users of HPC systems. Its products and services are employed by tens of thousands of users from Global 500 companies, universities,...
, and has contributed code included in the MATLAB
MATLAB
MATLAB is a numerical computing environment and fourth-generation programming language. Developed by MathWorks, MATLAB allows matrix manipulations, plotting of functions and data, implementation of algorithms, creation of user interfaces, and interfacing with programs written in other languages,...
distribution.
Higham is a member of the editorial boards of the journals Linear Algebra and its Applications, SIAM Journal on Matrix Analysis and Applications, IMA Journal of Numerical Analysis], Numerical Algorithms, and Foundations of Computational Mathematics.
His honours include the Alston S. Householder
Alston Scott Householder
Alston Scott Householder was an American mathematician who specialized in mathematical biology and numerical analysis, inventor of the Householder transformation and of Householder's method...
Award VI, 1987 (for the best Ph.D. thesis in numerical algebra 1984—1987), the 1988 Leslie Fox Prize for Numerical Analysis
Leslie Fox Prize for Numerical Analysis
The Leslie Fox Prize for Numerical Analysis of the Institute of Mathematics and its Applications is a biennial prize established in 1985 by the IMA in honour of mathematician Leslie Fox . The prize honours "young numerical analysts worldwide" , and applicants submit papers for review...
, a 1999 Junior Whitehead Prize from the London Mathematical Society
London Mathematical Society
-See also:* American Mathematical Society* Edinburgh Mathematical Society* European Mathematical Society* List of Mathematical Societies* Council for the Mathematical Sciences* BCS-FACS Specialist Group-External links:* * *...
. He was elected as Fellow of the Royal Society in 2007. In 2008 he was awarded the Fröhlich Prize
Fröhlich Prize
The Fröhlich Prize of the London Mathematical Society is awarded in even numbered years in memory of Albrecht Fröhlich. The prize is awarded for original and extremely innovative work in any branch of mathematics...
in recognition of 'his leading contributions to numerical linear algebra and numerical stability analysis'.
Higham has authored several books including Accuracy and Stability of Numerical Algorithms (2nd edition 2002), Handbook of Writing for the Mathematical Sciences (2nd edition, 1998), and MATLAB Guide (with his brother D.J. Higham, 2nd edition, 2005).