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Math prof wins 3rd Humboldt Award
The Humboldt is one of the top research awards given by the German government to internationally renowned scientists and engineers, and it is rarely presented multiple times to an individual scientist. Gilbert earlier was honored in 1975 and 1986. The Senior Scientist Award provides funding to enable recipients to spend time in Germany studying with scientists in their field. “This is not only an honor for me, but it reflects well on the University of Delaware,” Gilbert said of the award. Klaus Hackl of the Institute of Mechanics at the University of Bochum nominated Gilbert for the award, and as a recipient he will spend three months in Germany working at the University of Bochum, University of Heidelberg and Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg. Gilbert said the award funds research in the field of homogenization, which considers objects and their microstructure, with a specific emphasis on the bone and measurements of osteoporosis. “Right now my interest is in bone,” Gilbert said. “We are trying to model bone acoustically so that we can use ultrasound to see if a person has osteoporosis.” The method could prove much more beneficial than traditional X-rays, Gilbert said. Where X-rays can give only one measure, that of bone density, ultrasound can provide eight different coefficients and thus a more thorough picture of the state of the bone. The work “got me looking at osteoporosis in general,” Gilbert said, and the mathematician has turned to Mary C. Farach-Carson, UD professor of biological sciences, for help in learning biochemistry. “There is a tremendous amount of data to assimilate,” he said, “but I like to learn new things. This, for me, is a lot of fun.” In fact, Gilbert said he believes the 21st Century will be one in which mathematics will make its mark in human health. “There is a lot of good mathematics to be done here,” he said. “The next century is one in which mathematics will play a very big role in medicine.” “It is nice to feel that your mathematics can do some good for someone,” Gilbert said. Gilbert joined the UD faculty in 1975. A native of New York City, he earned his bachelor's degree in 1952 from Brooklyn College of the City University of New York. He earned his master's degree in mathematics and physics in 1955 and his doctorate in 1958, both from Carnegie Mellon University. Gilbert was on the faculty at the University of Pittsburgh and Michigan State University and then took a position as research assistant professor at the Institute for Fluid Dynamics and Applied Mathematics at the University of Maryland, while also consulting at the Naval Ordnance Laboratory at White Oak. In 1966, Gilbert joined the faculty of Indiana University and in 1975 came to UD as Unidel Professor of Mathematical Sciences. He is president of the Delaware Valley chapter of the Alexander von Humboldt Association of America, the goal of which is to encourage young scientists to apply for fellowships to study in Germany. Gilbert said he enjoys swimming and photography, particularly of ballet, using a trusted Hasselblad. An international conference in honor of his 70th birthday was held on the French Riviera in 2002 and last year he spent time in Turkey. “The older you get, the busier you get,” he said. “I’m having such a good time, I don’t see why I should retire.” Article by Neil Thomas To learn how to subscribe to UDaily, click here. |
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