Congratulations to Oxford Mathematician Alain Goriely who has been awarded the 2025 LMS/IMA David Crighton Medal. The award recognises his deep and influential mathematical insights into mechanical and biological processes and materials, his support of early career mathematicians, and his contributions to the public understanding of mathematics and its applications.
Alain's work embraces a broad range of problems including dynamical systems, the mechanics of biological growth, the modelling of the brain, the theoretical foundations of mechanics, the dynamics of curves, knots, and rods, the modelling of cancer, the development of new photovoltaic devices and the modelling of lithium-ion batteries. Alain is passionate about the study and development of mathematical methods for applied sciences.
Educated at the L’Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Alain moved to the University of Arizona where he was professor before coming to Oxford in 2010 as the inaugural Chair in Mathematical Modelling. He is Director of the Oxford Centre for Industrial Mathematics (OCIAM) and of the International Brain and Mechanics Lab (IBMTL). He is a Professorial Fellow of St Catherine's College.
The David Crighton Medal is awarded jointly by the LMS and the Institute for Mathematics and its Applications. The award ceremony and Crighton Lecture will be held in spring 2026.