Jerald L. Ericksen - Fellow, Elected 2015

Mathematician

Awarded Bingham Medal 1968

Fellow, Elected 2015

Dr. Jerald L. Ericksen graduated from the University of Washington, Seattle with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1947 before obtaining an M.S. in Mathematics from Oregon State University in 1949 and a Ph.D. in Mathematics from Indiana University in 1951. His thesis, advised by Dr. David Gilbarg, focused on geometric problems in ideal gas flows, a topic that combined Ericksen’s mathematical interests with his appreciation for mechanics. This background prepared him for work as a mathematician and solid-state physicist at the US Navel Research Lab, a job Ericksen held for six years. In 1957 he accepted a position at Johns Hopkins University advancing from Assistant Professor to Professor in Theoretical Mechanics. He moved to the University of Minnesota as Professor of Mechanics & Mathematics in 1983 and, finally, retired to become an independent consultant in 1990.

Ericksen’s research was instrumental in applying general principles of continuum mechanics to chemical engineering, particularly through his non-linear continuum theories of elasticity. Additionally, he invested over a decade in researching viscoelastic effects in the flow of liquid crystals that resulted in a theory that describes the unusual scaling behavior observed in Poiseuille flow. His research on liquid crystal dynamics has significant overlap with polymer research since both areas of study seek to explain the flow-structure coupling and orientation of initially-isotropic microstructured materials. Ericksen recognized this similarity and, by connecting with polymer workers in industry and at the National Bureau of Standards, he led an advancement in modern materials research embodied in the general “Leslie-Ericksen” theory for the rheology of general anisotropic fluid systems.

In addition to winning the Bingham Medal in 1968, Ericksen was awarded the 1979 Timoshenko Medal of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and the 1987 Engineering Science Medal of the Society of Engineering Science. He has also been honored with a Doctor of Science honoris causa from the National University of Ireland in 1984 and from Heriot-Watt University in 1988. Ericksen’s membership in seven professional societies, including honorary membership in the Royal Irish Academy and service as the treasurer for the Society of Natural Philosophy (1963-64), illustrates his dedication to the scientific and mathematic communities both nationally and internationally.