On May 8, Italian-Uruguayan KAUST Professor Raul Fidel Tempone received
the Alexander von Humboldt professorship at RWTH Aachen at a ceremony in
Berlin, Germany. The award recognizes Tempone as an international
leader in mathematics for uncertainty quantification, a fairly new
mathematical specialization that is currently making a breakthrough.
Tempone teaches and performs research in the University's Applied
Mathematics and Computational Science program.
"Working in
mathematics is an adventure. I seek the thrill of discovery—always
visiting new places with the mind, searching for simplicity, beauty and
truth. Developing theory and problem-solving are essential; keeping
applications present gives meaning to our excursions," Tempone said.
The
modern field of applied mathematics focuses on quantifying the
uncertainties in computational predictions involving natural and
technical processes. The field is crucial for simulation-based
decision-making in numerous applications, such as the management of
water resources, the optimization of energy systems with large
components of wind and solar power sources or even increasing the
accuracy of predictions of how crowds of people will behave.
"Professor
Tempone's award is recognition on the international stage of the
quality of our researchers here at KAUST. As a division, we are very
proud of all of our researchers and their achievements," stated Mootaz
Elnozahy, dean of the KAUST Computer, Electrical and Mathematical
Science and Engineering division.
The German Federal Ministry of
Education and Research funds the Alexander von Humboldt professorships
within the framework of the "International Research Fund for Germany."
With a value of up to 5 million euros, these professorships are the most
highly endowed research awards in Germany.
"This award
recognizes Professor Tempone's achievements in an area that has
potential practical applications of benefit to the Kingdom of Saudi
Arabia and the rest of the world, including, for example, the prediction
of downtime of wireless networks, weather patterns, traffic density,
crowd movements and industrial process parameters," said Jean M.J.
Fréchet, distinguished professor and senior vice president for Research,
Innovation and Economic Development at KAUST.
The candidate must
work abroad and be internationally recognized as a leader in his or her
field. An interdisciplinary committee appointed by the Alexander von
Humboldt Foundation selects the recipients. The program aims to
sustainably strengthen the international competitiveness of Germany as a
place to conduct research, and the award finances the professorship for
the first five years. The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation will
provide 3.5 million euros to cover Tempone's research and teaching at
RWTH Aachen.
Tempone studied mathematical engineering at
Universidad de la Republica in Montevideo, Uruguay, and completed his
doctorate in mathematics at KTH Royal Institute of Technology in
Stockholm, Sweden. After holding positions at The University of Texas at
Austin, Florida State University in Tallahassee and KTH, he took up a
professorship for applied mathematics in 2009 at KAUST. In 2012, he
became the director of the KAUST Strategic Research Initiative,
Uncertainty Quantification.