Professor Michael Ortiz Appointed as Head of UNESCO Chair at CIMNE and UPC

Professor Michael Ortiz Appointed as Head of UNESCO Chair at CIMNE and UPC

Professor Michael (Miguel) Ortiz, one of the leading voices in the field of computational science and numerical methods research, will join the International Centre for Numerical Methods in Engineering (CIMNE) next year as the head of the UNESCO Chair of Numerical Methods in Engineering of CIMNE and the Technical University of Catalonia (UPC).

As the head of the chair, Prof. Ortiz will pursue critical research in the field of Quantum Computational Mechanics and data-enhanced simulation, two areas of strategic significance for CIMNE that are poised to advance our understanding and capabilities in engineering and physical sciences.

Prof. Ortiz is currently and emeritus professor at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), and has achieved worldwide recognition in the field of computational mechanics, particularly in the areas of material modelling, finite element analysis and multiscale modelling.

He has made significant contributions to understanding how materials behave under different loading conditions and scales, and studied the integration of continuum mechanics with molecular dynamics.

Prof. Ortiz has received worldwide recognition and multiple laureates for his numerous contributions to computational mechanics. He is an elected member in the US National Academy of Engineering, corresponding member in the Spanish Academy of Engineering and has received the von Neumann, Timoshenko and Hill medals, among other accolades.