University of Houston - The Ester Farfel Award

As a child growing up amidst the chaos of World War II, Roland Glowinski demonstrated at an early age an interest and talent in mathematics and science. Eventually, this talent would establish him as one of the world’s leading researchers in applied mathematics and scientific computing.

According to Glowinski, “Life is about change.” And since his arrival seventeen years ago at the University of Houston, the most gratifying change has been to see the university’s transformation into a quality urban research university. “That is why I came to Houston,” he says. “ When I was in France and the opportunity to teach in America came about, I pursued it.” Since his arrival, Glowinski was elected to the French National Academy of Technology, which is equivalent to the National Academy of Engineering in the U.S. In 1999, he was inducted as a chevalier in the Légion d’Honneur of France, the French equivalent to knighthood.

Aside from his numerous honors, Glowinski, a specialist of computational methods for the solution of problems, considers his career to be one of his greatest rewards. Presently, his research focuses on the bioengineering and biomechanics problems relating to blood flow circulation and applying mathematical and computational methods in the design of a new class of heart valves and to cases related to the petroleum industry.

Outside of such projects, UH students keep him busy. He hopes to impart some of the wisdom that has earned him international accolades to the many talented students that he teaches from semester to semester. “We have many outstanding students from all over the world,” Glowinski boasts. “Some of the students are truly gifted and may soon become valuable colleagues.”

In addition to his position at UH, he maintains academic status at the Université Pierre et Marie Curie and serves as an advisor to numerous scientific institutions and agencies on both sides of the Atlantic. During the course of his career, he has authored or co-authored more than 200 scientific articles, six books, and served as editor for more than twenty scientific reviews and anthologies.

Next recipient