Martin Berzins
Director and Professor
MEB 3190
Phone: 801-585-1545
mb 'at' cs.utah.edu

Publications

Image Gallery -- Berzins

Scientific Computing
and Imaging Institute

University of Leeds

Background

Martin comes to the School of Computing from the University of Leeds in the UK where he was Professor of Scientific Computing and Research Dean for Engineering. He earned his PhD in Computer Science at Leeds in 1981. He has worked in the fields of mathematical software, numerical analysis, parallel computing and more recently problem solving environments and grid computing. Much of Martin's work has centered around solving challenging applications problems in computational fluid dynamics, combustion, atmospheric modeling and lubrication modeling.

Research Interests

Martin's research area is the study of novel computational algorithms for the numerical solution of partial differential equations (p.d.e.s). This area is part of the emerging discipline of Scientific Computing, and is, perhaps, one of its most challenging components. The physical problems that are modelled by p.d.e.s are of great importance to a wide range of both industrial and academic research groups. Examples range from being able to design better harbours to understanding environmental pollution or modelling the behaviour of lubricants in a car engine.

The focus of Martin's research has been on two important classes of p.d.e.s - parabolic and hyperbolic systems of equations, the solutions to which depend on both space and time. The new algorithms and the associated software have resulted have then been used as part of successful interdisciplinary academic collaborations and, through the Computational PDEs Unit at Leeds (CPDE Unit), with industry, most notably Shell Research (now Shell Global Solutions).

The approach he has taken in this research has been to derive numerical methods and develop software on both serial and parallel computers for a broad, mathematically-defined problem class using the Method of Lines in which the equations are decoupled in space and time. This has made it possible for users from different physical applications areas to solve their problems by creating a mathematical model which fits inside the general problem class.

The key aspects of Martin's work have been to:

• Derive new, more reliable and more robust numerical algorithms for P.D.E.s
• Devise new adaptive mesh algorithms to control the computational error
• Develop novel and widely-applicable computer software based on these methods
• Exploit new parallel computing techniques to reduce computing times
• Collaborate with academics and industry to apply these new methods to practical problems
• Establish the CPDE Unit to meet the changing nature of industrial research
• Investigate novel applications areas in the area of environmental and complex systems

Teaching

Martin's firm belief is that it is the close coupling between teaching and learning and research that is one of the defining characteristics of a research-led University. Given this view it is perhaps not surprising that as a result of fifteen years of teaching Scientific Computing and Computer Science both Science and Engineering students Martin has evolved a teaching philosophy based on incorporating research ideas into course content.

Ph.D Students: An important part of his teaching effort has been directed towards the training of a dozen or so Ph.D students. The success of this has been reflected by the their successful research and their Ph.D. degrees.