Celebrating Legacy and Curiosity: The Engquist Conference Honors a Mathematical Giant

The Oden Institute for Computational Engineering and Sciences hosted the Frontiers in Computational Mathematics Conference, a three-day event honoring the contributions of Professor Bjorn Engquist in celebration of his 80th birthday. The conference held April 10–12, 2025, brought together a dynamic community of researchers, students, and collaborators to celebrate Engquist’s impact and exchange ideas on the future of multiscale modeling, machine learning, wave propagation, and applied mathematics.

A professor of mathematics and holder of the Computational and Applied Mathematics Chair, Engquist is Director of the Center for Numerical Analysis, and a Principal Faculty member of the Oden Institute at The University of Texas at Austin. His groundbreaking research over the past five decades includes fundamental contributions to boundary conditions, nonlinear high-resolution schemes for compressible flows, and the development of the Heterogeneous Multiscale Method. These innovations have advanced not only applied mathematics, but have had profound implications in geophysics, fluid dynamics, materials science, and engineering.

Richard Tsai, one of Engquist’s former Ph.D. students, was one of the conference co-organizers. A professor of mathematics at UT Austin and a Core Faculty member at the Oden Institute, Tsai offered a particularly meaningful tribute. “In the face of very complicated problems, Professor Engquist has this rare ability to identify the simplest possible model problem—one that still carries meaningful impact. Often, the hardest part is finding that simple model. But from there, he builds analysis and algorithms that truly resonate with real-world problems,” said Tsai.

Tsai emphasized that Engquist’s influence is not only technical but philosophical. “He shaped the way I look at a problem. There’s an aesthetic—a taste—for how algorithm design and mathematical analysis should be carried out,” Tsai reflected. “His mentorship style is open-minded and wide-ranging. He helps you place your problem on a broader intellectual map, so you not only know where you are, but how your work connects to other fields.”

During an evening celebratory reception held at the AT&T Conference Center, first-year Computational Science, Engineering, and Mathematics (CSEM) students huddled around Engquist, where they had an opportunity to ask questions.

“We primarily asked him about his vision for the future of numerical and computational mathematics and how early-career researchers can find their direction,” said Teddy Gilman, CSEM student. “He told us to let passion and curiosity be our guides—but also to consider choosing a field that still has room to grow. It was really nice of him to take time out of his celebration to share advice with us.”

One of the conference’s organizers, Christina Frederick, associate professor at the New Jersey Institute of Technology and a former Ph.D. student of Engquist from 2008 to 2014, described how deeply Engquist’s mentorship influenced her career.

“Bjorn met with me regularly as a student and had a calm, steady presence in my life,” she said. “He never discouraged any of my ideas and always supported me. He invited me to many conferences and opened doors for me that helped my career tremendously.” Frederick added that Engquist continued to stay in touch after she graduated, visiting her during her postdoc at Georgia Tech and in her current role at NJIT. “I also caught a travel bug from him and spent summers in Taiwan and China as a graduate student,” she recalled.

Engquist’s ability to connect with both peers and students alike stood out to many attendees. Tsai described him as “a sounding board” for bold ideas and unorthodox approaches. “He’ll give you perspective, not to judge, but to help you understand where your ideas fit in. You leave with more clarity, even if your idea turns out to be a bit crazy.”

Beyond academia, Engquist’s warmth and humor have left a lasting impression. “He’s not only an excellent mathematician and computational analyst,” Tsai noted, “but a charming person with a great sense of humor. And he’s a great cook, too.”

As a mentor, researcher, and leader, Bjorn Engquist has left an indelible mark on computational mathematics. The conference not only celebrated his achievements, but served to inspired a new generation. Or, as Tsai put it: “People should consider themselves lucky to know him.”

The conference was co-organized by Richard Tsai and Irene Gamba, both of whom are faculty at UT, as well as Weinan E of Peking University, Christina Frederick of the New Jersey Institute of Technology, Thomas Y. Hou of California Institute of Technology, and Yunan Yang of Cornell University. Sponsors included the Department of Mathematics at The University of Texas at Austin, COMSOL Multiphysics, the Texas Consortium for Computational Seismology (TCCS), and the Oden Institute for Computational Engineering and Sciences.