Nigel Weiss

Template:Short description Template:EngvarB Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox scientist Nigel Oscar Weiss FRS<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> (16 December 1936 – 24 June 2020)Template:R was an astronomer and mathematician, and leader in the field of astrophysical and geophysical fluid dynamics. He was Emeritus Professor of Mathematical Astrophysics at the University of Cambridge.<ref name=now/><ref name="scopus"/><ref name="SolarPhys"/>

Education

Born in South Africa, Weiss studied at Hilton College, Natal, Rugby School and Clare College, Cambridge, and had been a fellow of Clare College since 1965. He read for his PhD in 1961 with a thesis on Variable Hydromagnetic Motions. <ref name="mathgene"/>

Career

In 1987 he became Professor of Mathematical Astrophysics at the University of Cambridge.

Between 2000 and 2002 he was President of the Royal Astronomical Society, and in 2007 was awarded the Gold Medal, the society's highest award.<ref name=now/>

Research

Weiss published extensively in the field of mathematical astrophysics, specialising in solar and stellar magnetic fields, astrophysical and geophysical fluid dynamics and nonlinear dynamical systems.<ref name=now/>

In 1966 he was the first to demonstrate and describe the process of 'flux expulsion' by which a conducting fluid undergoing rotating motion acts to expel the magnetic flux from the region of motion, a process now known to occur in the photosphere of the Sun and other stars.<ref name="ProcRS"/>

Awards and honours

Weiss was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS) in 1992.<ref name="whoswho"/> His nomination reads Template:Centred pull quote