Alfio Quarteroni is Professor and Chair of Modeling and Scientific Computing at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (Switzerland), as well as Professor at the Polytechnic of Milan (Italy) and Director of the Center for Modeling and Scientific Computing there. A world leader in the field of Numerical Methods for Partial Differential Equations, Professor Quarteroni is the author of 12 books and more than 150 research papers, has given over 200 invited talks all over the world, and will be a plenary speaker at the 2006 International Congress of Mathematicians in Madrid, Spain.

The recent work of the group of Professor Quarteroni is concerned with analysis, development, and application of mathematical models for complex systems. Solution methods are developed and applied to problems in such varied fields as fluid flows, mass transport, and heat transfer. Indeed, Professor Quarteroni is involved with simulation of the cardiovascular system, biochemical transport in vessels, as well as with improving rowing boats, and reducing water friction on a swimmer by innovative swimsuit design. Professor Quarteroni's group is responsible for state of the art numerical techniques and scientific software, and is at the same time responsible for the modeling and simulation in such exciting ventures as the "Solar Impulse": the consortium put together to achieve a non-stop flight around the world with a solar airplane, and the "Alinghi Team": the Swiss yachting team who won the last America's Cup, the first time a team from Europe achieved the feat.