Mark McGuinness with some of the formulae that describe exploding rocks (image: Victoria University)
Victoria University mathematician Mark McGuinness loves the purity of numbers but his day-to-day work is rather more messy. He is an applied mathematician with an interest in a range of mathematics applications, generally where deterministic differential equations and asymptotic methods can help solve problems in industry, geophysics and biology. He is particularly interested in the mathematical modelling of exploding rocks and volcanic eruptions, two-phase geothermal flows in pipes, and the formation of sea ice in Antarctica He has also wrangled bouncing fruit - mathematically speaking - for orchardists who need to get an accurate weight measurement very quickly.
