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PeopleInstitutionsResources
Archival as SubjectPublished as AuthorPublished as SubjectR. S. Rivlin
Dates
May 6, 1915 – October 4, 2015
Authorized Form of Name
Rivlin, R. S. (Ronald Samuel), 1915-2005
Additional Forms of Names
Rivlin, Ronald S.
Biography
Abstract
Dr. Ronald Rivlin graduated with a BA in mathematics and physics and ScD from St. John's College at the University of Cambridge. He studied many topics throughout his life from elasticity and stability to non-Newtonian fluids and electromagnetism. His research helped found a new branch of theoretical physics called "nonlinear continuum mechanics."
Important Dates
May 6, 1915Birth, London (England).
1937Obtained BA in Mathematics and Physics, St. John's College, University of Cambridge, Cambridge (England).
1937 – 1942Research Scientist, General Electric (GE) Company, Coventry (England).
1942 – 1944Scientific Officer, Telecommunications Research Establishment.
1944 – 1953Physicist (1944-1947); Senior Physicist (1947-1950); and Superintendent of Research (1950-1953), British Rubber Producers Research Association, Welwyn Garden City (England).
1952Obtained ScD, St John's College, University of Cambridge, Cambridge (England).
1952Immigrated to the United States.
1953 – 1967Professor of Applied Mathematics (1953-1963); Chairman, Division of Applied Mathematics (1958-1963); and Professor of Applied Mathematics and Engineering Science, L. Herbert Ballou University Professor (1963-1967), Brown University, Providence (R.I.).
1958Fellow, American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
1958Awarded the Bingham Medal, Society of Rheology.
1961 – 1962Guggenheim Fellow, University of Rome.
1963Co-hosted Fourth Annual International Congress on Rheology, Rhode Island.
1966 – 1967Professeur Associé, University of Paris.
1967 – 1990Professor of Mathematics and Mechanics, Centennial University Professor and Director, Center for the Application of Mathematics (1967-1980); Adjunct Professor (1980-1990); and University professor Emeritus (1980-1990), Lehigh University, Bethleham (Pa.).
1971 – 1975Vice President (1971-1973) and President (1973-1975), Society of Rheology.
1975Awarded the Panetti Prize and Medal, Academy of Science of Turin.
1977Russell Severance Springer Visiting Professor, University of California, Berkeley.
1980Doctor of Science hon. caus., National University of Ireland.
1980Doctor of Science hon. caus., University of Nottingham, England.
1981Honorary Member, Mexican Society of Rheology.
1981 – 1982Awarded the von Humboldt Senior Award, Alexander von Humboldt Foundation.
1982Doctor of Science hon. caus., Tulane University Foreign member, Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei.
1984Doctor of Science hon. caus., University of Thessaloniki, Greece.
1984 – 1985Fellow, Institute for Advanced Study, Berlin (Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin).
1985Member, National Academy of Engineering.
1985 – 1986Distinguished Visiting Professor, University of Delaware.
1987Awarded the Timoshenko Medal, American Society of Mechanical Engineers.
1988Honorary Member, Royal Irish Academy.
1992Awarded the Charles Goodyear Medal, Rubber Division, American Chemical Society.
1993Awarded the Theodore von Karman Medal, American Society of Civil Engineers.
October 4, 2005Death, Palo Alto (Calif.).
Occupation
Theoretical physicist and applied mathematician.
Places
Birth
Undergraduate Education
Employment
Graduate Education
Death
Subjects
Relationships
People
Family
Rivlin, John
Son.
Rivlin, Violet
Wife.
Advisors & Collaborators
Marvin, R. S.
Co-hosted the Fourth International Congress on Rheology.
Thomas, Alan
Advised by Rivlin at the British Rubber Producer's Research Association.
Truesdell, C. (Clifford), 1919-2000
Co-founded the Society for Natural Philosophy.
Colleagues
Treloar, L. R. G.
Both employed at General Electric Company.
Weissenberg, K. (Karl)
Both employed at the British Rubber Producers Research Association.
Institutions
Major Positions
British Rubber Producers’ Research Association
Physicist; Senior Physicist; and Superintendent of Research.
Brown University. Department of Applied Mathematics
Professor of Applied Mathematics; Chairman, Division of Applied Mathematics; and Professor of Applied Mathematics and Engineering Science, L. Herbert Ballou University Professor.
General Electric Company
Research Scientist.
Lehigh University
Professor of Mathematics and Mechanics; Centennial University Professor; Director, Center for the Application of Mathematics; Adjunct Professor; and University Professor Emeritus.
Telecommunications Research Establishment (Great Britain)
Scientific Officer.
University of California, Berkeley. Department of Physics
Russell Severance Springer Visiting Professor.
University of Denver. Department of Physics
Distinguished Visiting Professor.
Professional Activities & Affiliations
Accademia nazionale dei Lincei
Foreign member.
Alexander von Humboldt-Stiftung
Recipient of the 1981-1982 von Humboldt Senior award.
American Academy of Arts and Sciences
Fellow.
American Chemical Society
Recipient of the 1992 Charles Goodyear Medal, Rubber Division.
American Society of Civil Engineers
Recipient of the 1993 Theodore von Karman Medal.
American Society of Mechanical Engineers
Recipient of the 1987 Timoshenko Medal.
Mexican Society of Rheology
Honorary Member.
National Academy of Engineering
Member.
National University of Ireland
Received Doctor of Science hon. caus.
Royal Irish Academy
Honorary Member.
Vice President and President. Awarded the 1958 Bingham Medal.
St. John's College (University of Cambridge)
Received BA in Mathematics and Physics (1937) and ScD (1952).
Tulane University. Department of Physics and Engineering Physics
Received Doctor of Science hon. caus.
Università di Roma
Guggenheim Fellow.
Université de Paris
Professeur Associé.
University of Nottingham
Received Doctor of Science hon. caus.
Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin
Fellow.
Resources
Archival Resources
Subject
Personal files of Hebrew University professors.
Central Archive.
Hebrew University of Jerusalem
520 Mount Scopus Campus. The Hebrew University. Jerusalem, 91905
Ronald S. Rivlin papers, circa 1940-2005.
The Bancroft Library
University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, CA, 94720-6000, USA
Published Resources
Author
Collected Papers of R. S. Rivlin/ G. I. Barenblatt, D. D. Joseph, editors.