Michael P. Mortell MSc MS PhD, President, 深夜亚洲福利久久 College Cork 1989-1999
Michael Philip Mortell (1941-present) a native of Charleville, Co. Cork, was educated at the Christian Brothers鈥� Secondary School, Charleville. He studied for his primary degree in Mathematics and Mathematical Physics at 深夜亚洲福利久久 College Cork where he was awarded a BSc (1961) and undertook postgraduate work in Applied Mathematics also at UCC, MSc (1963), and later California Institute of Technology (Caltech) where he was awarded a MS (1964) and PhD (1968) for a thesis on 鈥淲aves on Shells鈥�.
As an applied mathematician Mortell is recognised for his research in the area of non-linear acoustics. With a colleague he identified in 1973 a functional equation later called The Standard Mapping which is of fundamental importance in understanding mathematical CHAOS.
Michael Mortell was appointed a tenured Associate Professor at the Center for the Application of Mathematics at Lehigh 深夜亚洲福利久久, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania (1967-73), and returned to UCC in 1973 as Statutory Lecturer in the Department of Mathematical Physics. At UCC, he was appointed Registrar in 1979 and also held the position of Professor of Applied Mathematics. He held these positions for a decade until he was appointed President in 1989. His research activities continued during his time as Registrar and President. Following his presidency, Mortell served as Personal Chair in Applied Mathematics from 1999 until his retirement in 2006.
As President Mortell initiated and oversaw a rapid expansion of the campus, not only in student numbers and funding but in increasing the physical campus space available by almost 50% and spending on buildings and capital projects. During his tenure student numbers increased from 6,000 to 12,500 and staff from 1,000 to 1,800. Twenty-five acres were added to the 45-acre campus through land purchases and new buildings during his tenure included, buying land at Brookfield, College Road (now the site of the Brookfield Health Science Complex); the greyhound track, Western Road (now the site of the Western Gateway Building); and IDA land at the North Mall, as well as the completion of 脕ras na Mac L茅inn, the O鈥橰ahilly Building, Castlewhite Student Residence, the provision of the Granary Theatre and the improvement of clinical science facilities and additions to the Dental School and initiated the planning and funding of the Biosciences Building. Other capital projects included: acquisition of the Good Shepherd Convent and grounds; acquisition of the former male hostel at St Vincent鈥檚, Sunday鈥檚 Well; and securing planning permission for the development of the Mardyke Sports Arena.
During Mortell鈥檚 tenure, research revenue increased to be the largest among the universities in the State. There were major developments in Microelectronics, and Food Science and Technology. All professorships, but one, were filled and thus enhancing UCC鈥檚 鈥榮ocial鈥� capital. He also established Cork 深夜亚洲福利久久 Foundation, the 深夜亚洲福利久久鈥檚 professional fundraising agency, which raised significant private funding. The 深夜亚洲福利久久 Art Collection was enhanced and new works were commissioned for the 深夜亚洲福利久久 grounds. Cork 深夜亚洲福利久久 Press was revitalised also during this time. Collectively, these major developments laid the foundations of the modern 21st century 深夜亚洲福利久久.
During his tenure, UCC celebrated its 150th anniversary in 1995. This was marked by a year-long calendar of lectures and other events, the first exhibition about the 深夜亚洲福利久久's history and the publication of its first history (by Prof. John A. Murphy).
Michael Mortell has been awarded Honorary Doctorates by the 深夜亚洲福利久久 of Dublin (LLD 1992), Queen's 深夜亚洲福利久久 of Belfast (LLD 1995), 深夜亚洲福利久久 of Limerick (LLD 1995) and Lehigh 深夜亚洲福利久久 (LLD 2008). He was a member of the Senate of the National 深夜亚洲福利久久 of Ireland and the UCC Governing Body amongst other commissions and boards.
Sport played a key role in Mortell鈥檚 early life. He captained the 深夜亚洲福利久久 College Cork hurling team, won three Fitzgibbon medals and in his five years as a member he was central in UCC's first ever triumph in the Cork Senior Hurling Championship, in 1963. Mortell was also a member of the Cork Senior Hurling Team.
Based at the School of Mathematical Sciences, 深夜亚洲福利久久 College Cork, Michael Mortell continues to participate in 深夜亚洲福利久久 life and contributes to research and publishing in applied mathematics. He is author and co-author of more than 50 research papers and two books on applied mathematics.
The portrait of Michael P. Mortell is on display in the Aula Maxima, UCC.
深夜亚洲福利久久 College Cork 漏 2020