Emeritus Professor of Mathematics, Raja Huilgol, has been awarded the ASR Medallion by the Australian Society of Rheology for his outstanding contribution to a complex branch of physics that deals with the flow of matter.

Professor Huilgol, from the College of Science and Engineering, was honoured at the ninth Australian Korean Rheology Conference in Sydney in November 2017, and is only the sixth person to have been awarded the Medallion.

The award recognises the outstanding achievements of Professor Huilgol, who completed his PhD at the University of Sydney in 1969.

In 1975, Professor Huilgol joined the School of Mathematics at Flinders University.

His achievements include the authorship of three highly commended books on the continuum mechanics of viscoelastic and viscoplastic materials and a significant body of journal articles on a broad range of subjects related to rheology, including major contributions to the understanding of the kinematics of viscoelastic flows.

He has also made significant contributions to the understanding of flows occurring in injection moulding processes with benefits to Australian industry through his collaboration with Moldflow.

Professor Huilgol has also been recognised by UNESCO for his work in reducing grain loss due to pulverisation in silos, an achievement which won him the Silver Medal of the Mexican Society of Rheology in 2001.

Professor Huilgol’s nomination was supported in testimonials by six world-leading rheologists, who singled out his research, international recognition, creative thinking and continuing contribution to the field.