Multi-* mathematics and simulations of coupled processes the Arctic

Malgorzata Peszynska

Department of Mathematics, Oregon State University

Thursday 18th September 2025

14:00:00

Sala Consiglio, Edificio 14, Politecnico di Milano

We present our joint work with many collaborators on multi-physics and multiple scales, with focus on processes in  the Arctic, a vast and complex environment of great current interest, with physical models sharing some (but not all) features with high alpine environments and other cold regions.  Our interest is in robust, accurate and conservative computational schemes for the multi-physics: thermal, flow and mechanical deformation (TpHM) in the snow, ice and soils responding to the forcings from the environment for which the data is sparse. The models account for multiple phases and components and present challenges due to the presence of free boundary e.g. of freezing/thawing/sublimation, strong dependence of constitutive parameters on the micro-physics of TpHM, disparate time scales, and micro- and macro heterogeneity. We show how to build constitutive relationships for Darcy scale models from the first principles at the interface- and pore-scale by a combination of mathematically rigorous theory, practical computational upscaling, and surrogate data science tools. We illustrate with simulations of practical scenarios. Contatto: alessio.fumagalli@polimi.it

Malgorzata Peszynska received her Ph.D. in Mathematics from University of Augsburg, and M.S. and Habilitation from Warsaw University of Technology. She held academic positions at Polish Academy Of Sciences, Warsaw University of Technology, Purdue University, and The University of Texas at Austin. She has been at Oregon State since 2003 as a full professor since 2012. In 2019-21 she served as a Program Director at the NSF DMS (National Science Foundation, Division of Mathematical Sciences). She is a 2024 University Distinguished Professor, 2022-24 Joel Davis Faculty Scholar, AAAS Honorary Fellow; 2021 SIAM Geosciences Career Prize recipient; 2017 Kosciuszko Foundation College of Eminent Scientists, and holder of OSU Mathematics Graduate mentoring award (2016), Joel Davis Excellence award (2016). She is a 2009-10 Fulbright Research Fellow, as well as Mortar Board professor (2004). She believes in "paying it forward" : M. Peszynska also held leadership and service positions at SIAM (Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics) including President of SIAM Pacific Northwest Section (2018-20) and SIAM Geosciences (2009-10) and AWM (Association for Women in Mathematics), is serving on editorial boards for 4+ journals, and on the Executive Board of Pacific Math Alliance. She directed several postdocs, doctoral, masters and undergraduate students; see MP people. Her research is in broadly defined applied and computational mathematics modeling of real life phenomena, with foundations in analysis and other core mathematics, and with interdisciplinary applications and collaborations in geosciences (hydrology and oceanography), engineering, and material science.