If you had to put the work of Eirik Valseth, Ph.D., in a
nutshell, you could say he uses math to save lives.
Valseth is developing new mathematical methods to
increase the state-of-the-art prediction capabilities for storm surges during
hurricanes. When the National Weather Service predicts a hurricane, Valseth and
his colleagues spin-up the supercomputers at Texas Advanced Computer Center (TACC) and
produce a forecast showing how high the storm surge will be.
“It’s very rewarding because I know my work today
has real impact,” Valseth says. “Our models can be used to evacuate people and
save lives. That is not something I ever previously thought I could do as a
mathematician.”
Valseth completed his doctorate in mechanical
engineering at South Dakota Mines in 2019 and recently landed the Marie Curie
Fellowship of the European Union, which is among the most prestigious fellowships in
Europe. The fellowship funds collaborative research projects and provides high-quality
researcher education and training.
Valseth currently works at the Oden Institute for Computational Engineering and
Sciences on the campus of the University of Texas at Austin and credits his Ph.D.
advisor at Mines, Dr. Albert Romkes, for his achievements.
“The training he provided is the reason for my
success,” says Valseth. “He taught many classes where I was the only student,
so I could learn to survive in the world I am in now, so I give him all the
credit for my accomplishments.”
For Valseth, his work at the Oden Institute is a
dream job. “I knew that I wanted to come here to the Oden Institute because it
is the absolute number one location for applied mathematics and computational
science in the world. Again, thanks to my advisor, Dr. Romkes, I have been able
to thrive here.”
Valseth’s future work as a Marie Curie Fellow will
involve some parallel mathematics with new applications to increase the
efficiency of hydropower in his home country of Norway, which relies on hydroelectric
production for a vast majority of its energy needs.
Predicting and modeling the amount of runoff in a
watershed above a hydropower dam is critical for forecasting potential energy
generation and for maximizing efficiency. For years, forecasters have relied on
past climate data to help determine the given amount of water available in any
year. But Valseth says climate change makes past data unreliable. “So, when
they make a prediction based on what happened in the past it does not always
translate into accurate predictions for the future. In Norway we are seeing the
impact of this right now as the price of energy has gone through the roof and
more accurate models have the potential to help minimize such price surges in
the future.”
Valseth will be developing new techniques by coupling
partial differential equations to improve forecast models for rainfall, lake
levels and downstream flow in rivers. The work has the potential to improve
hydropower production and help reduce overall CO2 emissions. It could also help
predict flooding on rivers around the world. As an example, the 2011 flood on
the Missouri River in South Dakota reportedly caused more than $2 billion in
damages; 4,000 homes were flooded and five people lost their lives. Valseth’s work
to better understand and model runoff in river systems could have major
benefits for predicting and preparing for future flooding events, which means
that, once again, he will be using math to save lives.
"I’m extremely proud of the recognition Dr.
Valseth is receiving with the award of this prestigious fellowship,” says
Albert Romkes, Ph.D., associate professor of mechanical engineering at Mines. “He
is a truly talented individual and scholar, and a strong example of the bright
minds we are fortunate to educate at South Dakota Mines."