Duncan Mackay

Prof Duncan Mackay is a Professor in Applied Mathematics at the School of Mathematics and Statistics, University of St Andrews. He specializes in mathematical modeling of solar phenomena, focusing on the Sun's magnetic field evolution and space weather prediction. His research involves numerical simulations and analytical work to understand coronal mass ejections, solar prominences, and their impacts on Earth.

Education: Duncan holds a BSc (Hons) in Mathematics and Theoretical Physics (1st Class) and a PhD in Solar Physics, both from the University of St Andrews.

Research Interests: His work addresses predictive 3D global models for solar eruptions, computational MHD, and solar magnetic field dynamics. Key areas include modeling magnetic flux ropes, coronal hole bright points, and the development of tools like the StAn Space Weather Active Region Monitor (S2WARM).

Awards: He received the Royal Astronomical Society Fowler Prize (2006) and served as Secretary of the UK Solar Physics Community (2007).

Grants & Projects: He has led projects funded by STFC and the ERC, including the WholeSun ERC Synergy Grant (2019–2025) and solar magnetohydrodynamics research initiatives. Current projects focus on space weather monitoring and solar eclipse simulations.

Advising: Supervised PhD student Jonah Klowss. Collaborations include international teams studying solar dynamics and space weather.

Labs/Teams: Affiliated with the Mathematical Institute at St Andrews and leads computational modeling groups. Active in workshops like the NASA Flux Rope Workshop and the Solar Orbiter conference.