Ian Dobson

Ian Dobson is a Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He can be reached at 2564 Engineering Hall, 1415 Engineering Drive, Madison, WI 53706, or via email at dobson@engr.wisc.edu.

His research focuses on complex and nonlinear systems, particularly their applications in engineering. Key interests include instabilities, dynamics, phase transitions, and variable structures. He has applied bifurcation theory to study voltage collapse blackouts and chaotic oscillators, emphasizing fractal structures in nonlinear systems.

Current work involves quantifying blackout risks using cascading failure and self-organized criticality concepts from probability, physics, and engineering. His industrial background includes simulating switching circuits, bridging theoretical frameworks with practical applications.