Ken Walters

Professor Ken Walters FRS (1935–2022) was a distinguished academic at Aberystwyth University, holding the position of Research Professor in the Department of Mathematics within the Faculty of Business and Physical Sciences. He played a pivotal role in establishing Aberystwyth as a global hub for rheology research.

Education: Began at the University of Wales, Swansea (1st class honours in Applied Mathematics, 1956), followed by a PhD in elastico-viscous fluid dynamics under Prof. J.G. Oldroyd.

Research focused on complex fluids (paints, oils, polymer melts) and numerical solutions for non-Newtonian fluid mechanics. His group combined theoretical work with experimental validation in a well-equipped lab. Key contributions include founding the Journal of Non-Newtonian Fluid Mechanics (1976–2005) and co-authoring foundational textbooks such as An Introduction to Rheology and Numerical Simulation of Non-Newtonian Flow.

Awards: Elected Royal Society Fellow (1991), National Academy of Engineering Foreign Associate (1995), and founding member of the Learned Society of Wales. Served on Wales' Science Advisory Council (2010–2015).

Leadership: Founded the Institute of Non-Newtonian Mechanics (1991) to host international conferences in Wales. A mentor to generations of mathematicians and scientists, fostering collaborative research networks globally.