Robert MacKay

Robert MacKay is a Professor of Mathematics and Director of Mathematical Interdisciplinary Research at the University of Warwick. His work bridges pure and applied mathematics, focusing on dynamical systems, mathematical physics, and complexity science with applications to economics, engineering, and fusion energy. He leads the Warwick team in the Simons collaboration on Hidden Symmetry and Fusion Energy, addressing challenges in stellarator design. He teaches advanced courses like MA4H0 Applied Dynamical Systems and TCC Thermal Economics, the latter pioneering a thermodynamic approach to macroeconomics.

His research interests include nonlinear dynamics, bifurcation theory, and applications to physics (e.g., plasma confinement), biology, and finance. Collaborations include work on magnetohydrodynamic equilibria and single-particle motion in non-axisymmetric magnetic fields. He has secured grants from EPSRC, Royal Society, and the Simons Foundation, supporting interdisciplinary projects such as the Mathematics of Complexity Science and Systems Biology (2009–2011).

MacKay holds prestigious awards including Fellowships from the Royal Society (FRS), Institute of Physics (FInstP), and Institute of Mathematics and its Applications (FIMA). His recent work explores thermal macroeconomics, financial market dynamics, and geometric approaches to plasma confinement. He advises PhD students and postdocs in nonlinear dynamics and PDE theory, fostering the next generation of complexity scientists.