Perfil

Jüri Engelbrecht (born 1.08.1939) received his Dipl. Eng. degree in Civil Engineering from Tallinn University of Technology (TUT) in 1962. He obtained his PhD in Mechanics in 1968 and joined the Institute of Cybernetics of the Estonian Academy of Sciences (presently at TUT) in 1969. He got his DSc degree in 1981 and later became the Head of the Department of Mechanics at the same Institute. In 1999 he founded the Centre for Nonlinear Studies (CENS), which was chosen among the Estonian Centres of Excellence in Science in 2002-2007 and 2011-2015. CENS combined studies in several fields – mechanics, biophysics, fractal theories and optics. He also held a professorship in Applied Mechanics at TUT and is now a Prof Emeritus. In 1994–2004 he was the President of the Estonian Academy of Sciences, in 2004-2014 he was a Vice-President and now serves the Academy as an adviser. He has held visiting appointments in many European universities (Prague, Cambridge, Paris 6, Turin, Aachen, etc), was a member of the IUTAM Bureau and is a member of a number of academies and scientific societies. His main scientific interest is in mathematical physics and theoretical mechanics: nonlinear wave motion and general dynamics, complexity and coupled fields, including modelling of signals in nerves. He has published over 300 scientific papers and several books (by Pitman, Longman, Kluwer, World Scientific, and Springer). His latest monograph was on modelling of signals in nerves (2021) and his ideas on complexity and academies are published in a volume of essays (2021). He has wide experience in implementing and advising on the European science policy – being a member of the EURAB2, serving in various ad hoc committees of the EC, etc. He was the President of ALLEA (All European Academies) for 2006–2011, a member of the ESF Governing Council and a member of the EASAC. He has received distinctions from Estonia, Finland, France, Belgium and Poland. He has received two Estonian life-long Research Awards – one for his research results, another for the popularisation of science. His story in science is reflected in the book “A Journey into the Nonlinear World” (Springer, 2024).