Publications

Pressure-driven changes to spontaneous flow in active nematic liquid crystals

Walton Joshua, McKay Geoffrey, Grinfeld Michael, Mottram Nigel J

European Physical Journal E - Soft Matter Vol 43 (2020)

https://doi.org/10.1140/epje/i2020-11973-8

Minimality conditions for wave speed in anisotropic smectic C* liquid crystals

Crooks Elaine C M, Grinfeld Michael, McKay Geoffrey

Mathematical Methods in the Applied Sciences Vol 41, pp. 88-102 (2018)

https://doi.org/10.1002/mma.4596

Nematic liquid crystal director structures in rectangular regions

Walton J, Mottram N J, McKay G

Physical Review E Vol 97 (2018)

https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.97.022702

Flow-induced delayed Freedericksz transition

Mottram Nigel, McKay Geoffrey, Brown Carl, Russell Craig, Sage Ian

Physical Review E Vol 93 (2016)

https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.93.030701

Measuring the daily stepping activity of people with transtibial amputation using the ActivPAL™ activity monitor

Buis Adrianus, Dumbleton Tim, Murray Kevin D, McHugh Brendan F, McKay Geoffrey, Sexton Sandra

Journal of Prosthetics and Orthotics Vol 26, pp. 43-47 (2014)

https://doi.org/10.1097/JPO.0000000000000016

Decoupling of the Ericksen-Leslie equations

Mottram Nigel, Pinto JT, McKay Geoffrey

Liquid Crystals Vol 40, pp. 787-798 (2013)

https://doi.org/10.1080/02678292.2013.783134

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Teaching

Since becoming a Lecturer in the Department of Mathematics (now Mathematics and Statistics) in 1994, and then a Senior Lecturer in 2004, I have been responsible for a large number of classes covering a wide variety of topics and at various different levels. As always, the challenge remains to engage students, highlighting the relevance of mathematics in everyday life and a variety of careers, while also trying to convey techniques that are vital to the knowledge development of any mathematics or engineering student.  Currently the classes in which I am involved cover material from Foundation Mathematics to Complex Analysis.

Within my department I have the role of year 3 coordinator, with responsibility for all aspects of the third year of our many degree courses. I have also been the academic supervisor for a significant number of final year undergraduate projects for students in the final year of our Honours degree courses. These projects have focused on topics as varied as The Mechanics of Sport, RSA Codes, Flows in Porous Media, Modelling Liquid Crystals, Phase Transitions, Chaotic Motion and Site Percolation.

Research Interests

Areas of focus in the field of liquid crystals include:

• Dynamic modelling of nematic flows
• Unwinding cholesterics
• Freely suspended smectic films
• Weak anchoring effects
• Bidirectional surface ordering
• Mechanical actions of nanocyclinders on nematic liquid crystals
• Smectic chevron structures
• Orientation of liquid crystals subject to external fields

Professional Activities

Accessibility in the mathematical sciences

Speaker

13/8/2024

More professional activities

Projects

Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP - University of Strathclyde) | Walton, Joshua

Mottram, Nigel (Principal Investigator) McKay, Geoffrey (Co-investigator) Walton, Joshua (Research Co-investigator)

Active nematic liquid crystals in confined regions

01-Oct-2015 - 20-Feb-2020

Medical Devices Doctoral Training Centre Renewal | Radhakrishnan, Pretheepan

McKay, Geoffrey (Principal Investigator) Mottram, Nigel (Co-investigator) Oliveira, Monica (Co-investigator) Radhakrishnan, Pretheepan (Research Co-investigator)

01-Oct-2014 - 14-Sep-2021

EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Medical Devices and Health Technologies | Radhakrishnan, Pretheepan

McKay, Geoffrey (Principal Investigator) Mottram, Nigel (Co-investigator) Oliveira, Monica (Co-investigator) Radhakrishnan, Pretheepan (Research Co-investigator)

01-Oct-2014 - 14-Sep-2021

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