Professor Dr. Richard Höfer - Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Prizewinner 2025
Applied Mathematics, University of Regensburg
Richard Höfer studies the mathematical properties of differential equations that describe physical phenomena. He has made groundbreaking advances in the mathematically rigorous treatment of suspensions – systems in which small particles are dispersed in liquids or gases. While each particle could in theory be modelled individually, this becomes impractical when dealing with thousands or even millions of particles, which requires a macroscopic approach.
Höfer’s goal is to gain fundamental insights into interactions that are difficult to capture through experiments or simulations. Instead of modelling individual particles, he models clouds of particles. Suspensions are widespread in nature – such as in aerosols and biological fluids – so Höfer’s theoretical work is also relevant to environmental and medical technology.