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Sarah Wakes

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Sarah Wakes
AwardsFellow of the Institution of Professional Engineers New Zealand
Academic background
Alma materUniversity of Nottingham
Thesis
  • The development of a sand wave (1991)
Academic work
InstitutionsUniversity of Otago

Sarah Jane Wakes is an English-born New Zealand applied mathematician and engineer, and is a full professor at the University of Otago. She is the first woman to be head of the Department of Mathematics and Statistics at the university.

Academic career

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Wakes was born in England.[1] Wakes completed a PhD titled The development of a sand wave at the University of Nottingham in 1991.[2] Wakes was a chartered engineer and marine engineer in the UK, and through the UK Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology is also a chartered engineer in New Zealand.[1][3][4] Wakes joined the University of Otago in 2002, initially in the design department, then in applied sciences.[1] Wakes has also been the director of the university's Clothing and Textile Sciences programme.[1] In 2021 Wakes was appointed as the head of the Department of Mathematics and Statistics. She was the first woman to lead the department in the university's 150-year history.[1] Wakes was appointed a full professor in 2024, and as of 2024 is a member of the university Senate.[3][5]

Wakes is considered an expert on computational fluid dynamics,[3][4] and has researched coastal management, engineering design and wind flow over geomorphology such as dunes. She is also interested in sedimentation effects.[5][3] Wakes is part of a Plant & Food Research-led MBIE-funded project researching design of aquaculture structures for the open ocean.[3] She also works on the sustainability of materials.[3]

In 2022 Wakes was elected as a Fellow of Engineering New Zealand, in recognition of her contribution to engineering education.[4][3]

Selected works

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Gibb, John (30 March 2021). "Making a difference in learning that counts". Otago Daily Times Online News. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
  2. ^ Wakes, Sarah Jane (1991). The development of a sand wave (PhD thesis). University of Nottingham.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Otago, University of (12 December 2023). "Otago announces 29 new professors". www.otago.ac.nz. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
  4. ^ a b c "Past winners | Engineering New Zealand". www.engineeringnz.org. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
  5. ^ a b Statistics, Department of Mathematics and (7 November 2022). "Professor Sarah Wakes". www.otago.ac.nz. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
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