Professor Abdon Atangana is a world-renowned scholar and Full Professor of Applied Mathematics at the University of the Free State's Institute for Groundwater Studies in Bloemfontein, South Africa. Born in Cameroon, he earned his honors and master's degrees with distinction from the Department of Applied Mathematics at UFS before completing his PhD in applied mathematics from the Institute for Groundwater Studies. His remarkable academic journey has seen him rise from a distinguished student to an internationally recognized authority whose work bridges mathematical theory and practical applications across continents. As Academic Head of Department, he has established himself as one of Africa's most influential mathematical scientists and a prominent advocate for advancing scientific research on the continent.
Professor Atangana is globally celebrated as the founder of fractional calculus with non-local and non-singular kernels, a groundbreaking framework that has revolutionized mathematical modeling across multiple scientific domains. His pioneering development of the Atangana-Baleanu derivatives and integral operators, along with fractal-fractional calculus and piecewise calculus, has provided essential tools for addressing complex real-world problems in physics, engineering, and environmental science. With over 270 research papers and five influential books published in top-tier journals, his work has earned him recognition as a Highly Cited Mathematician in 2019, 2020, and 2021. He ranks number one in the world in applied mathematics according to Stanford University's World's Top 2% Scientists list, with his research transforming groundwater modeling and other critical environmental applications.
Beyond his individual research achievements, Professor Atangana has significantly shaped the global mathematical community through his editorial leadership of 18 international journals and his mentorship of more than 21 master's students, 10 PhD candidates, and numerous postdoctoral researchers from around the world. As chairman of the African Mathematical Union Commission of Research and Innovation and founder of the African institution of applied and industrial mathematics, he has been instrumental in building Africa's research capacity and promoting international scientific collaboration. His recent recognition as a Knight of the Order of Valour by the President of Cameroon underscores his role as a scientific ambassador who enhances Africa's global standing. Looking forward, Professor Atangana continues to expand collaborative research initiatives across continents, with a commitment to addressing regional and global challenges through advanced mathematical modeling while inspiring the next generation of African scientists.
