Special Thanks to Jean-Yves Parlange!

BEE Cornell Professor from 1985 to 2010, Emeritus since 2010

Born in France, Jean-Yves earned his engineering degree from the Ecole Nationale Supérieure de l’Aéronautique in Paris in 1958, before completing his Ph.D at Brown University in 1962.

Although his educational background was in Aeronautical Engineering, Jean-Yves quickly saw a need for research in agriculture and hydrology. His mathematical knowledge transitioned well into these fields and allowed him to make major contributions.

After holding several prestigious positions around the world, he joined us at Cornell in 1985 as a Professor and started working hand in hand with Tammo Steenhuis on finger flow. From there, Jean-Yves went on to become a key member of the Soil & Water Lab.

His research efforts have been focused on mathematical descriptions of chemical movement in porous media, surface/subsurface hydrology, watershed modeling, sediment transport, and erosion.

Along the way, he mentored many successful Masters and Ph.D students with his fellow colleagues. Jean-Yves is happy to have worked with so many great people throughout his career at Cornell and beyond.

Jean-Yves applauds the BEE department for evolving over the years. He hopes they maintain a strong mathematical basis and continue with their unique work.

"Nothing beats Cornell that I have tried, I think the environment is perfect."
"I think it's a mistake to try to tell the young what to do unless they ask for help....that I will do all the time with great pleasure."
"I think it's important to realize for us engineers or physicists or whatever, that experiments and theory go together."
Jean-Yves Parlange
Prof. Emeritus, SWL


Hear more from Jean-Yves, in this interview with fellow BEE Prof. Emeritus, Norman Scott:

Yves Parlange Reminisces

1
Highly Cited Publications in "Ecology/Environment"

Awards & Honors

  • Leverhulme Fellow (2001)
  • Horton Award (American Geophysical Union, 1997)
  • Fellow (American Geophysical Union, 1996)
  • Gledden Senior Fellow (University of Western Australia, 1991)
  • Pye Fellow (CSIRO, 1971)
  • Minta Martin National Award (“Best Ph.D. of the Year,” Institute of the Aerospace Sciences, 1962)