# Tony F. Chan

> Hong Kong mathematician

**Wikidata**: [Q7822312](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7822312)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_F._Chan)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/tony-f-chan

## Summary
Tony F. Chan is a Hong Kong mathematician and computer scientist who served as President of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and later as President of King Abdullah University of Science and Technology. He is recognized for his contributions to numerical analysis and image processing, and is a Fellow of SIAM, IEEE, and AAAS.

## Biography
- Born: January 20, 1952, British Hong Kong
- Nationality: British Hong Kong
- Education: Ph.D. Stanford University (1978), Salesian English School
- Known for: Contributions to numerical analysis and image processing
- Employer(s): King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, University of California Los Angeles, Yale University, National Science Foundation
- Field(s): Mathematics, computer science, informatics, image processing, computer vision, bioengineering

## Contributions
Tony F. Chan has made significant contributions to numerical analysis and image processing throughout his academic career. His research spans multiple disciplines including computational mathematics, computer vision, and bioengineering. As a professor at UCLA starting in 1986, he helped establish the university's reputation in computational and applied mathematics. During his tenure as Dean of the Division of Physical Sciences at UCLA from 2001 to 2006, he oversaw major developments in the university's scientific research programs.

Chan's leadership extended beyond academia when he joined the National Science Foundation in 2006 as Assistant Director for the Mathematical and Physical Sciences Directorate, where he managed a budget of over $1 billion supporting fundamental research in mathematics, physics, and other sciences. As President of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology from 2009 to 2018, he led the university's transformation into a global research institution. His presidency at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology from 2018 onwards marked another significant leadership role in advancing scientific research in Saudi Arabia.

## FAQs
### Q: What positions has Tony F. Chan held at universities?
A: Chan has been President of both the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (2009-2018) and King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (2018-). He was also Dean of Physical Sciences at UCLA and held professorial positions at UCLA and Yale.

### Q: What are Tony F. Chan's main research areas?
A: His research focuses on numerical analysis, image processing, computer vision, and bioengineering. He has published extensively in computational mathematics and its applications.

### Q: What awards and recognitions has Tony F. Chan received?
A: He is a Fellow of the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (2010), IEEE Fellow, and Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (2007).

## Why They Matter
Tony F. Chan's impact on computational mathematics and scientific leadership has been transformative across multiple continents. His research in numerical analysis and image processing has influenced how mathematical techniques are applied to real-world problems, particularly in image processing and computer vision applications. As an academic leader, he has shaped institutions that have produced thousands of scientists and engineers.

His presidency at HKUST coincided with the university's rise in global rankings, establishing it as a major research university in Asia. His leadership at KAUST represents a significant contribution to Saudi Arabia's vision for developing world-class scientific research capabilities. Through his roles at the National Science Foundation and various universities, Chan has influenced science policy and research funding priorities, particularly in mathematical and physical sciences. His work exemplifies how mathematical research can bridge theoretical foundations with practical applications in fields ranging from medical imaging to computational biology.

## Notable For
- Fellow of three major scientific organizations: SIAM, IEEE, and AAAS
- Served as President of two major research universities on different continents
- Managed over $1 billion in research funding as NSF Assistant Director
- Led HKUST during its transformation into a globally ranked university
- Pioneered research in numerical analysis and image processing applications

## Body
### Early Life and Education
Tony F. Chan was born on January 20, 1952, in British Hong Kong. He attended Salesian English School for his early education before pursuing higher education in the United States. He earned his Ph.D. from Stanford University in 1978, studying under Joseph Oliger, a renowned American computer scientist.

### Academic Career
Chan began his academic career at Yale University, serving as Assistant Professor and later Associate Professor in the Department of Computer Science from 1979 to 1986. In 1986, he moved to the University of California, Los Angeles, where he became Professor of Mathematics. During his time at UCLA, he also served as Dean of the Division of Physical Sciences from 2001 to 2006.

His research has spanned multiple fields including computational mathematics, image processing, computer vision, informatics, and bioengineering. He has supervised numerous doctoral students who have gone on to make their own contributions to these fields.

### Leadership Roles
In 2006, Chan took on a major leadership role at the National Science Foundation as Assistant Director for Mathematical and Physical Sciences, a position he held while maintaining his affiliation with UCLA. From 2009 to 2018, he served as President of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, during which the university achieved significant global recognition.

Since 2018, Chan has served as President of King Abdullah University of Science and Technology in Saudi Arabia, continuing his role in advancing scientific research and education internationally.

### Professional Recognition
Chan's contributions have been recognized through his election as Fellow of the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (2010), IEEE Fellow, and Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (2007). He is also a member of the Committee of 100, an organization of prominent Chinese Americans.

## Schema Markup
```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Person",
  "name": "Tony F. Chan",
  "jobTitle": "President",
  "worksFor": {"@type": "Organization", "name": "King Abdullah University of Science and Technology"},
  "nationality": {"@type": "Country", "name": "British Hong Kong"},
  "birthDate": "1952-01-20",
  "birthPlace": "British Hong Kong",
  "alumniOf": [{"@type": "EducationalOrganization", "name": "Stanford University"}, {"@type": "EducationalOrganization", "name": "Salesian English School"}],
  "knowsAbout": ["Mathematics", "Computer Science", "Image Processing", "Computer Vision", "Bioengineering"],
  "sameAs": ["https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7822394", "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_F._Chan"],
  "description": "Hong Kong mathematician and computer scientist, President of King Abdullah University of Science and Technology"
}

## References

1. Czech National Authority Database
2. Davos 2014 Participant List
3. curriculum vitae
4. Mathematics Genealogy Project
5. [Source](https://www.math.ucla.edu/~chan/)
6. [Source](https://www.nsf.gov/news/news_videos.jsp?cntn_id=111975&media_id=62761&org=NSF)
7. [Source](https://www.committee100.org/members/tonychan/)
8. [Source](https://www.siam.org/prizes-recognition/fellows-program/all-siam-fellows?page=1)
9. [Source](https://www.aaas.org/fellows/historic?field_last_name_value=All&field_year_elected=2007&page=2)
10. Faceted Application of Subject Terminology
11. [Source](https://www.siam.org/prizes-recognition/fellows-program/all-siam-fellows)
12. Virtual International Authority File
13. Library of Congress Authorities
14. [ORCID Public Data File 2020](https://pub.orcid.org/v3.0_rc1/0000-0001-6196-2068/external-identifiers/371644)
15. FII 6th Edition in Riyadh Program
16. FII 5th Edition in Riyadh Program
17. Davos 2013 Participant List
18. Davos 2015 Participant List
19. Davos 2016 Participant List
20. Davos 2017 Participant List
21. Davos 2018 Participant List
22. Davos 2019 Participant List
23. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File