Communications

Professor

College of Sciences and Mathematics - Biology

Bio

Dr. Frank E. Fish has served West Chester University since 1980. Fish's research focuses on the energetics and hydrodynamics of aquatic locomotion by vertebrates in regard to their evolution, mechanics and energetics, and on biomimetic applications. He has been funded by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, National Science Foundation, and the Office of Naval Research. Recent projects have included examinations of the evolution of swimming modes in aquatic vertebrates, energetics and maneuverability of aquatic animals, hydrodynamic design of biological control surfaces, and analysis of animal swimming for bio-robotic Autonomous Underwater Vehicle design. He is currently an Associate Editor for the journal Marine Mammal Science, and he served on the editorial board of the journal Bioinspiration and Biomimetics. Fish has appeared on the PBS series Evolution, the BBC production Walking with Prehistoric Beasts, Predator X, which was broadcast on the History Channel, and he has been featured on the science television show Daily Planet for the Discovery Channel Canada. He was a finalist for the Index Award and European Inventor Award. He received the Society for Marine Mammalogy Award for Excellence in Science Communication and the 2022 Ig Nobel Award in Physics for his work on formation swimming by ducklings.

Expertise

• Biomechanics
• Biological Hydrodynamics
• Metabolic Energetics
• Biomimetics
• Locomotion

Education

• B.A., State University of New York College at Oswego
• M.S., Michigan State University
• Ph.D., Michigan State University