The University of Aberdeen’s autumn inaugural lecture series is in full swing. The Inaugural Lectures 2007 is showcasing some of the world’s leading thinkers and pioneers who have been recently appointed by the Institution from leading universities and institutions around the globe.
The autumn programme is giving members of the public a rare insight into the research work of the University by academics who have achieved international distinction in fields as diverse as 19th century literature, global warming, the workings of the human mind, religion and conflicts in the 21st century, environmental engineering, and chronic pain.
The second last lecture in the series will be presented next week (Monday, November 26) by Professor Vladimir Nikora, Sixth Century Chair in Environmental Fluid Mechanics, from the School of Engineering.
Professor Nikora is one of leading specialists in freshwater hydrodynamics. Before coming to Aberdeen in February 2006, he was Principal Scientist and Manager of the Hydrodynamics Group at the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research in New Zealand
Ahead of his lecture, Hydrodynamics of aquatic Ecosystems: Water, Turbulence, Life, Professor Nikora said: "Bridging fluid mechanics and aquatic ecology together this new research area opens new perspectives and hopes in advancing current understanding of aquatic ecosystems. It also helps with solving a range of long-standing and newly-emerging problems such as restoration and maintenance of healthy ecosystems, prediction and control of vegetation effects on water levels and water quality, or design of efficient and environmentally-friendly aqua-farms, to name but a few."
Hydrodynamics of aquatic ecosystems is a new multidisciplinary branch of Environmental Fluid Mechanics dealing with interactions between water flows and biological communities. It has recently emerged to address a variety of challenging issues related to civil and environmental engineering, resource management, aquaculture, and biosecurity. Professor Nikora will take us on a whirlwind journey through the fundamentals of just some of these complex issues.
In his lecture, Professor Nikora will share his research experience and demonstrate, through examples, how hydrodynamics may help in better understanding and management of flow effects on such aquatic communities as algae and associated micro-organisms growing to any submerged surfaces, mosses, mussels, fish, and plants.
He will argue that knowledge of modern flow-biota interactions may also help in clarifying the role of hydrodynamics in the evolution of life that, in turn, led to multiple adaptations of organisms to varying hydrodynamic environments, sometimes even changing them to improve the organism habitats.
Professor Nikora has strong interests and extensive publications in multidisciplinary research involving flow turbulence, aquatic ecology, sediment transport, and hydrology. He serves as the Chair of Hydraulic Instrumentation Section of the International Association of Hydraulic Engineering and Research and as Associate Editor of two leading journals in water science: Water Resources Research and Journal of Hydraulic Engineering.
Karen Weiniger, Series Producer, said: "The Inaugural Lectures are an established way of universities welcoming and introducing new appointments. Here at the University of Aberdeen we have taken this fine tradition and with it created a truly fascinating season of public lectures, allowing the public a real insight into the ground-breaking work that is happening here at Aberdeen."
The last two Inaugural Lectures take place at King's College Centre and the Polwarth Building, Foresterhill at the University of Aberdeen. For more information and to book your free place at the lectures, visit: www.abdn.ac.uk/inaugurallectures, or telephone: (01224) 273874.
Professor Nikora's event begins at 6.00pm in King's College Centre on the Old Aberdeen campus, and will be followed by an informal wine reception.