A new Centre for Applied Dynamics Research (CADR) will be unveiled at the University of Aberdeen today (Wednesday 12 March) with a half-day programme of events. Senior academics and leading experts will officially launch the Centre, which will focus on mathematical modelling, analysis, experimental studies and the design of various engineering and physical systems. Working engineering models will be on display at the launch this afternoon and over 50 distinguished guests are expected to attend.
The Centre will focus predominantly on applied research, along with fundamental studies in order to conduct a greater range and diversity of first class research and postgraduate education in the field of applied dynamics. The main areas of investigations are oil and gas exploration, renewable energy, non-destructive testing, condition monitoring, and smart systems and structures.
Marian Wiercigroch, Professor and Director, CADR, said: "I am delighted that this initiative has received such strong support from the University and I am confident that the Centre for Applied Dynamics Research will make an important contribution to the field of applied dynamics and to University life.
"Centre members have been enjoying generous governmental and industrial research support, for example, EPSRC has recently provided more than £500,000 towards work on nonlinear dynamics of vibration enhanced drilling and soil anchorages operating in a dynamic environment.
"Prestigious awards also include The National John Logie Baird Award for Innovation, the Silver Medal of the Royal Academy of Engineering. I think that we are now in a unique position to expand and build on our international excellence."
Once the Centre is established it is hoped that it will generate a significant and sustainable research income. The funding for the Centre has been provided by EPSRC, AMEC, Rolls-Royce, and BP. Fifteen staff will be working in the Centre (three academics, four Research Fellows, and eight Postgraduate research students).
The Centre will create unique facilities allowing the study of how to achieve significant enhancement in performance of engineering systems and structures.
Professor Albert A Rodger, Dean of Faculty of Science and Engineering, Professor Marian Wiercigroch, Director of CADR, Professor Howard W Chandler, Head of School of Engineering and Physical Sciences, all from the University of Aberdeen, along with Professor John Hogan (colloquium external speaker), Bristol University, will be available for interview(s) and/or photographs between 1.00 and 2.00pm this afternoon (Wednesday 12 March). This will be held in Room G060 (Engineering Board Room), Fraser Noble Building, University of Aberdeen. Members of the media are also invited to stay for all or part of the afternoon's planned events. An experiment will be run in the Centre's laboratory, which will show that random like responses (chaos) can be generated in a deterministic system and then effectively be controlled. The demonstration of controlling chaos will illustrate the type of work that the Centre will be involved in, and will be on show and can be photographed today.
Please telephone Angela Begg, University of Aberdeen, to advise if you will be able to attend either part or all of this afternoon's event or interview opportunity planned (telephone: 01224 272960).