PAOC Spotlights

Each summer since 1959 the GFD program at WHOI has organized an extended course of study and research for a small group of competitively selected graduate-student fellows with the goal of bringing together researchers from a variety of backgrounds to provide a vigorous discussion of concepts that span different disciplines, and thereby to create an intense research experience. For the student fellows, the centerpiece of the program is a research project, persued under the supervision of the staff with, at the end of the program, each fellow presenting a lecture and a written report for the GFD proceedings volume. Over its history, the GFD Program has produced numerous alumni, many of whom are prominent scientists at universities around the world.

Last year's Program was entitled Swirling and Swimming in Turbulence and the principal lecturers Glenn Flierl (PAOC), Antonella Provenzale (ISAC-CNR, Turin) and Jean-Luc thiffeault (U. Wisconsin), together lectured on a rangeof topics from mixing protocols and efficiencies to ecological strategies, schooling and genetic development. The 2010 GFD Public Lecture "Mathematics in the Real World: From Brian Tumors to Saving Marriages" was given by Jim Murray (Oxford University, UK and the University of Washington) and concerned the use of mathematical models in biologicals and social sciences. You can read more about the 2010 program here.

The dates of the 2011 Program are June 20th to August 26th. The theme of this years' lectures will be Shear Turbulence: Onset and Structure, given by principal lecturers Fabien Waleffe (U. Wisconsin) and Richard Kerswell (Bristol University, UK).

Up to ten competitive fellowships are available for graduate students. Successful applicants will receive stipends of $5,400 and an allowance for travel expenses within the United States. A small number of unpaid fellowships will be available for strongly qualified students who can suport themselves financially. Fellows are expected to be in residence for the full ten weeks of the program. The application deadline is February 15, 2011. Awards will be announced by April 1st, 2011. Applications are sooght from all areas of Geophysical Fluid Dynamics, and particularly encouraged from women and members of underrepresented groups. Further information and application forms may be obtained at http://gfd.whoi.edu, or by writing to:

The GFD Committee

Academic Programs Office, Clark Laboratory, MS31

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

266 Woods Hole Road

Woods Hole, MA 02543-1541

or email

gfd@whoi.edu

Prospective visitors should contact Normal Lebovitz at lebovitz@cs.chicago.edu or Phil Morrison at morrison@physics.utexas.edu