The institute’s mission is to conduct fundamental scientific research that tackles critical challenges related to energy supply, storage, and usage, along with environmental impact. To address this broad range of complex issues, we employ a combination of experimental and theoretical modelling, grounded primarily in the principles of fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, and surface science.
Our strength lies in our highly interdisciplinary nature; the institute offers a unique space for expert mathematicians, physicists, chemists, earth scientists, and engineers to work together to shed light on some of the world’s most pressing issues. We believe this is a crucial advantage due to the inherently multi-faceted nature of the problems we are trying to solve.
Working with Industry
The institute has a long history of working with industry, particularly on new or emerging challenges where fundamental flow processes provide important constraints. Insights from idealised modelling offer a powerful lens for designing and developing new processes or solutions. Analogue laboratory experiments can uncover fundamental processes that are not only of intrinsic scientific interest, but also provide essential information for the development of effective solutions.
The technology underpinning the energy transition is rapidly advancing, bringing new challenges such as limiting or removing carbon emissions while maintaining industrial efficiency. At the same time, the integration of data analysis is creating opportunities for innovation and uncovering new scientific challenges. Collaboration with industry is essential to ensure that commercial and practical engineering constraints guide the development of new innovations grounded in fundamental science.
Laboratory experiment modelling the dissolution of capillary-trapped CO2 in an aquifer