YEREVAN—Guests from 17 different countries gathered at the American University of Armenia (AUA) for the 22nd International Conference on the Discrete Simulation of Fluid Dynamics (DSFD).
More than 60 participants from all over the world traveled to Armenia to partake in the conference. The DSFD Conference gave participants the opportunity not only to exchange ideas, but also to experience Armenia. AUA President Dr. Bruce M. Boghosian explains, “These scientists came from North and South America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East, and it was very good for them to see Armenia and hear talks from leading Armenian scientists. It was also good to see Armenian students in the audience, from local departments of mathematics, science and engineering.”
The five-day program featured daily lecture series, which allowed participants and members of the AUA community to share their own work in the field of fluid dynamics. Dr. Alexander Wagner from North Dakota State University shares, “The importance of conferences like these is that scientists can meet each other, and discuss and exchange ideas. Indeed, scientists can always publish articles in magazines, but it’s quite different to meet and share our ideas. Such forums are also a good opportunity to meet Armenian scientists, particularly because we don’t often have the opportunity to be in contact with them.”
Participant Dr. Peter Love from Haverford College also noted the value of meeting AUA students: “I had a long discussion with a master’s student about a research problem of mutual interest in quantum information that was very interesting. In fact, we are continuing our discussion and I hope we can work together on this problem via email.”
The DSFD Conference takes place every year in a different part of the world. Dr. Boghosian says, “The DSFD conference is one of the leading annual international conferences on the computer simulation of fluids. This kind of simulation is very important in many industries. The most obvious examples are the automotive, aerospace and ship construction industries, where air flow and water flow play an important role.”
Because many participants had never visited Armenia, the conference also had a cultural component, including visits to cultural attractions both inside and outside of Yerevan. Dr. Sauro Succi from L’Istituto Applicazioni del Calcolo says, “The outdoor tours offered another face of Armenia, the ancient monasteries, precious churches and the heart of Armenia’s culture. Last, but not least, the beauty and natural elegance of Mount Ararat. All, very, very impressive.”
Founded in 1991, the American University of Armenia (AUA) is a private university located in Yerevan, Armenia and affiliated with the University of California. AUA provides higher education in Armenia and the region, offering graduate and undergraduate studies.
