Major prize for Southampton scientist

The Prizes, with a value of £70,000 each, are awarded to outstanding scholars who have made a substantial and recognised contribution to their particular field of study, recognised at an international level, and where the expectation is that their greatest achievement is yet to come. Approximately 30 prizes are available each year across the five or six topics offered.

Professor Ganapathisubramani was awarded the Prize by the Leverhulme Trust in recognition of his research in the area of experimental fluid mechanics.

His research is aimed at understanding the physical mechanisms involved in turbulent shear flows, such as those that flow past aircraft wings/fuselage and ship hulls, and in developing new ways to improve the efficiency and performance of these systems. He is also interested in understanding the flow mechanisms that occur in biological and bio-inspired systems to help pioneer engineering innovations. His research in these varied topics is underpinned by efforts towards developing of new and appropriate experimental techniques, as well as innovative ways of examining the data obtained from these experiments.

Professor Ganapathisubramani says: "I am truly honoured to be a recipient of the Philip Leverhulme Prize. This will allow me to devote more time to further my research on physics and control of turbulent wall-flows as well as understanding the aero- and hydrodynamics of bio-inspired systems. The award will also enable me to initiate new collaborations with experts from around the world on topics that are relevant to my research interests."

Professor William Powrie, Dean of Engineering and the Environment at the University, adds: "This is a wonderful and well-deserved endorsement of Bharath's work in an area whose strategic importance is being recognised by the University, Government and industry through investment in a state-of-the-art experimental fluid dynamics laboratory as part of our new Engineering Centre of Excellence, Boldrewood Campus."

Professor Ganapathisubramani is a member of the Aerodynamics and Flight Mechanics (AFM) Research Group  in Engineering and the Environment at the University. He is also a member of the University's Institute for Life Sciences and the Southampton Marine and Maritime Institute.