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From conversation on:
Jan 04, 2023

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The episode features a beautifully nurturing conversation with a leading exponent in the field of fluid mechanics and aerodynamics internationally, Prof. Rama Govindarajan. A Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar awardee (2007), Prof. Govindarajan's work in the field has opened up new avenues for research and interconnections to other previously ‘unrelated’ disciplines that allow new insight to looking at the highly complex problems prevalent in fluid dynamics at different natural scales. In our conversation, hosted by Dr. Dhavala Suri and Naman Jain, we discussed at length about her formative years, ideas, and the source of her simplicity, whilst also digging into the excitement of research and what inspired her research trajectory at different points in time. Her group's work focuses on surmounting the problems in fluid dynamics, with specific interest in flow instabilities in different characteristic regimes, cloud fluid dynamics, and combined dynamics of deformable solids and liquids, to name a few highlights. Dive in to the fascinating conversation lush with instances of stunning simplicity permeating in life as the knack for asking brilliant questions through research, and an inspiringly thought-provoking take at the natural world.

Prof. Rama Govindarajan is a leading exponent in the field of fluid mechanics and aerodynamics internationally, and currently leads her group and research at the International Centre for Theoretical Sciences at Bengaluru. A Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar awardee (2007), Prof. Govindarajan is a very well-renowned engineer and physicist, whose work in the field has opened up new avenues for research and interconnections to other previously ‘unrelated’ disciplines that allow new insight to looking at the highly complex problems prevalent in fluid dynamics at different natural scales. After completing her Bachelors in Chemical Engineering from IIT Delhi, she did a Masters at Drexel University, before joining the National Aerospace Laboratories in Bengaluru as a scientist. Later, she decided to pursue a PhD at the Indian Institute of Science in Bengaluru, under Prof. Roddam Narasimha, the icon of Indian Aerospace, followed by a postdoctoral research stint at Caltech. She then took up a faculty position at the JNCASR, Bengaluru, and later moved to TIFR. Currently she pursues her research at ICTS, TIFR, Bengaluru. Her career trajectory is embellished with brilliant contributions to research, bold choices, and exemplifies singular take at practising science.