Professor Frederic Dias, an applied mathematician at University College Dublin (UCD), and a global leader in fluid dynamics research, has been awarded a prestigious European Research Council (ERC) advanced grant of €2.5 million. The funding will result in the establishment of six new research positions (PhD students and postdoc researchers) at the university. He has received the funding for a study focused on improving our understanding of the physics and dynamics of breaking ocean waves to help develop more accurate operational wave models.

Ability to quantify CO2 transfer velocities key to predicting future climate

Such models could help to improve wave forecasting models, improve criteria for the design of ships and coastal and offshore infrastructures, help to quantify seabed erosion by powerful breaking waves and quantify air-sea gas transfer. The ability to quantify CO2 transfer velocities is key to predicting future climate. [caption id="attachment_49156" align="alignright" width="300"] Prof Frederic Dias, an applied mathematician at University College Dublin (UCD), and a global leader in fluid dynamics research, has been awarded a prestigious European Research Council (ERC) advanced grant of €2.5m. Photo: Nick Bradshaw[/caption] Professor Dias was previously awarded an ERC advanced grant in 2011 and is among only three Ireland-based researchers to be awarded a second advanced grant. The first researcher in Ireland to be awarded a second ERC advanced grant was geneticist Professor Kenneth Wolfe, who is also based at UCD. Prof Dias, who is a researcher in the UCD School of Mathematics and Statistics and in the UCD Earth Institute, has received this latest ERC funding for a five-year study, entitled, ‘HIGHWAVE – Breaking of highly energetic waves’. A central element of the work builds on recent international developments in the field of wave breaking by Prof Dias that provide the first universal criterion for predicting the onset of breaking waves in uniform water depths from deep to intermediate.

'Develop more accurate operational wave models'

Prof Dias said: “I am thrilled to receive this ERC advanced grant which will allow me and my team to further explore fundamental open questions in the field of wave breaking. Our goal at the end of this study is to develop more accurate operational wave models and to better parameterise CO2 transfer velocities by taking into account sea states and not only wind speed.” “Such models will have practical and economic benefits such as, improving sea state forecasting; evaluating seabed response to extreme waves, determining structural loads on ships and offshore infrastructures and optimising operational strategies for maritime and marine renewable energy enterprises. "The funding will also enable me to build an interdisciplinary team of talented post-docs and PhD students in areas such as coastal and ocean engineering, earth system science, statistics and fluid dynamics.” Prof Dias is one of 222 top researchers and scientists from across Europe, who between them will receive ERC advanced grants worth a total of €540 million, as part of the Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme. This funding will give recipients the opportunity to build up their teams and have far-reaching impact. ERC advanced grants are awarded under the ‘excellent science pillar’ of Horizon 2020 and awardees are exceptional leaders in their field with track records of significant research achievements in the last 10 years. The ERC evaluated 2,052 research proposals in this latest competition, almost 11 per cent of which were selected for funding. The grantees will carry out their projects at universities and research centres in 20 countries across Europe. The grants could lead to the creation of an estimated 2,000 jobs for postdocs, PhD students and other staff working in the grantees' research teams. Professor Orla Feely, UCD vice-president for research, innovation and impact said: “I would like to congratulate Professor Dias on receiving his second ERC advanced grant. His success for a second time in this prestigious and highly competitive Europe-wide funding call indicates the quality of the world-class fluid dynamics research which he and his team are carrying out at UCD, and I wish them continued success.

Internationally renowned track records

“The ERC advanced grants fund well-established research leaders with internationally renowned track records. Only three Ireland-based researchers have now been successful in securing a second ERC advanced grant and two of them, Professor Kenneth Wolfe and Professor Frederic Dias are based at UCD. This signifies the strength of the research taking place at our university.” Carlos Moedas, European commissioner for research, science and innovation, said: “The ERC advanced grants back outstanding researchers throughout Europe. Their pioneering work has the potential to make a difference in people’s everyday life and deliver solutions to some of our most urgent challenges. "The ERC gives these bright minds the possibility to follow their most creative ideas and to play a decisive role in the advancement of all domains of knowledge.” Prof Dias is also a principal investigator with MaREI, the SFI Research Centre for Marine and Renewable Energy, a member of the Royal Irish Academy, and holds a position at Ecole Normale Supérieure Paris-Saclay, France. Further details on the latest ERC Advanced Grant Awards are available via https://erc.europa.eu/news/erc-2018-advanced-grants-results.