Ram BalachandarRam Balachandar is the chief editor of a new journal exploring fluid mechanics.

Engineering prof to helm journal specializing in fluid mechanics

The editor of a new journal hopes it will highlight the contributions of University of Windsor researchers while engaging industry partners.

Ram Balachandar will be the specialty chief editor of Fluid Mechanics, operating under the umbrella of Frontiers in Mechanical Engineering.

“Most of the journals in this field are extremely academic or industry-focused,” he says. “I saw a need for an applications-related journal.”

He has pulled together a team of associate editors that draws on colleagues from the University of Windsor — including Vesselina Roussinova of mechanical engineering and math professor emeritus Ronald Barron — while reflecting a broad international scope.

“I didn’t envision the amount of work involved,” Dr. Balachandar admits. The publication launched last week.

Because it will be based in Windsor, with administrative support from the United Kingdom, Balachandar believes it will provide an impetus to project local strengths in the field.

“A lot of research is going on in this area,” he says. “Not just at the University, but in industry as well.”

He notes that industry researchers are reluctant to publish their findings, and hopes that creating a pool of reviewers from senior doctoral students and industry will help them develop closer ties.

“Members of industry bring a different perspective than the academicians,” says Balachandar. “We can begin to address an urgent need to share what we learn.”

The publication has issued a call for submission of abstracts by Oct. 18. Learn more on the journal website.