The Neil Ashton Podcast

In this episode, Neil speaks to Professor Jack Dongarra, a renowned figure in the supercomputing and high-performance computing (HPC) world. He is a Professor at University of Tennessee as well as a Distinguished Researcher at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and a Turing Fellow at the University of Manchester. He is the inventor of the LINPACK library that is still used today to benchmark the Top 500 list of the most powerful supercomputers and was one of the key people involved in the creation of Message-Passing-Inferface (MPI). They discuss what is HPC, the challenges and opportunities in the field, and the future of HPC. They also touch on the role of machine learning and AI in HPC, the competitiveness of the United States in the field, and potential future technologies in HPC. Professor Dongarra shares his insights and advice based on his extensive experience in the field.As part of their discussion they discuss two papers from Prof Dongarra:1) High-Performance Computing: Challenges and Opportunities: https://arxiv.org/abs/2203.02544 2) Can the United States Maintain Its Leadership in High-Performance Computing? - A report from the ASCAC Subcommittee on American Competitiveness and Innovation to the ASCR Office: https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1989107/Chapters00:00 Introduction 04:18 Defining HPC and its Impact08:11 Challenges and Opportunities in HPC28:20 The Competitiveness of the United States in HPC44:31 The Future of HPC: Technologies and Innovations49:30 Insights and Advice from Professor Jack Dongarra

In this episode, Neil interviews Pat Symonds, one of the most well known and respected engineers in Formula One. They discuss Pat's career in engineering, his time in Formula One, and the evolution of the sport. Pat shares insights into his early motivations, his work with different teams, and the challenges he faced. They also touch on the growth of Motorsport Valley in the UK and the potential for Formula One teams to be based in other countries. In this conversation, Pat discusses his experience in Formula One and the challenges of being a technical director. He emphasizes the importance of continuous learning and the ability to make compromises in order to achieve success. He shares insights into the culture at Williams and Benetton and how it impacted their success. Additionally, he discusses the future of Formula One, including the use of AI and ML, the potential shift towards sustainable fuels, and the role of motor manufacturers.

In this episode I speak to Prof Juan J. Alonso on his vision of the future of computational science as well as his journey from academia to entrepreneurship - founding Luminary Cloud. He reflects on the revolutions in computational science and the different ways of developing software throughout his career. Alonso emphasizes the importance of academia in creating and perpetuating knowledge, as well as the value of innovation and new ideas. He also discusses the changes in the CFD world, the emergence of new technologies like GPU computing and cloud computing, and the potential for advancements in computational simulations for analysis and design.  We also touch on the transition of the aerospace industry towards commercial software and the potential for cloud computing to revolutionize CFD. The conversation concludes with a discussion on the progress made towards achieving the goals outlined in the 2030 CFD vision report and the role of machine learning and AI in simulation-driven workflows. In this final part of the conversation, Juan discusses the potential applications of ML and AI in engineering. He identifies four main areas where these technologies can be beneficial, but emphasizes that these applications will always be based on high-fidelity simulations.  He concludes by envisioning the future of computational-driven science and the continued innovation in the field.You can check out Luminary Cloud at https://www.luminarycloud.com and Prof Alonso's Stanford research at: https://adl.stanford.edu 06:00 Introduction and Background09:11 Early Interest in Aerospace Engineering12:13 From Academia to Industry15:11 Decision to Stay in Academia17:11 Balancing Fundamental Science and Applied Research22:14 Early Aims and Focus on High Performance Computing29:18 Emergence of GPU Computing and Cloud Computing32:23 Conditions for Innovation and Entrepreneurship35:01 The Importance of the Bay Area35:37 Challenges and Requirements in Developing Solvers41:00 The Role of the Bay Area in Attracting Computational Science Talent44:16 The Difficulty and Respect for Building High-Quality Commercial Software47:03 The Transition of the Aerospace Industry towards Commercial Software49:30 The Potential of Cloud Computing in Revolutionizing CFD53:59 Progress towards the Goals of the 2030 CFD Vision Report01:00:53 The Role of Machine Learning and AI in Simulation-Driven Workflows01:04:01 Applications of ML and AI in Engineering01:05:36 Optimization and Design Optimization with ML and AI01:06:04 Outer Loops and Uncertainty Quantification01:07:04 Digital Twin Frameworks and Constant Retraining01:12:36 The Value of Open-Source Codes in Academia01:16:19 Challenges of Integrating Commercial Tools with Research01:25:20 The Future of Computational-Driven Science01:29:01 Continued Innovation and Replacement of Physical Experimentation

In this conversation, Neil interviews Dimitris Katsanis, one of the world leading experts in bike design. They discuss the UCI regulations that govern bike design for road and track racing. Dimitris explains the evolution of bike design and the role of carbon fiber and titanium in creating lightweight and aerodynamic bikes. He also talks about his collaboration with Pinarello and the development of the Dogma F8 and F10 bikes. Dimitris emphasizes the importance of balancing weight, stiffness, and aerodynamics in bike design and the ongoing pursuit of improvement in the field. In this part of the conversation, Dimitris Katsanis discusses the evolution of bike design, the importance of aerodynamics and system drag reduction, the differences between track and road bike design, the interactions between the bike and rider, the impact of weight and aerodynamics in solo breakaways, the ongoing weight vs. aero debate, the role of stiffness in bike design, the relationship between stiffness and comfort in bike frames, and the potential of 3D printing and additive manufacturing in bike manufacturing. In this conversation, we also discuss the limitations of carbon fiber in bike design and the potential of 3D printing to overcome these limitations. He explains how 3D printing allows for the creation of custom shapes and internal structures that can improve the performance and weight of bike components. Katsanis shares examples of 3D printed handlebars and frames that are lighter than their carbon fiber counterparts. He also discusses the future of mass customization in bike design and the impact of regulations on innovation. Finally, he speculates on what bikes may look like in the future if design restrictions were lifted.Chapters06:40 Introduction and Background11:10 UCI Regulations and Bike Design17:48 Evolution of Bike Design and UCI Regulations25:27 Influence of Weight and Aerodynamics on Bike Performance32:01 Pushing the Limits of Aerodynamics37:16 Yaw Sensitivity and Aerofoil Sections40:53 Continual Improvement in Bike Design42:25 The Evolution of Bike Design42:51 Aerodynamics and System Drag Reduction44:21 Track vs. Road Bike Design47:05 Interactions Between Bike and Rider48:02 The Importance of Aero in Solo Breakaways53:00 Weight vs. Aero Debate56:00 The Impact of Weight on Performance58:04 The Role of Stiffness in Bike Design01:04:01 Stiffness and Comfort in Bike Frames01:11:56 Materials in Bike Design: Steel, Aluminum, Titanium, and Carbon Fiber01:18:08 The Potential of 3D Printing and Additive Manufacturing01:19:45 The Limitations of Carbon Fiber01:21:41 The Potential of 3D Printing01:24:10 The Surprising Lightness of 3D Printed Titanium01:28:02 The Future of Mass Customization01:34:06 The Impact of Regulations on Bike Design01:43:09 Speculating on the Bike of the Future

The discussion dives into the dilemma of pursuing a PhD versus jumping directly into the job market. Pros and cons of academia are laid bare, highlighting the rigorous path to becoming a professor and the demands of research publication. The tech sector shines as a lucrative alternative, with high salaries and opportunities in machine learning and data science. The rise of dual positions blurs the lines, offering the best of both academic and industry worlds. Listeners are urged to weigh their options carefully for a fulfilling career.

Professor Tony Purnell discusses his journey from a passion for motor racing and engineering in his youth to founding and leading Pi Research, a company specializing in race car electronics. He shares his experiences at university, including a Kennedy Scholarship to MIT, and his early career in the motor racing industry. Tony also explains how Pi Research expanded into the automotive industry and eventually caught the attention of Ford, leading to the company's acquisition. His story highlights the importance of passion, perseverance, and seizing opportunities in pursuing a successful career. Tony shares his experiences in the world of Formula One, from Ford's interest in buying the team to his role in restructuring the Aero department at Jaguar. He discusses the challenges he faced and the politics and dishonesty he encountered in the industry. Tony also reflects on the stress and burnout he experienced and the difficulties he had working with Red Bull. He highlights the contrasting views of Max Mosley and Bernie Ecclestone on the future of Formula One and the changes that occurred under Liberty Media's ownership. In this conversation, Tony discusses his experiences in Formula One and British Cycling. He talks about the challenges of managing Formula One and the difficulties faced by organizations like Toyota in adapting to the sport. He also shares his reasons for leaving the FIA, including the Max Mosley sex scandal. He highlights the innovations he contributed to Formula One, such as the introduction of adjustable ride height and the DRS system. He discusses the politics and paranoia in Formula One and the importance of working with manufacturers. He then transitions to his role in British Cycling, where he emphasizes the impact of engineering on the sport. Tony expresses his concerns about the increasing technicality of cycling and the need to balance technology with talent. He concludes by offering advice for aspiring engineers, emphasizing the importance of following dreams. Enjoy!

Florian Menter discusses his journey in the field of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and the development of the K-Omega SST model. He shares his experiences working at NASA Ames and the collaborative environment in the CFD community. Florian also talks about his decision to return to Germany and his role in the early days of what would be become ANSYS. Florian Menter discusses the birth and development of the SST turbulence model, the challenges of transition modeling, and the future of RANS models. He also explores the potential of machine learning in CFD and shares advice for young researchers. The conversation highlights the importance of pursuing valuable ideas, keeping things simple, and envisioning the outcome of one's work. 

In this short first episode Neil will explain why he's created the podcast, the guests he'll be interviewing and the topics that will be covered.