Today marks the conclusion of my professorship at the University of Florida. Odysseus’s journey from the Ilion Wars (Trojan Wars) back to Ithaca was an odyssey that defined much of his lifetime. Though separated from his love, it was the journey that made his love meaningful. Approximately eight and a half years ago, I began …
Category Archives: University of Florida
Eight Years at Florida
It has now been eight years since I joined the University of Florida. Years ago, the University was a very different place. Many things have changed due to external and internal factors. One thing is for certain: I am told that the academic community and academics are always changing. To be a successful professor, much …
Professor Chung and the NASA Public Service Medal
My senior colleague, Professor J. Chung, won the NASA Exceptional Public Service Medal. Amazing. https://news.yahoo.com/news/nasa-awards-uf-professor-exceptional-192254541.html
Removal of Tenure at the University of Florida
A university cannot exist without academic freedom. Academic freedom is the core value under which American universities have operated for nearly the last century. It is outlined in multiple works, including the Chicago Principles and by the American Association of University Professors. Academic freedom is protected by the tenure system. Tenure, which was popularized in …
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Saffman \(k-\omega^2\)
Saffman’s \(k-\omega^2\) turbulence model, initiated by Saffman’s research, plays a role in the two-equation models dedicated to turbulence research since the time of Kolmogorov in the 1940’s. The basics of Saffman’s model is shown in the portrayal of a statistically steady or ‘slowly varying’ inhomogeneous turbulence field alongside the mean velocity distribution. This model states …
Academic Freedom & the Chicago Principles
Academic freedom is one of my core values. A few years ago, the University of Chicago conducted a study by a committee to define academic freedom and the values of the University of Chicago. These have become the so-called “Chicago principles.” This document can be found through a simple Google search or via https://freeexpression.uchicago.edu. These …
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Congratulations to my Students at the MAE Awards 2023
On Large Language Models (AI) and Aerospace Education
Artificial intelligence (AI) is changing all aspects of our lives, much like the internet did when it became widely available to consumers in the mid-1990s. There are many discussions about how the AI revolution has affected different areas, including the workplace, art, culture, writing, and academics. Recently, the “ChatGPT: Optimizing Language Models for Dialogue” has …
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A Note on Critical Thinking
Miller, S. A. E., “Note on Critical Thinking,” NASA Alumni Association Magazine, Dec., 2022. pp 5. (one-page) One might visit any leading university campus in the United States and ask the graduate faculty training future researchers one question, “what is the purpose of educating students?” One of the most frequent answers is to create critical …
Spring 2023 Semester
It’s the start of a new semester, and I’m excited to welcome a new group of students to the Theoretical Fluid Dynamics and Turbulence Group. This semester, we have a diverse group of students working on a range of interesting projects. Christian King, who joined us in May 2021 as a Ph.D. student, is studying …