Sergio Pirozzoli of Sapienza University of Rome will join the Journal of Fluid Mechanics Editorial Board from 2024 as an Associate Editor. To celebrate, Sergio participated in a Q&A with the Journal.

Journal of Fluid Mechanics: What originally drew you to, or excites you about  fluid mechanics?

Sergio Pirozzoli: I have always been fascinated by the stories of famous physicists such as Galileo and Newton, particularly their ability to distill complex physical phenomena into mathematical formulas. As a young student, I enjoyed translating these equations governing physical phenomena into computer code and visualizing the results on the rather primitive computers I had at that time. I find it incredible that we can replicate physical reality in-vitro. Regarding fluid dynamics, my initial interest was sparked by the beauty of visualizations I encountered in books like Van Dyke’s and later in numerical simulations. I strongly believe in the evocative power of flow visualizations and animations, which makes fluid dynamics such an exciting field to work in.

JFM: What are you currently working on that you’d like to tell us about?

SP: I am currently engaged in extensive simulations of wall turbulence at high Reynolds numbers. While this is a well-developed field, certain fundamental issues remain inadequately understood, particularly concerning the appropriate scaling of velocity fluctuations in the near-wall region. This topic has recently garnered significant attention from the scientific community, and I trust that these new simulations can provide valuable insights, potentially revealing the asymptotic behavior at infinite Reynolds numbers.

JFM: In which areas of Fluid Mechanics research do you expect to see growth in the next ten to twenty years?

SP: In line with the current trend across various branches of physics, I expect substantial contributions to fluid dynamics research from the fields of artificial intelligence and machine learning. I observe a growing interest among young scholars, with many swiftly emerging as leaders in this domain. While I believe that solving the Navier-Stokes equations will remain pivotal in scientific fluid dynamic research, certain technological advancements could leverage AI-based predictions. In this regard, strategic utilization of vast databases could prove invaluable. Additionally, there is a renewed enthusiasm for turbulence modeling, encompassing both RANS and LES, which I expect to greatly benefit from AI-driven improvements in closure techniques.

JFM: What are some of the challenges facing the field today?

SP: The primary challenges, particularly within the field of computational fluid dynamics with which I am most directly involved, revolve around effectively harnessing the capabilities of forthcoming exascale high-performance computing (HPC) systems, predominantly reliant on GPU clusters. This presents considerable hurdles in terms of adapting existing algorithms and likely necessitates the creation of novel ones, developed in close collaboration with HPC specialists. I believe the era of solely in-house, laboratory-developed software is drawing to a close, emphasizing the increasing importance of collaborative endeavors and community codes.

JFM: What drew you to Journal of Fluid Mechanics, or how will your experience and expertise impact the journal?

SP: Much of what I learnt about fluids comes from papers I’ve read in the Journal of Fluid Mechanics, where I’ve also been publishing as author for several years. Drawing from my experience as both an author and a referee for JFM, I aim to contribute to maintaining the journal’s high standards, particularly within my areas of expertise, namely compressible flows and wall turbulence. I am fully ommitted to assisting authors in delivering valuable contributions to the field in th eofrthcoming years.

JFM: Why should authors publish in JFM?

SP: When discussing with scholars within our community, it’s evident that JFM holds the highest regard among journals. This reputation is not coincidental; rather, in my opinion it is due to the meticulous attention given to manuscript selection and editing processes. Editors at JFM have consistently demonstrated great care in selecting referees who provide accurate and constructive feedback, enabling authors to improve their papers from the submitted version. Furthermore, the editorial quality of the published papers is consistently excellent, leaving no detail overlooked. Additionally, JFM continually introduces innovations to its journal format, such as the Perspectives, Rapids, and Focus of Fluids sections. These additions serve as valuable resources for scholars seeking the latest updates in the field or exploring new avenues of research.