Bridging the Gap Between Scales and Processes for Strongly Coupled Systems

The dynamics of porous-media flows in environmental, technical, and biological applications are quite complex and span a very wide range of disciplines and interests, including physics, chemistry, biology, computational mathematics, hydrology, reservoir and geothermal engineering. The scales of interest also span an incredibly wide range, from tiny (micrometer and smaller) scales to enormously large terrestrial (energy, water, and climate) systems. Thus, it is critically important to sustain and encourage the growth of a multi-disciplinary porous-media research community that deals with these complex and vitally important (natural) systems.

The biennial Gordon Research Conference has become the premier venue for researchers from academia, national labs, and industry to share their latest ideas and exciting research findings related to flow and transport in permeable media. The 2016 meeting will be an outstanding forum for recognized leaders in their respective fields to get together and meet exceptional young scientists (senior PhD students, post-docs). The conference will highlight theoretical, experimental, and mathematical research aimed at understanding the physics for strongly coupled systems. Specific topics and speakers will focus on wetting and flow: basic physical understanding and implications for porous media, emerging challenges and critical problems associated with the future of CCS, energy storage, fracking, and water resources, environmental protection, ecology, as well as biological and technical systems.

The speakers and participants are expected to share new, evolving, and unpublished ideas and research findings. The presentations will be chaired by recognized leaders in each of the topical areas under discussion. A primary objective is to generate stimulating discussions that engage the entire conference community in a constructive atmosphere. The conference format - programmed morning and evening lectures and free afternoons - provides ample time for informal interactions and the exchange of ideas. The setting is a unique forum for young scientists to engage with leaders in the field. The highly interactive poster sessions are a critical part of the conference, and all the GRC attendees are strongly encouraged to submit a poster on their latest research work.