About the lecture
Our changing understanding of environmental flows is shaping the past, present and future of global energy mixes.
Professor Dorrell’s lecture will explore the sustainable transition from fossil to renewable fuels – recognising knowledge accumulated from nearly two decades of collaboration, partnerships and support from mentors, peers and colleagues.
First, he will describe the role underwater avalanches play in routing sediments into deep marine environments, including how they host natural resources that support the energy transition.
Using theoretical models developed over the last decade, he will explain the previously enigmatic long runout of these flows.
He will then outline their changing societal importance within the context of global telecommunication security. Previously viewed as “rivers under the sea”, a new paradigm for flow-dynamics – similar to atmospheric jet streams on gas giants – may change perceived risks.
This will lead to his analysis of the transition in offshore energy with the expansion of marine renewables, highlighting the need – and solutions – for a workforce and supply chain that is connected across the UK.
Circling back to the physics used to study underwater avalanches, he will discuss the novel challenges to environmental sustainability from offshore wind at scale as well as the unique opportunities for future nature-based solutions to climate change.
About the lecturer
Professor Dorrell graduated from the University of Bristol’s School of Mathematics with an MSc (2006) and a PhD investigating particle transport (2010).
He was seconded to the UK Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology, working on airspace disruption caused by the Eyjafjallajökull eruption in 2010. He then joined the University of Southampton as a Postdoctoral Research Associate, studying gravity currents.
In 2013, he moved to the Turbidites Research Group at the University of Leeds, applying his expertise to upstream oil and gas.
When he secured a Vice Chancellor’s Fellowship at the University of Hull, in 2017, his focus changed to marine renewables. He received a National Geographic Explorer Award, a NERC Independent Research Fellowship and NERC capital funding to support his research.
During his time at Hull, he established an interdisciplinary Fluid Dynamics Group, bringing together expertise in Engineering, Earth Sciences, Geography, Mathematics and Physics.
He also developed and directed two EPSRC / NERC Centres for Doctoral Training in offshore wind energy.
He was promoted to Reader in Environmental Fluid Dynamics (2021), then Professor of Fluid Mechanics in 2023.
We were delighted to welcome him, and his Research Group, to the University in December 2024.
For further information on this lecture, please contact the Events team.
