E-mail from ... Athen

Καλημέρα!

At the end of April, I left my familiar working environment at TU Graz to embark on a three-month research stay at the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA). The aim of this stay is to make further progress on my habilitation project in the field of experimental aerodynamics and numerical flow simulation. In both areas, there are valuable synergies with Professor Demetri Bouris’ working group, with whom I will be working closely during my stay.

My research centres on questions of building and environmental aerodynamics. Experiments in the NTUA wind tunnel are being used to investigate how vegetation at various points on the outside of buildings affects ventilation efficiency inside the building. Numerical flow simulations are used to analyse the complex interactions between vegetation and the flow around the structure in detail. I am also involved in analytical work on the modelling of atmospheric boundary layer flows. The aim of all these investigations is to better understand the flow in urban areas and to increase the efficiency of natural ventilation concepts.

In addition to the academic activities, the stay also offers me the opportunity to get to know the Greek way of life more intensively. The warm welcome in the team and the professional exchange create an inspiring working environment. The daily challenges faced by young academics in Greece are discussed over dinner – often at times when I would be asleep in Austria. The clocks simply tick differently here.

This stay has been a great enrichment for me both professionally and personally.

In my remaining free time, I explore the cultural treasures of Athens with my wife, savour the variety of Mediterranean cuisine and enjoy the breathtaking Aegean Sea. It is particularly fascinating to see how history and the present come together in this city – be it on a walk through the historic alleyways of the Plaka district, a visit to ancient sites such as the Acropolis or the street art and artistic scene in the Exarchia neighbourhood. This stay has been a great enrichment for me both professionally and personally.

Θερμές ευχές

Christoph Irrenfried

You can find this article and other articles to browse through in TU Graz people #93, the magazine for TU Graz employees and interested parties.