Presentation Title: The 2008 Freeman Scholar Lecture

Biography: William K. George joined the faculty of the Pennsylvania State University in 1968, holding positions in both Aerospace Engineering and the Applied Research Laboratory. In 1974 he moved to the State University of New York at Buffalo Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, where he was promoted to full professor in 1980. He joined the Department of Applied Mechanics of the Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg, Sweden in September 2000 as Professor of Turbulence.

He has authored several hundred papers, mostly on turbulence and its many applications. In addition to his work on both theoretical and experimental turbulence, his contributions range from measurements in gas turbines and automotive components to the development of optical flow diagnostic techniques. One of his most important contributions was as the editor and translator of Wind Atlas for Denmark, which became the model for predicting wind generator performance around the world. He has supervised 25 Ph.D. students, all of whom hold responsible positions as professors, researchers, or engineers in leading establishments throughout the world. Detailed curriculum vita at: http://www.tfd.chalmers.se/~wkgeorge/TRL/index.htm.