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EFDC2 Dublin Highlights with Elveflow

Elveflow EFDC2 conference report illustration

Introduction

The Elveflow team attended this summer the 2nd European Fluid Dynamics Conference (EFDC2), held in Dublin from August 26–29, 2025! We were impressed by the size of the symposium, with more than 900 oral presentations in just four days, a remarkable opportunity for young researchers to showcase their work, as the event featured only talks and no posters.

EFDC2 gathered the global fluid dynamics community with the EUROMECH Society. Building on the success of EFDC1 in Aachen, this new biennial conference series merges the European Fluid Mechanics Conference (EFMC) and the European Turbulence Conference (ETC). With outstanding organization and a cheerful atmosphere, EFDC2 has established itself as a premier platform for exchanging knowledge across all domains of fluid dynamics, and especially in simulation research (turbulence, multiphase flows, biomedical systems, geophysics, and advanced computational methods).

Hosted at University College Dublin (UCD), EFDC2 was chaired by Miguel D. Bustamante (Associate Professor, Applied and Computational Mathematics, UCD), with co-chairs Lennon Ó Náraigh (Associate Professor, Mathematics and Statistics, UCD) and Kevin Nolan (Assistant Professor, Mechanical and Materials Engineering, UCD). 

We hope this short report gives you a nice overview of the second edition of the European Fluid Dynamics Conference!

Louise Fournier, Scientific Content Manager, Elveflow

Table of Contents

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Scientific Themes of EFDC2

EFDC2 presentation’s themes highlighted the diversity of the fluid dynamics with over 18 parallel sessions:

  • Core disciplines: turbulence, instabilities, aerodynamics, acoustics, hydrodynamics
  • Applied domains: dynamics of fluid flow, environmental and geophysical flows, biomedical and biological fluid mechanics, energy systems (wind, waves, and water power)
  • Emerging directions: AI and data-driven turbulence modeling, computational fluid dynamics, quantum computing for fluids, poroelastic flows, elastocapillarity, magnetohydrodynamics

This wide taxonomy ensured a platform where fundamental theory, numerical modeling, and applied engineering challenges in fluid dynamics could meet.

Keynote Speakers: Influential researchers in Fluid Dynamics and Modeling

A highlight of EFDC2 was the series of keynote lectures from internationally recognized leaders in the field:

These keynote sessions reflected the broad range of fluid dynamics research today: from ocean waves and environmental sustainability to biomedical flows and advanced turbulence theory.

EFDC2 attracted over 1,000 participants from more than 50 countries. The diverse audience included physicists, engineers, mathematicians, and applied scientists, making the event a unique interdisciplinary hub. 

 

The Role of Mathematical Modeling and Simulation

As microfluidic experts at Elveflow, we noticed that one of the recurring themes throughout EFDC2 was the central role of mathematical modeling and simulation in advancing the study of fluids. Computational fluid dynamics can be in predicting turbulence in aerospace systems to mapping subsurface flows in porous rocks. Numerical approaches provide a framework to test hypotheses, guide experiments, and scale findings to real-world applications of fluid dynamics . For example, in the field of enhanced oil recovery (EOR), mathematical models of multiphase flows in porous media are essential to predict how oil, water, and gas interact under different injection strategies. Coupling these models with microfluidic experiments offers unparalleled insight into optimizing recovery efficiency. You can explore this topic further in our dedicated review on microfluidics for enhanced oil recovery studies.

What’s Next: From Modeling to Microfluidic Prototyping with Elveflow

Mathematical models are only as strong as the experimental data that validates them. This is where microfluidic prototyping becomes a key step. Using techniques such as photolithography and PDMS replication, researchers can fabricate transparent microfluidic chips that mimic porous structures, vascular networks, or other fluidic environments. Photolithography allows patterns to be etched onto a wafer coated with photoresist, while PDMS (polydimethylsiloxane) casting enables easy replication of these structures into flexible and biocompatible chips. This rapid prototyping workflow empowers researchers to design, test, and iterate microfluidic models that bring mathematical predictions into the lab.

If you are interested in prototyping your own PDMS chips, without the need of a clean room, Elveflow offers microfabrications station solutions, adaptable to your needs.

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The Importance of Stable Flow Control

To ensure reliable results in these complex systems, the quality of flow control is paramount. Microfluidic studies often deal with multiphase flows, non-Newtonian fluids, or time-dependent flow regimes, where any instability can compromise reproducibility. Unlike syringe pumps, Elveflow’s pressure-driven Microfluidic flow controllers provide unmatched stability, accuracy, and fast response times. This ensures:

  • Stability: essential for long-term experiments in porous media or organ-on-chip systems.
  • Accuracy: precise control of flow rates for microfluidic channels down to microliters per minute.
  • Response time: immediate adjustments to pressure changes, critical for transient flow studies, in the range of 10 ms.
  • Reproducibility: consistent conditions across experiments, enabling reliable data.
  • Automation: seamless integration with microfluidic valves, sensors, and feedback loops, further enhanced by Elveflow’s SDK for custom programming, UART communication for direct instrument control, and the built-in sequencer feature that allows users to predefine complex flow protocols without constant supervision.

By combining mathematical modeling, microfluidic prototyping, and precise pressure-driven flow control, researchers are equipped with a powerful pipeline to tackle the next frontiers of fluid dynamics, from industrial processes like enhanced oil recovery to biomedical innovations.

Significance & Future Outlook

European Fluid Dynamics Conference (EFDC2) marked the consolidation of Europe’s leading fluid dynamics gatherings into a unified platform. The event emphasized not only disciplinary excellence but also interdisciplinary innovation, with sessions spanning physics, engineering, mathematics, and emerging computational approaches.

Looking ahead, the community now turns to EFDC3 in 2027, where the dialogue will continue to evolve in response to new societal challenges and technological opportunities. With its broad scope, international reach, and creative engagement strategies, EFDC is set to remain a cornerstone of the global fluid dynamics calendar.

Thanks again to the organizing committee that put together this impressive event, and thanks to all the people that came to discuss flow control with us!

Written and reviewed by Louise Fournier, PhD in Chemistry and Biology Interface and Marine Daïeff, PhD. For more content about Microfluidics, you can have a look here.

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