Dr. Geoffrey Spedding

Biography

Geoffrey Spedding received his Ph.D. in 1981 from the University of Bristol, England. He began work as a Research Associate in the Department of Aerospace Engineering at the University of Southern California in the same year, focusing on models of insect wings and later models of atmospheres and oceans. He became a full Professor in 2005 and has served as Chair of the Aerospace Mechanical Engineering Department since January 2010, returning to normal faculty life in July 2017. His current research themes include Geophysical Fluids, particularly the evolution of turbulence in oceans and atmospheres, the relation of persistence in wakes of islands and submarines, and the aerodynamics of small flying devices like birds and bats. His experimental work utilizes wind tunnels for testing fixed wings and flying wildlife, including collaborations at Lund University, Sweden. Over his career, Spedding has published more than 60 full journal articles and given over 80 invited talks in the last decade, gaining noteworthy media coverage including platforms like CNN and BBC News. He was elected as a Fellow of the American Physical Society in 2010 and awarded the Chaire Joliot at ESPCI, Paris, in 2013.

Research Interests

Awards