ENAC Seminar Series by Dr Isabella Schalko
Event details
| Date | 14.03.2023 |
| Hour | 13:00 › 14:00 |
| Speaker | Dr Isabella Schalko |
| Location | |
| Category | Conferences - Seminars |
| Event Language | English |
13:00 – 14:00 – Dr Isabella Schalko
Junior Group Leader, ETH Zurich and Research Affiliate, MIT, US
Hydraulic engineering meets environmental fluid mechanics
Research for resilient fluvial systems
One of the biggest challenges today is mitigating the effects of climate change on human society and ecosystems. Due to climate change, the frequency of flash floods increases, demanding a better understanding of transport processes in fluvial systems as well as innovative measures and resilient hydraulic structures that mitigate flood related hazards. At the same time, many rivers worldwide and specifically in densely populated countries such as Switzerland have been confined for engineering purposes and consequently exhibit morphological and ecological degradation. The revised Swiss Water Protection Act demands the restoration of 4,000 eco-morphologically impaired river kilometers by 2090. The urgency of this topic is further emphasized by the declaration of the United Nations decade on ecosystem restoration from 2021-2030. To contribute to these efforts, it is crucial to investigate the physical and ecological interactions for habitat creation in fluvial systems.
In this lecture, I will present ongoing research efforts to reach a fundamental understanding of transport processes in fluvial systems to make a positive impact on the environment. I will demonstrate how my research at the interface between hydraulic engineering and environmental fluid mechanics contributes to the enhancement of ecological functions in fluvial systems and the mitigation of flood related hazards. Specifically, I will present recent studies on (i) nature-based solutions for habitat creation, and (ii) design of resilient hydraulic structures in the presence of wood, sediment, and plastics.
Short bio:
Dr. Isabella Schalko is a Junior Group Leader (SNSF Ambizione Fellow) at the Institute of Fluid Dynamics at ETH Zurich and a Research Affiliate at the Nepf Environmental Fluid Mechanics Laboratory at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). She received her PhD in 2018 from the Laboratory of Hydraulics, Hydrology and Glaciology (VAW) at ETH Zurich and was awarded the ETH Medal for her doctoral thesis. After completing her PhD, Dr. Schalko was awarded an SNSF Early.Postoc Mobility Fellowship to work as a Postdoc at the Nepf Environmental Fluid Mechanics Laboratory at MIT. Prior to her SNSF Ambizione Fellowship, she worked as a Lecturer and Senior Research Assistant at VAW, ETH Zurich.
Dr. Schalko is a hydraulic engineer with expertise in environmental fluid mechanics. Her research aims to reach a fundamental understanding of transport processes in fluvial systems to make a positive impact on the environment. She integrates physical modeling and field observations to study the interaction between flow and (in)organic matter in fluvial systems. The goal is to develop models of the physical processes to improve the management of natural resources and the design of hydraulic structures.
Junior Group Leader, ETH Zurich and Research Affiliate, MIT, US
Hydraulic engineering meets environmental fluid mechanics
Research for resilient fluvial systems
One of the biggest challenges today is mitigating the effects of climate change on human society and ecosystems. Due to climate change, the frequency of flash floods increases, demanding a better understanding of transport processes in fluvial systems as well as innovative measures and resilient hydraulic structures that mitigate flood related hazards. At the same time, many rivers worldwide and specifically in densely populated countries such as Switzerland have been confined for engineering purposes and consequently exhibit morphological and ecological degradation. The revised Swiss Water Protection Act demands the restoration of 4,000 eco-morphologically impaired river kilometers by 2090. The urgency of this topic is further emphasized by the declaration of the United Nations decade on ecosystem restoration from 2021-2030. To contribute to these efforts, it is crucial to investigate the physical and ecological interactions for habitat creation in fluvial systems.
In this lecture, I will present ongoing research efforts to reach a fundamental understanding of transport processes in fluvial systems to make a positive impact on the environment. I will demonstrate how my research at the interface between hydraulic engineering and environmental fluid mechanics contributes to the enhancement of ecological functions in fluvial systems and the mitigation of flood related hazards. Specifically, I will present recent studies on (i) nature-based solutions for habitat creation, and (ii) design of resilient hydraulic structures in the presence of wood, sediment, and plastics.
Short bio:
Dr. Isabella Schalko is a Junior Group Leader (SNSF Ambizione Fellow) at the Institute of Fluid Dynamics at ETH Zurich and a Research Affiliate at the Nepf Environmental Fluid Mechanics Laboratory at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). She received her PhD in 2018 from the Laboratory of Hydraulics, Hydrology and Glaciology (VAW) at ETH Zurich and was awarded the ETH Medal for her doctoral thesis. After completing her PhD, Dr. Schalko was awarded an SNSF Early.Postoc Mobility Fellowship to work as a Postdoc at the Nepf Environmental Fluid Mechanics Laboratory at MIT. Prior to her SNSF Ambizione Fellowship, she worked as a Lecturer and Senior Research Assistant at VAW, ETH Zurich.
Dr. Schalko is a hydraulic engineer with expertise in environmental fluid mechanics. Her research aims to reach a fundamental understanding of transport processes in fluvial systems to make a positive impact on the environment. She integrates physical modeling and field observations to study the interaction between flow and (in)organic matter in fluvial systems. The goal is to develop models of the physical processes to improve the management of natural resources and the design of hydraulic structures.
Practical information
- General public
- Invitation required
- This event is internal
Organizer
- ENAC
Contact
- Cristina Perez