67th VKI Diploma Ceremony

The 67th VKI Diploma Ceremony of the Research Master in Fluid Dynamics was an unforgettable event held on June 30th, 2023 at the von Karman Institute. The atmosphere was filled with excitement and pride as the graduates were celebrated for their remarkable achievements.

The ceremony commenced with a heartfelt congratulatory message from Mr. Peter Grognard, the VKI Managing Director. His words set the tone for the day, acknowledging the dedication and hard work of the graduates.

Mr. Sven Van Loo, the chair of the VKI Board of Directors, then took the stage, delivering an inspiring speech that resonated with the audience. Dr. Bryan Wells, NATO Chief Scientist, graced the occasion with his presence and delivered a captivating address emphasizing the importance of VKI for NATO.

One of the highlights of the ceremony was the special technical presentation by Dr. Joffrey Coheur, who completed his PhD thesis in 2021. He shared his research on "Uncertainty quantification of aerothermal flow-material simulations of low-density ablative thermal protection systems," showcasing the innovative work carried out at VKI.

Dr. Rémy Dénos, Deputy Head of Unit at DG Maritime innovation, Marine Knowledge, and Investment, European Commission, shared his valuable experience at the von Karman Institute with the graduates, reflecting on the significant impact it had on his own career.

The diploma distribution commenced with great anticipation. Her Excellency Ariadne Petrdis, the Belgian Representative to NATO, had the honor of awarding the Theodore von Karman Prize and the Belgian Government Prize. Her Royal Highness Princess Léa de Belgique presented the prestigious Prince Alexandre de Belgique Award for the Best Presentation. Mr. Sven Van Loo personally handed out the awards for Excellence in Experimental Research and Excellence in Numerical Research, as well as the well-deserved diplomas to the graduates.

The recipients of the awards showcased exceptional talent and dedication. Manuel RATZ received the Theodore von Karman Prize for his outstanding project titled "A Physics-constrained RBF framework for data assimilation in image velocimetry."

Antonios-Lykourgos SYNODINOS was recognized with the Prince Alexandre of Belgium Award for the Best Presentation, along with the Belgian Government Prize, for his remarkable project on "Experimental investigation of cross-flow instabilities for novel laminar wing concepts."

Ákos Barnabás GYENGE was honored with the Excellence in Experimental Research award for his great work on "Complete Flow Characterisation of the Novel Mach 5 Hypersonic Wind Tunnel," while Berk SARIKAYA received the Excellence in Numerical Research award for his remarkable project on "Aerodynamic and Aeroacoustic Design Optimization of UAVs using a Surrogate Model."

The ceremony was also a moment to acknowledge and congratulate all the graduates who received their diplomas. Their names were called out, accompanied by applause and admiration for their exceptional accomplishments.

 

Davide USUELLI has successfully defended the projet and Çağatay ŞAHIN has successfully complete the courses.

Christos ALPOGIANNIS, Konstantinos DIMITRIADIS, Andrea SAVI SCARPONI, Ömer Refik SÖZBIR were also enrolled in the acadamic year 2022-2023.

Guest speakers continued to inspire and uplift the graduates. Dr. Tamas Regert, President of the VKI alumni association, delivered a moving speech on behalf of the alumni association, culminating in the presentation of the Best Collaborative Student Award to Manuel Ratz.

Prof. Jeroen van Beeck, the dean of the faculty, took the stage to present the Best PhD Presentation Award of the Phd Symposium 2023. Gonçalo GRANJAL CRUZ was honored with this prestigious award for his  work on "A Bayesian Data Driven Multi-Fidelity Modelling Approach for Experimental Under-Sampled Flow Reconstruction." Gonçalo also received an additional prize from the alumni association.

Karel VAN DEN BORRE was recognized with the Best Poster Award for his research on "Reduced order combustion modelling of propulsion systems for variable cycle engine jet fighter applications."

During the ceremony, some members of the organizing committee of the European Turbomachinery Conference, Dr. Raúl Vázquez Díaz from Rolls-Royce, Prof. Antoine Dazin from ENSAM, and Prof. Gérard Bois from ENSAM-ParisTech, took the opportunity to extend their congratulations to Honorary Prof. Claus Sieverding. Prof. Sieverding, who was one of the founders of the European Turbomachinery Conference in 1993, was honored alongside Prof. Gérard Bois from ENSAM-ParisTech and Prof. Francesco Martelli from the University of Florence. The committee delightedly announced the establishment of the Claus Sieverding Prize, which will be awarded during future conferences.

Finally, Mr. Manuel RATZ, Mr. Niccolò TONIONI, Mr. Ákos GYENGE, representatives of the Research Master students, gave a vote of thanks to the guests.

The 67th VKI Diploma Ceremony celebrated the exceptional achievements, dedication, and commitment of the graduates, leaving an important mark on their journey towards a brilliant future.