The Neil Ashton Podcast

Neil Ashton
  • 5.0 (3)
  • SCIENCE
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

This podcast focuses on explaining the fascinating ways that science and engineering change the world around us. In each episode, we talk to leading engineers from elite-level sports like cycling and Formula 1 to some of world's top academics to understand how fluid dynamics, machine learning & supercomputing are bringing in a new era of discovery. We also hear life stories, career advice and lessons they've learnt along the way that will help you to pursue a career in science and engineering.

  1. 12/02/2025

    S3 EP9 - Fluid Intelligence with Johannes Brandstetter and Siddhartha Mishra

    In this conversation, Neil Ashton and Prof. Siddhartha Mishra, and Prof. Johannes Brandstetter discuss their recent paper on AI foundation models in computational fluid dynamics (CFD). They explore the backgrounds of the speakers, the journey to writing the paper, the role of AI in CFD, and the challenges of scaling laws and data generation. The discussion also covers model training costs, open questions, and future directions for research in this field. Fluid Intelligence: A Forward Look on AI Foundation Models in Computational Fluid Dynamics : https://arxiv.org/abs/2511.20455v1

    1h 25m

  2. 11/01/2025

    S3 EP8 - The Conference Connection (HPC, CAE, ML & Engineering)

    In this episode, Neil Ashton discusses various conferences and workshops in the automotive, aerospace, and machine learning fields. He highlights the importance of these events for networking, education, and staying updated with industry trends. From the SAE and AIAA events to machine learning workshops, Neil provides insights into what attendees can expect and the value of participating in these gatherings.

    23 min

  3. 10/15/2025

    S3 EP7 - 5 key trends for CFD revisited

    In this episode of the Neil Ashton podcast, the host revisits key trends in Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) from the past year, focusing on the rise of GPUs, advancements in AI and machine learning, the shift to cloud computing, the increasing adoption of high fidelity methods, and ongoing mergers and acquisitions in the industry. Each trend is explored in depth, highlighting the implications for the future of engineering and technology

    20 min
  4. S3 EP6 Prof. Brian Launder - CFD and Turbulence Modelling Pioneer

    09/30/2025

    S3 EP6 Prof. Brian Launder - CFD and Turbulence Modelling Pioneer

    In this episode, Professor Brian Launder (Professor at the University of Manchester and Fellow of the Royal Society and Royal Academy of Engineers) shares his remarkable journey through academia, detailing his early fascination with heat transfer, his transition to MIT, and his significant contributions to turbulence modeling and computational fluid dynamics (CFD). We touch upon the key role that Professor Brian Spalding had on his career as well as work that led to the breakthrough k-epilson turbulence model as well as the pioneering work on second-moment closure model. Prof Launder highlights the key role of collaborators and ex students such as Professors Hector Iacovides, Tim Craft, Bill Jones, Kemal Hanjalić and many more. He ends with advice for early-stage researchers and reflections on more than 50 years worth of academic research. Chapters 00:30 Introduction 05:00 Early Academic Journey 10:06 Transition to MIT and Research Focus 16:21 Return to Imperial College and Early Career 21:06 Research Projects and PhD Students 27:46 Development of the k-epilson model 33:18 CHAM and Career Changes 36:24 Move to UC Davis and New Research Directions 44:05 Challenges and Opportunities in Research 47:07 The Interview Experience 51:14 Transition to Manchester University 52:23 Research Innovations in Turbulence Modeling 57:45 The Development of the TCL Model 01:03:15 Nonlinear Eddy Viscosity Models 01:05:58 Advanced Wall Functions and Their Applications 01:10:09 Reflections on Career and Contributions 01:15:49 Legacy and Impact on Turbulence Modeling Top Turbulence Modelling contributions (https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=Y3JbAK8AAAAJ&hl=en)

    1h 28m
  5. S3 EP5 - Joris Poort - CEO and Founder of Rescale

    09/17/2025

    S3 EP5 - Joris Poort - CEO and Founder of Rescale

    In this episode, Joris Poort, CEO and founder of Rescale, shares his personal journey on founding Rescale as well as his thoughts on the future of CAE. He discusses the challenges of introducing HPC to the cloud market, the traits that make successful founders, and the importance of perseverance and execution in entrepreneurship. Joris reflects on the early days of Rescale, the significance of early investors, and the evolving landscape of cloud computing and AI integration in engineering. The conversation highlights the complexities of transitioning to cloud solutions and the future potential of HPC in various industries. In this conversation, Joris discusses the transformative impact of AI on engineering, particularly in the context of inference, simulation, and automation. He emphasizes the importance of efficiency in engineering processes and how AI can significantly reduce the time required for complex simulations. The discussion also touches on the cultural shifts within organizations as they adapt to AI technologies, the potential for AI surrogates to revolutionize engineering practices, and the challenges of closing the sim-to-real gap. Joris offers insights for aspiring founders, encouraging them to pursue meaningful work that can drive innovation and societal progress. Chapters 00:00 Introductions 03:30 The Genesis of Rescale: A Cloud Computing Journey 05:21 From Engineering to Entrepreneurship: The Leap of Faith 09:28 Traits of a Successful Founder: Courage and Perseverance 14:51 Tactical Steps to Startup Success: Building from the Ground Up 22:10 Milestones and Breakthroughs: The Early Days of Rescale 30:54 Navigating Challenges: The Role of Cloud Providers in HPC 35:24 The Intersection of HPC and AI Training 37:05 Cloud vs On-Premise: The Cost Debate 39:54 Complexities of HPC in Enterprises 42:27 The Slow Shift to Cloud Adoption 44:34 Optimizing Workloads with Rescale 46:50 Usability Challenges in Enterprise Software 48:32 The Rise of Neo Clouds and Competition 51:18 Speed and Efficiency in AI Training 54:34 AI's Transformative Impact on Engineering 58:54 The Future of AI Surrogates in Design 01:03:28 Agentic AI: The New Paradigm in Engineering 01:14:21 Solving Real Business Problems 01:19:26 The Impact of AI on Engineering 01:22:27 Innovation in Aerospace and Beyond 01:25:19 Cultural Change in Organizations 01:28:34 The Future of AI and Engineering 01:39:09 Advice for Aspiring Founders Keywords HPC, cloud computing, startup journey, Rescale, entrepreneurship, AI, technology, innovation, engineering, business, AI, engineering, inference, simulation, automation, digital twin, innovation, aerospace, machine learning, technology

    1h 40m
  6. S3 EP4 - 5 tips for CAE engineers in the era of AI

    09/02/2025

    S3 EP4 - 5 tips for CAE engineers in the era of AI

    In this episode of the Neil Ashton podcast, Neil discusses the impact of AI on CAE engineering, providing five essential tips for engineers to thrive in this evolving landscape. The conversation covers the importance of maintaining an open mind, continuous education, and preparing for AI physics applications. It also delves into the build vs. buy dilemma for AI solutions and the emerging concept of agentic AI, which promises to revolutionize engineering practices. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and AI in Engineering 01:03 Five Tips for CAE Engineers in the Era of A1 01:24 1: Keeping an Open Mind  07:39 2: Understanding AI Physics and Its Applications 13:30 3: Preparing for AI Implementation in Engineering 18:54 4: The Build vs. Buy Dilemma in AI Solutions 22:20 5: The Future of Agentic AI in Engineering

    24 min
  7. S3 EP3 - Professor Johannes Brandstetter on AI for Computational Fluid Dynamics

    08/19/2025

    S3 EP3 - Professor Johannes Brandstetter on AI for Computational Fluid Dynamics

    In this conversation, Neil Ashton interviews Prof. Johannes Brandstetter, a physicist turned machine learning expert, about his journey from academia to industry, focusing on the application of machine learning in engineering and computational fluid dynamics (CFD). They discuss the Aurora project, the challenges of integrating machine learning with engineering, and the importance of data in training models. Johannes shares insights on the use of transformers in modeling, the significance of resolution independence, and the role of open-source practices in advancing the field. The conversation also touches on the challenges of founding a startup and the need for multidisciplinary collaboration in tackling complex engineering problems. Links:  Github: https://brandstetter-johannes.github.io Emmi AI: https://www.emmi.ai Google scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=KiRvOHcAAAAJ&hl=de AB-UPT transform paper: https://arxiv.org/abs/2502.09692 Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Johannes Brandstetter 07:10 The Aurora Project and Key Learnings 11:15 Machine Learning in Engineering and CFD 17:19 Challenges with Mesh Graph Networks 20:16 Transformers in Physics Modeling 31:14 Tokenization in CFD with Transformers 39:58 Challenges in High-Dimensional Meshes 41:08 Inference Time and Mesh Generation 41:36 Neural Operators and CAD Geometry 45:59 Anchor Tokens and Scaling in CFD 48:40 Data Dependency and Multi-Fidelity Models 50:32 The Role of Physics in Machine Learning 54:28 Temporal Modeling in Engineering Simulations 56:58 Learning from Temporal Dynamics 1:00:58 Stability in Rollout Predictions 1:03:48 Multidisciplinary Approaches in Engineering 1:05:18 The Startup Journey and Lessons Learned

    1h 18m
  8. S3 EP2 - Prof. Russell Cummings - World leader in Aerospace Engineering and Hypersonics

    08/05/2025

    S3 EP2 - Prof. Russell Cummings - World leader in Aerospace Engineering and Hypersonics

    In this episode of the Neil Ashton podcast, Professor Russell Cummings shares his extensive journey through the fields of aerodynamics, computational fluid dynamics and hypersonics. He discusses his early inspirations, his early days at University and the Hughes Aircraft Company - a key time during this life. He also talks about  the cyclical nature of hypersonics research, and the challenges faced in computational fluid dynamics (CFD). Prof. Cummings emphasizes the importance of perseverance in engineering careers and the need for collaboration between experimental and computational methods. He also shares insights on the role of AI in hypersonics and offers valuable advice for aspiring engineers. Prof. Russ Cummings graduated from California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) with a B.S. and M.S. in Aeronautical Engineering, before receiving his Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Southern California; he also received a B.A. in music from Cal Poly. He is currently Professor of Aeronautics at the U.S. Air Force Academy and Director of the Hypersonic Vehicle Simulation Institute. Prior to this he was Professor of Aerospace Engineering at Cal Poly, where he also served as department chairman for four years. He also worked at Hughes Aircraft Company, and completed a National Research Council postdoctoral research fellowship at NASA Ames Research Center, working on the computation of high angle-of-attack flowfields. He is a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society and the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. Distribution Statement A: approved for public release, PA# USAFA-DF-2025-652. The views expressed in this interview are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the United States Air Force Academy, the Air Force, the Department of Defense, or the U.S. Government. Links Aerodynamics for engineers: https://www.cambridge.org/us/universitypress/subjects/engineering/aerospace-engineering/aerodynamics-engineers-7th-edition?format=HB&isbn=9781009501309 RAeS Lanchester Named Lecture 2024: Frederick W. Lanchester and 'Aerodynamics' https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=lApNzYaZOmk&t=884s  NASA at 50 (Prof Cummings is in the picture): https://images.nasa.gov/details/ARC-1989-AC89-0276-6  Chapters 00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Guest 04:56 Professor Russell Cummings: A Journey Through Engineering 31:14 The Evolution of Hypersonics Research 58:26 The Role of AI in Hypersonics and CFD 01:37:55 Advice for Aspiring Engineers

    1h 43m
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
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About

This podcast focuses on explaining the fascinating ways that science and engineering change the world around us. In each episode, we talk to leading engineers from elite-level sports like cycling and Formula 1 to some of world's top academics to understand how fluid dynamics, machine learning & supercomputing are bringing in a new era of discovery. We also hear life stories, career advice and lessons they've learnt along the way that will help you to pursue a career in science and engineering.

Information

  • Creator
    Neil Ashton
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2025
  • Episodes
    34
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Neil Ashton
  • Show Website
    The Neil Ashton Podcast