Abstract: In this talk I sketch some recent themes* from my research group, starting with a brief survey of some of the fluid mechanics problems that we have been investigating in recent years. Second, traditional similarity solutions in course work and research typically involve nonlinear equations with two independent variables: I will illustrate one “typical” problem and one unusual case involving three independent variables, where each is illustrated by an experiment and rationalized with an analysis of the appropriate thin film equation. Finally, if there is time, I will discuss the formation of the spindle in a dividing cell, which is a fundamental aspect of molecular biology, and show how some fluid mechanics questions appear.

*The research described was performed by many people in my research group, as well as some external collaborations.

BIO: Stone received a B.S. degree in Chemical Engineering from UC Davis (1982) and the PhD in Chemical Engineering from Caltech (1988). Following a postdoc at DAMTP at the University of Cambridge, in 1989 he joined the faculty of the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences at Harvard University, where he became the Vicky Joseph Professor of Engineering and Applied Mathematics. In 2000 he was named a Harvard College Professor for contributions to undergraduate education. In 2009 he moved to Princeton University where he is Donald R. Dixon ’69 and Elizabeth W. Dixon Professor in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering.  Stone received the NSF-PYI Award, is a Fellow of the APS, and is past Chair of the Division of Fluid Dynamics of the APS. For ten years he served as an Associate Editor for the Journal of Fluid Mechanics, and is on the editorial/advisory boards of Physical Review Fluids, Langmuir, and Soft Matter, and is a co-editor of the Soft Matter Book Series.  Stone received the APS Fluid Dynamics Prize (2016) and was the first recipient of the G.K. Batchelor Prize in Fluid Dynamics (2008). He was elected to the NAE (2009), the AAAS (2011) and the NAS (2014).