Understanding Glaciers, One Fluid at a Time

Led by Professor Pramoda Kumar and supported by the Mphasis AI & Applied Tech Lab, the Hydrodynamics Laboratory at Ashoka University is pushing the boundaries of environmental fluid dynamics while providing transformative research experiences for students.

The lab’s flagship project, Glaciers on a Tabletop, investigates how non-Newtonian gravity currents -fluids that mimic the behaviour of glacial ice -interact under controlled experimental conditions. Using advanced imaging, data analysis in Python, and custom lab setups, the team studies the evolution of these currents to better understand ice stream dynamics and glacial flow behaviour in real-world settings.

Hands-on learning is at the heart of the lab’s philosophy. Student researchers are involved in every step- from setting up apparatus and preparing fluids to coding, imaging, and data analysis—building a toolkit of interdisciplinary skills that translate beyond the lab.

The outcomes speak for themselves. Undergraduate researcher Drishana secured three international fellowships, ultimately choosing the Global Intern Program at Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology. Simar was selected for the ANU-FRT 25 internship in Australia, while Bhavna continues to apply her skills to advanced research pursuits.

The lab is now expanding its work to include velocity tracking via tracer particles and further fluid regime classification. As it continues to model glacial systems at a small scale, the lab’s contributions to climate science and student development reflect the power of combining institutional support, mentorship, and curiosity-driven inquiry.