Links to Fluids at the University of Washington-
 

The Geophysical Fluids Dynamic Laboratory as a Teaching Tool -

    Moving fluids are a part of the natural world, and their dynamics impact the ocean and atmosphere as well as a myriad of biological, chemical and geophysical problems.  Fluid processes are also central to many practical problems in engineering and medical science.  But fluid dynamics is difficult to learn and teach at the blackboard!  Laboratory demonstrations and hands-on project courses complement traditional lectures and bring students into close hand-eye contact with fluids.  Manual skills (nearly extinct among many young people), computation, observation all benefit.  Over the past 10 years, we have developed a spectrum of laboratory teaching activities in the University of Washington centered about our belief that teaching and research are naturally symbiotic in a fluid dynamics laboratory.  These activities include -
 

    The GFD laboratory is a social as well as intellectual experience, with students educating one another, almost to the state of being a 'team'.  Although laboratory teaching is manpower intensive and requires skilled technical support, we see it as an essential antidote to the large lectures, cookbook labs, and computerized distance learning which tends to dominate a large university.  In future years, we hope to solidify and expand our teaching activities and develop tools that can help other labs follow this path.