CDT Co-Director Cath Noakes to give talk at International Webinar Series
Journal of Fluid Mechanics Webinar Series: Cath Noakes, University of Leeds
Date/Time: Friday 12th February, 2021. 4:00 pm GMT/11am EST
Title: Infection transmission in the built environment – the interface of biology, fluid dynamics, design and human behaviour
Abstract: COVID-19 has presented us with the most difficult healthcare and societal challenge we have faced in living memory. To understand the mechanisms of transmission we have had to rapidly collect new evidence on the SARS-CoV-2 virus ranging from laboratory data on survival and fluid dynamics studies on droplet dispersion through to epidemiological evidence from outbreaks, contract tracing and cohort studies.
Over this time we have become acutely aware of the role that the environment plays in transmission, and how our interactions in indoor spaces determine the risk of infection. But this is not the first disease to be associated with the built environment. Many other respiratory diseases have a clear association with indoor spaces including tuberculosis and influenza. Pathogens such as pseudomonas, legionella are associated with water systems, and even hospital acquired infections such as MRSA have been linked to dispersion within the environment.
This presentation sets out what we know about transmission of pathogens in the built environment particular focus on the complex interactions between engineering systems, fluid dynamics, microbiology and the behaviour of people that determine the dispersion, transport and survival of pathogens. Engineering and modelling approaches that can be used to understand mechanisms for transmission and implement mitigation strategies are discussed. The talk discusses how research findings may be used to support practice, and where there gaps in knowledge in both understanding of fundamental processes and the real performance of engineering solutions.
Click here to read Cath Noakes’ recent paper published in the Journal of Fluid Mechanics.