Duy Nguyen, PhD

Recent/upcoming activities (fun and extracurricular): 

Jan 17, 2025

Hanoi, Vietnam.

Vietnam, Australia, Thailand collaborate in the quest for Water Security 

Link: 

Vietnam, Australia, Thailand collaborate in the quest for Water Security – Aus4Innovation 

Preserving reservoir water quality in Thailand - Australian Water Partnership 

A delegation from Australia (CSIRO, Griffith University, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Australian Water Partnership - AWP) and Thailand (Royal Irrigation Department - RID, MTECH, Chulalongkorn University) visited CSIRO’s AquaWatch Australia Program pilot site in Vietnam – an aquaculture farm in Hai Phong. The Program aims to develop a world-class integrated ground-to-space water quality monitoring and forecasting system for Australia and beyond. This can provide actionable information for both inland and coastal water, empowering decision-makers to better manage ecosystem health, support industry, and mitigate human or animal health impacts.

“The visit to observe a working hydra spectra unit from CSIRO’s Aquawatch program for water quality monitoring in Vietnam demonstrated the excellent reliability with low maintenance of the unit in South East Asian conditions,” said Kelvin O’Halloran, Adjunct Associate Professor at Griffith University.  

“This field trip was a unique opportunity for trilateral cooperation and learning between Australia, Vietnam and Thailand,” noted Sarah Ransom, General Manager at AWP. “The delegation was able to see Australian expertise in action through CSIRO’s AquaWatch technology and consider the potential for deploying new solutions for managing water quality.” 

The goal of the continued knowledge exchange is to strengthen cooperation, enhance water quality monitoring practices and explore tools and a strategy for climate change adaptation.

The field trip was also part of an AWP Phase III activity, ‘Technical support to improve reservoir water quality in Thailand’ led by Griffith University, which builds on previous AWP support to RID on the improvement of reservoir water quality management practices and strategies.   

The visit was hosted by the Hanoi University of Geology and Mining, Vietnam National Center for Water Resources Planning and Investigation (NAWAPI) of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Le Quy Don Technical University, Thuy Loi University, and associates in Vietnam. A highlight of the visit was the depth yet breadth of engagements. Scientists, policymakers, diplomats, local farmers and governments, shared water security challenges through real-world insights and opportunities to strengthen the relationship between Australia, Vietnam and Thailand in the quest for water security.

July 10, 2024

Lake Stechlin, Germany

I was having fun visit the IGB Berlin Lake lab at Brandenburg, Germany. The lake lab is awesome! I've never seen anything like that in my life.  We spent time to take a swim in the lake and enjoy the local fish over lunch. 

I also gave a presentation on the monitoring and forecasting algal bloom. In the talk, I introduced the CSIRO AquaWatch system, and the use of the physics-bio coupling model, couple with machine learning to forecast the bloom. 

We had a very good discussion, especially on the idea of applying the model to the phytoplankton that are bloom at the deeper layer of the lake. 

Attending the talk were Mark Gessner (the department head), and other group leaders (Stella A. Berger, Hans-Peter Grossart, Jens Christian Nejstgaard), and postdocs, PhD students, visiting students from Canada, the US, and South Africa.

As Jen said, anyone who visits us, will eventually come back. Hopefully CSIRO, AquaWatch and IGB Berlin will develop some further collaboration, so that I will be able to come back.

March, Friday, 22nd, 2024

Happy world's water day! 

Celebrating one year of launching of AquaWatch Australia Mission. We have a special Youtube video here.

On this special day, I also recieve a wonderful news. I am happy to be representing Australian early-career researchers at the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting.

Happier to get a lot of supports from CSIRO for acing the fellowship, especially from CSIRO's Research Office, from my line manager Klaus Joehnk - the lead water quality modelling of the AquaWatch mission, the Water Security Program Director Carmel Pollino, the Science Director of the Environment BU Brett Molony, and many more.

And of course, immensely thanks to The Australian Academy of Science, Frances Separovic for the Science and Industry Endowment Fellowship, to make this trip possible.

Fluid Mechanics is a Physics field. Laureates Syukuro Manabe, Klaus Hasselmann and Giorgio Parisi got their Nobel prizes for the revolutionary contribution to disorder and fluctuations of Earth's climate system, recognized the complexity of the Physics in fluid dynamics. With the pressing situation of climate change, as an Environmental Fluid Dynamicist, I am happy to be chosen to a meeting dedicated to Physics.

Here is a small part from what I wrote in my application:

"Understanding turbulence through equations is notoriously difficult, given its chaotic and irregular nature. Turbulence is everywhere, yet it is one of the most challenging concepts for physicists to understand. That is the fun part of working with a turbulent model. I love turbulent flow! Since I was a kid, I have loved watching things in motions be it cars cruise, cats pounce, birds glide, water swirl away in our sink or raging rivers. Thus, it is a natural choice that I got into a gifted high school focused on Physics and Informatics, shaping my path to applying physics in practical ways. My path encompassed fundamental hydraulics in college, investigating air-sea property exchanges, wave dynamics and instabilities for my Master's, and exploring temperature's influence on turbulent stratified flow and mixing processes within complex geometries for my PhD. With the global climate reshaping environments, water-related predicaments are rising, and Australia is no exception. As an Early Career Researcher at CSIRO, I capitalize on my expertise to apply my theoretical turbulent modelling background to advance water quality simulations for rivers and lakes. My efforts contribute to creating the world's inaugural "weather service" for water quality, aiming to transform monitoring and response strategies in Australia and the world, aligning with my passion and societal needs amidst a changing climate." 

March, Mon - Tue 18th-19th, 2024

We recently convened in Adelaide, Australia, for a dynamic two-day session aimed at finalizing the draft first version of AquaWatch's Science Application Traceability Matrix (SATM). This innovative matrix offers a structured pathway from overarching objectives down to eventual publications, encompassing mission objectives, science objectives, measurement requirements, instrument specifications, and system requirements. Initially proposed by JPL-Caltech and adapted by NASA for spacecraft design, the SATM concept was embraced by AquaWatch from the project's inception.

A dedicated working group of over 10 AquaWatch scientists has been diligently collaborating for the past eight months to dissect all essential parameters within the AquaWatch mission. Their efforts have resulted in the organization of goals, objectives, and impacts into a cohesive tracking tool that guides mission planning and facilitates solution delivery. This comprehensive chart addresses parameter management, cascading down to instrument design, model requirements, data products, and the desires of end-users.

During our discussions, we delved into the potential parameters that AquaWatch aims to deliver in 2026 and toward 2030. We evaluated their readiness status, distinguishing between those that are ready, those undergoing research and development, and their respective technology readiness levels. This dialogue provided valuable insights and served as a rich learning opportunity, particularly for early-career researchers like myself.

Amidst engaging discussions and productive work sessions, we also had the pleasure of enjoying good science, great company, and delicious food. It was truly a rewarding experience of growth and collaboration. Here's to continued learning and progress!

March, Tue 5th, 2024

Climate change is creating significant challenges to livelihoods, the economy and natural resources across countries in the Mekong subregion. Australia brought together 20 future leaders from across the Mekong subregion, to participate in the Mekong Australia Partnership masterclass on “Responding to the Climate Change Challenge”, implemented by the The University of Queensland. The participants will spend two weeks in Australia this month to learn more about how to support the Mekong subregion’s response to climate change.

Janet - the deputy director of AquaWatch and I, were invited to give a lecture on AquaWatch to the delegations. We had quite a fun chat and a good time hanging out over tea party.

Jan, Tue 30th, 2024

I have been elected as the vice-chair of the GeoAquaWatch  Early Career Society. I believe we will do a lot of great things together, such as the currently running "Water talk series" for early career researchers from under-representative backgrounds. 

Dec, Tue 12th, 2023

I have a great time on a field trip to Lake Hume. The lake is about a 15-minute drive from Albury Wodonga, and 4 hours from my office. It is an impressive body of water for drinking water supply, hydropower plant dam, and irrigation. 

Lake Hume is one of the inland pilots of the AquaWatch mission. Behind me is the buoy that houses the CSIRO HydraSpectra sensor, which data would help me and other modellers at CSIRO to monitor and forecast various water quality parameters. 

A field trip is not just work, it is also a trip to nature. I am lucky to have my driving buddy, a senior researcher who shared many valuable lessons and personal stories from his life and many years of career. It was my lucky learning session. 

When standing in front of the big lake, I remember the words by Osho "We are born alone, we live alone, and we die alone.".

June, Sat - Wed 3-7, 2023

I will be at the Freshwater Science Conference in Brisbane, Australia. This is the first time the Society for Freshwater Science has held its annual conference outside of North America to the down under. I will present my talk to the Hydrology/Geomorphology session, with the title "Modelling Thermal Stratification, Overturning and Mixing in Australian Rivers" on Monday, 05/06/2023.  I will also chair two sessions on the topic of Eutrophication and Harmful Algae on the next day of 06/06/2023. Hope to see you there!

May 2023

I am joining the National CERC Fellow Committee. We have currently 9 members across 8 locations and 7 Business Units, with the responsibility to connect all CERCs across Australia (about 550 members of CSIRO Early Research Career Postdoctoral and Engineering Fellows), represent CERC Fellows to CSIRO leadership, present CERCs perspective on leaning and development opportunities and resources, and oversee the organization of Convergence. I am also hosting the biweekly Right to Write workshop, working with CSIRO Publishing, to organize sessions for all CERCs to improve academic writing.