The Centre for Nonlinear Dynamics and its Applications was
established at University College London (UCL) in 1991, to act as a
focus for interdisciplinary research into the theory of nonlinear
dynamics and its applications across science and engineering. It is
based within the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
which has a long history of expertise in the advanced dynamics of
engineering structures.
The Centre is under the directorship of Professor J.M.T. Thompson,
FRS, whose seminal book on Nonlinear Dynamics and Chaos has played a
fundamental role in stimulating the application of nonlinear dynamics
throughout engineering and the sciences. Steve Bishop is the Manager
of the Centre, and Jaroslav Stark, who joined the Centre from the GEC
Hirst Laboratories in 1992, is the coordinator of the graduate
programme.
The Centre currently has 31 members. In addition to the 3
permanent staff mentioned above, there are 2 honorary visiting
professors, 7 fellows and post-doctoral research assistants, 10
research students (working for a PhD), 6 post-graduate students
(working for an MSc), and 3 academic visitors. All are accommodated
in an attractive central area of UCL where regular colloquia and a
small library of current journals make an exciting and focused
research environment. The Centre has good links with many other
research groups both in the UK and abroad, and with a number of
engineering companies.