Associate ProfessorYixiang Gan

"We are living in a time of transition from fossil-based to sustainable energy sources. I don't know what name will be given to this time in the future, but I believe it will be considered as important as the 19th century's industrial revolution.

"In energy systems, granular media are commonly used to store, convert, capture and produce energy. Examples include lithium-ion batteries, solid oxide fuel cells and thermal storage systems.

"The function of granular materials in energy systems involves essentially the transport of electrons, heat and ionic species. Controlling the performance of such systems is encumbered by complex multi-physical interactions of matter and structure across a large range of length scales.

"My research focuses on the fundamental mechanics of heterogeneous materials, including sands, powders and foams. It aims to improve our fundamental understanding of these transport phenomena, to improve the functionality of energy systems and reduce their risks of failure.

"I feel fortunate to be able to work on many types of energy systems, including nuclear fusion and various energy storage systems.

"I'm excited about finding solutions to these engineering challenges. For complex engineering problems, the solutions can often be simple and beautiful.

"I have been working in this field for more than 10 years, and joined the University of Sydney in 2010. The University provides me with the freedom to carry out varied research in a supportive environment."