NSFC awards 2024: Dr Andrew Fowlie

This year marks the first time XJTLU has received funding for both the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) Research Fund for International Senior Scientists and the Research Fund for International Excellent Young Scientists.

We interviewed the two international grant winners, Professor Eben Goodale and Dr Andrew Fowlie, about their project plans, hopes, and advice for researchers applying for grants.

Please see the interview with Professor Eben Goodale here.

Please can you introduce your project to us:

This project addresses a fundamental question: did our universe boil? That is, was there an abrupt first-order phase transition through the nucleation of bubbles? These transitions could lead to observable gravitational wave signals, play a role in cosmological inflation, and are an ingredient for the creation of matter rather than antimatter. Mathematically, bubble growth and domination are described by continuum percolation theory – percolation occurs once a connected cluster of bubbles forms. Unfortunately, existing results from continuum percolation theory cannot be applied to cosmological phase transitions because the expansion of space-time leads to bubbles of unequal size. In this project, we develop and apply state-of-the-art analytic results and simulation techniques in percolation theory to cosmological phase transitions.

What are the applications of the project?

This project builds collaboration across research institutes in China, the UK, and Australia, as well as collaboration and research capacity across research fields from particle physics and cosmology, stochastic processes, and computer science. Because percolation is a common phenomenon, the potential applications are broad, extending beyond gravitational waves and cosmology (our primary focus) to electrical properties of materials and microchip technology, crude oil extraction from underground reservoirs, preventing floods, and controlling outbreaks of fire and contagious diseases.

The research outputs include state-of-art numerical results in percolation theory, the application of those results to cosmology and particle physics, and public computer software for simulating percolation.

What are the societal impacts and benefits of this project?

There are cultural benefits from the inspiration and education of young adults and the general public through planned outreach activities associated with this RFIS-II. Lastly, there are concrete economic benefits from students trained in high-demand skills in numerical programming and potential economic benefits from applications of these RFIS-II results in industry and public health.

How do you feel about being awarded this grant? 

It’s a great honour to win this grant. I’d like to thank everyone in the School who encouraged and supported me. I’m looking forward to starting the work and obtaining scientific results.

Is there any advice you would give to researchers applying for grants?

Like all of us, reviewers are busy. Make sure they can get a clear and positive impression of you and your proposal reading diagonally in 10 minutes or so.