Panneer Selvam, University Professor of civil engineering, was elected to a four-year position in the academy at the 99th Arkansas Academy of Science meeting at Henderson State University in Arkadelphia on April 10-11. Selvam will serve as vice president for 2015-16, president-elect for 2016-17, president for 2017-18, and past-president for 2018-19.

Selvam, who holds the James T. Womble Endowed Professorship in Computational Mechanics and Nanotechnology Modeling, has been at the U of A since 1991. His research focuses on multiphase flow modeling, spray cooling, thermal management, bridge aerodynamics, modeling tornado forces on buildings, nanomechanics, nanoscience for cement, MD modeling of thermal transport at interfaces, Adaptive hp-FEM, modeling flow through porous media and computational wind engineering.

Civil engineering doctoral students Matt Strasser, Nawfal Ahmed and Majdi Yousef presented their research at the conference. Ahmed received the Physics and Engineering Best Paper Award for his presentation on tornado interaction with hills.

"We are excited about the success of Dr. Selvam and his students at the Arkansas Academy of Science annual meeting," said Kevin Hall, head of the Department of Civil Engineering. "Mr. Ahmed is an extremely diligent student and richly deserving of recognition for his work with tornado-generated wind forces on structures.  It is also very gratifying to see Dr. Selvam bring his proven record of leadership and unmatched work ethic to the Academy; there is no doubt that he will spur the Academy to new levels of success in the future."

The University of Arkansas was selected to host the 100th Arkansas Academy of Science meeting, which will take place April 1-2, 2016, on campus.