I hope that my image will inspire people to do science and engineering
Can you explain your Science Exposed image (above)?
Giuseppe Di Labbio: My image, “Laminar healthy vortices and leaking heart valves,” shows what the blood flow in a healthy heart looks like as it fills, and how this pattern changes when one of the heart valves leaks.
Specifically, this represents a disease known as aortic valve regurgitation, which affects the left ventricle — the powerhouse of the heart.
How does your image illustrate your research at Concordia?
GDL: The image is directly related to the subject of my doctoral dissertation. I’m researching the physics underlying the blood flow resulting from this disease and how it can be used to detect the disease in its earliest stages. The image shows what’s called the finite-time Lyapunov exponent field, which is really a beautiful and tangible way to visualize a flow.
How are you feeling about being a contestant in the Science Exposed competition?
GDL: For the most part, it is just a pleasure to have my research showcased in such a way. The outcome is only secondary to the hope that the image will inspire people to do science and engineering.
What are your plans for the future?
GDL: Ultimately, the hope is to become a professor someday. I love to teach and do research. I will be graduating from the PhD Program in Mechanical Engineering in early September and will start a postdoc at Polytechnique Montréal.
Check out Hani Jazaerli's and Giueseppe Di Labbio’s Science Exposed images and place your vote for the 2019 People’s Choice Award by September 15.