Rajesh Bhaskaran

Rajesh Bhaskaran’s work seeks to promote the “democratization of simulation” through effective integration of simulation tools into engineering education. He directs the Swanson Lab and has helped introduce industry-standard simulation tools into Cornell courses covering fluid mechanics, heat transfer, solid mechanics, and numerical analysis. Dr. Bhaskaran has led the development of SimCafe.org as an online portal for learning and teaching finite-element and CFD simulations. SimCafe is used worldwide in courses as well as for self-paced learning by students and industry professionals. Dr. Bhaskaran has developed a unified methodology for using simulation in disparate lecture-based and lab courses. This methodology teaches students to approach simulations like an expert rather than just pushing buttons and accepting results at face value. Dr. Bhaskaran’s professional interests include engineering applications of simulation technology, reliable deployment of advanced simulation by generalist engineers, and conceptual change in learners using simulations. He has organized two international workshops on simulation in engineering curricula.