Combustion Physics Group
This is an IOP special interest group, which is a community of IOP members focused on a particular discipline, application or area of interest.
Special interest groups allow members to connect and share knowledge and ideas. The IOP funds groups to deliver a range of activities including events, prizes and bursaries. All of our groups are driven by members.
About the group
As a special interest, member-driven group, we provide a forum for the discussion of the physical aspects of combustion: from a fundamental level through to practical applications such as heating, transport and power generation.
We also focus on unwanted combustion, such as fires and explosions.
The group was formed in 1973, and benefits from its membership having a good mix of industrialists and academics. Over the years, the focus has shifted towards improving the environmental performance of combustion processes, and the development and introduction of alternative fuels such as hydrogen and biofuels.
Our interests include:
- fundamentals of combustion processes, including fires and explosions;
- safety aspects of fires and explosions;
- efficient use of energy in planned combustion processes;
- minimising the environmental impact of combustion processes;
- alternative fuels for sustainable combustion applications;
- diagnostics for improved measurements within flames; and
- modelling for improved prediction of combustion processes.
Applications covered by the group include:
- domestic heating;
- industrial processes;
- transport (air, land and sea);
- power generation; and
- building safety.
Joining an IOP special interest group
For non-IOP members: Become a member now
Group prizes
Our group awards acknowledge outstanding work and excellence in combustion science.
Ricardo award for best UK paper
This award is for a:
- significant technological advance
- contribution to the advancement of understanding at a fundamental level
Find out more about the Ricardo award for best UK paper
Huw Edwards prize for services to combustion physics
This award is for outstanding contributions to combustion physics over a prolonged period.
Find out more about the Huw Edwards prize
Lefebvre prize for best UK PhD thesis in the field of combustion physics
This award will be judged on the significance of the contribution and the difficulties overcome.
Find out more about the Lefebvre prize
Felix Weinberg prize
This award is for the best paper presented at the group’s Early Career Young Researchers meeting, held every two years.
Find out more about the Felix Weinberg prize
Group events
Find events for the Combustion Physics Group
Newsletters
Our newsletter contains articles, reports on meetings and a diary of future events.
- Newsletter, October 2022 (PDF, 375KB)
- Newsletter, April 2022 (PDF, 383KB)
- Newsletter, May 2019 (PDF, 2.51MB)
Useful links
- Royal Academy of Engineering
- British Section of the Combustion Institute
- British Flame
- The Fuel and Energy Research Forum
- Energy Institute
- IChemE Clean Energy Special Interest Group
- IMechE Energy Environment and Sustainability Group
- IMechE Automotive Group
- IMechE Process Industries Division
Committee and contact
| Category | Name | Start | End |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chair | Professor Ramanarayanan Balachandran, MInstP | 2024 | 2028 |
| Secretary | Dr Iain Burns, MInstP | 2021 | 2025 |
| Ordinary Member | Professor Saptarshi Basu, FInstP | 2021 | 2025 |
| Ordinary Member | Dr Catherine Gardner, MInstP | 2022 | 2026 |
| Ordinary Member | Professor Yannis Hardalupas, FInstP | 2022 | 2026 |
| Ordinary Member | Mr Jonathan May, MInstP | 2022 | 2026 |
| Ordinary Member | Dr Daniel Pugh, MInstP | 2022 | 2026 |
| Ordinary Member | Professor Nedunchezhian Swaminathan, MInstP | 2022 | 2026 |
| Ordinary Member | Dr Konstantina Vogiatzaki, MInstP | 2021 | 2025 |
| Early Career Physicist | Dr James Massey, MInstP | 2022 | 2026 |
| Early Career Physicist | Dr Lu Tian, MInstP | 2022 | 2026 |
- Email: [email protected]