Becoming a professor is the realisation of a dream for Xiaoli Guo Larsén, the new professor at DTU Wind and Energy Systems. In this interview, Xiaoli shares her passion for research and education, her vision for the department, and her hopes for the future.
A strong card to play
Since childhood, Xiaoli Guo Larsén has been captivated by the academic world, where the pursuit of truth is the job, as she puts it. "And to provide education to people and contribute to society, for a better world, is what drives me", she says.
Xiaoli is thrilled and honoured that DTU and the department have placed their faith in her to lead research and education as a professor. To her, this position is like a powerful card she can use to back herself and open new doors. The professorship in Wind Resources and Site Conditions empowers her to strengthen research and education activities in her field, both within the department and on a global scale.
Ambitions on research, education and innovation in meteorology
Xiaoli’s professorship within the department plays a vital role in shaping its future. When asked about her passion, Xiaoli replies: “I am so lucky. My interests are exactly what is requested”. Xiaoli’s passion lies in research, education, and innovation. She envisions herself devoting to these three aspects while coordinating them effectively. Her focus will be on advancing wind energy development, particularly in unexplored regions and challenging meteorological conditions.
Her efforts thus span several key areas: Firstly, she aims to enhance research and educational efforts in meteorological modeling, model validation, and their practical application for accurately assessing wind energy resources. Moreover, Xiaoli is dedicated to pushing the boundaries of atmospheric modeling science. She places particular emphasis on validation processes and the development of innovative methods to bridge data gaps in the wind energy sector. In addition to her research ambitions, she strives to stimulate innovation by transferring research of resource and site conditions to the development of software and the creation of comprehensive wind atlases. Her research portfolio also encompasses diverse topics, such as atmospheric turbulence, boundary-layer meteorology, mesoscale model parameterization, extreme wind weather phenomena, and the intricate interplay of wind, waves and wind farm wakes.
Collaboration stands as a cornerstone of Xiaoli's vision, too. She actively fosters partnerships with national and international research institutions and industries, collaborating on joint projects to advance wind energy research. Furthermore, Xiaoli provides valuable scientific guidance to authorities and project partners, leveraging her expertise to support wind energy initiatives.
Securing funding for atmospheric modeling research is another important facet of her role, ensuring that the department has the necessary resources to pursue its goals.
Dissemination of research findings on an international scale is among her objectives, ensuring that the department's contributions have a global impact.
Lastly, she contributes to education by teaching wind energy meteorological modeling. Her instructional efforts extend to various educational programs, including PhD, Master and Bachelor courses, summer schools, special courses, and MOOC. In doing so, she plays a significant role in educating the next generation of wind energy professionals.
Equality in academia
On the topic of gender diversity, Xiaoli sees a positive trend. “Competence is now becoming the key parameter in academia, and more women are more aware of their rights and would stand up for them. At the same time, the culture on gender is changing, and this brings colleagues of all genders into the team to improve the gender balance situation”, she states.
Applicable research
With Professor Xiaoli Guo Larsén, DTU has gained a passionate and dedicated leader, ready to push the boundaries of wind energy research, education, and innovation, while also championing equality and collaboration in academia.
Regarding her own visions for the future, Xiaoli sees herself continuing her research, fostering innovation, and teaching. Her ultimate goal is to make good research, and also make research applicable to society and industry, ensuring that it is not only theoretical but also practical.
On Friday 6 October 2023 at 15.00, Xiaoli is going to deliver her inaugural lecture “Meteorological modelling of flow across scales: resource, siting and beyond”
at DTU Lyngby Campus, Building 101, meeting room 1, 1. floor, Anker Engelunds Vej 1, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby.
