CSIRO Environment, Black Mountain, ACT, Australia
Address: CSIRO Environment, GPO BOX 1700, Building 101, Clunies Ross St, Black Mountain, ACT 2601, Australia
Work Phone: +61 2 6218 3488 (Available Mon-Fri 9AM - 5PM UTC/GMT +11 Sydney time)
Work email: Please fill in your enquiry here
Duy is a computational modeller with expertise in fluid dynamics, hydrodynamic and turbulence modelling, particularly in rivers, lakes, estuaries, and air–sea interactions. His research spans stratified flows, turbulence processes, physical oceanography, and marine atmospheric boundary layers. More recently, his work has focused on water quality modelling to support management of inland waters and provide early warning of harmful events, including fish kills, blackwater, algal blooms, and sediment transport, using a combination of process-based and data-driven approaches.
At CSIRO, Duy leads the development of AquaWatch Australia’s inland water quality monitoring and forecasting products, aiming to deliver operational and actionable insights for water managers. His goal is to provide effective, science-informed solutions to address pressing water security challenges in Australia and beyond. Duy also leads the Vietnam AquaWatch pilot, where the team is building a monitoring and forecasting water quality system for the inland aquaculture.
He is also working as a model developer in the Digital Water & Landscapes - Hybrid Modelling for Water Security project, where the team is integrating physical systems and AI/ML modelling of water quality and quantity. Current projects are using physics-informed neural networks (PINN), incorporating basic process knowledge, which are proposed here to lead to better mapping of water quality parameters across water body scales. Moreover, he works toward developing a fish kill index and an early warning tool for fish kill in different continental spatial and temporal scales, which also leverages remote sensing capability to monitor dead fish and basic variables to determine organic matter in rivers and lakes.
Duy completed his PhD degree from the Sydney Fluid Dynamics Research Group. His PhD research themes are computational (DNS, LES) and environmental fluid dynamics (river/lakes/estuaries dynamics, stratified flows, turbulence processes and mixing, air-sea interactions, and marine atmospheric boundary layer).
Duy is also interested in and actively collaborating with scientists to address questions regarding the risks to shared water resources in the Murray-Darling Basin, or in the Mekong Delta. Lastly, Duy is interested in physical oceanography (ocean circulation, ocean convection, internal waves, turbulence, mixing), hydraulics, water resources, and coastal engineering with the changing climate.
Qualifications
PhD in Environmental Fluid Dynamics, The University of Sydney, Australia.
Faculty of Engineering PhD Scholarships
MS in Civil and Environmental Engineering, The University of Notre Dame, IN, USA.
Notre Dame Dehner Graduate Fellowship in Engineering and VEF Fellowship
BS in Civil Engineering - Hydraulics (Summa Cum Laude), St. Petersburg State Polytechnic University, Russia.
Vietnam Ministry of Education and Training Fellowship
His full CV (updated to May 2025) can be found here.
Any questions (other than works) can be sent to my personal email dnguye13 (at) alumni.nd.edu or just simply click on this link: email.
Some other professional development activities:
Co-chair the National Early Career Research Fellow Committee
Member of the Geo-AquaWatch Management Team
Co-chair the Geo-AquaWatch Early Career Society
CSIRO representative at the Next Generation Murray-Darling Basin Leaders
Member of the Lindau Nobel Laureate Network
Recent/upcoming activities (fun and extracurricular):
September 29 - October 2, 2025
81st MDA National Conference, Griffith, NSW
Attending the Murray–Darling Association National Conference for the first time was truly a memorable experience. Held in Griffith, NSW, a vibrant agricultural heartland sustained by the Murrumbidgee River, the event brought together local leaders, technical experts, and policymakers to tackle the big issues of the Murray–Darling Basin and to shape a shared future for its councils, catchments, and communities.
For me, it was more than just a conference. I was there to share insights into the science of water quality monitoring and forecasting, from algal blooms to salinity intrusion, and how emerging AquaWatch technologies can help. But what stayed with me most was the chance to listen: to hear the stories behind the science, to learn how policy meets practice, and to join conversations that bridge disciplines, regions, and perspectives.
As a young scientist, it was eye-opening to witness how deeply people care about this living system. Ministers, researchers, council members, and farmers, all with different lenses, yet united by a shared concern for the Basin’s sustainable future. I learned not only from presentations by leaders from DCCEEW, MDBA, DAFF, CEWH, IGWC, One Basin CRC, CSIRO, and others, but also from the panel discussions, where questions from the ground (councillors, mayors, industries, farmers, etc.) were as sharp and vital as the answers from the stage.
The study tour was another highlight. From the innovative automation at Murrumbidgee Irrigation, to seeing how hydrodynamic and catchment models guide water allocation, to visiting the Kooba site, the Aquna Murray Cod farm, and the SunRice factory -- it was inspiring to see how science, technology, and community ingenuity come together to sustain this landscape. Watching a grain of rice travel from paddock to package in half an hour was something I’ll never forget.
This was not just another academic gathering; it was a learning journey through the living veins of Australia’s water system. My heartfelt thanks to CSIRO and AquaWatch Australia for the opportunity to attend, learn, and be part of this extraordinary community of people working for the future of water.
P/s: People talk a lot about algal blooms and salinity intrusion (especially the South Australia's lower Murray locals), yet water quality remains just a small fraction in the collective mind. For me, it is the invisible thread that ties everything together, farms, rivers, communities, and ecosystems alike. And it’s time we let it take its rightful place at the heart of our conversations about water.
September 12-16, 2025
PyCon AU 2025, Melbourne
I give a talk on "Modernizing Legacy: Wrapping a 25+ Year Computational Fluid Dynamics Codebase" at PyCon AU.
As a first-time attender of PyCon, I found the conference very enjoyable. People are supportive and engaging (see the room full of hundreds of people, ready to cheer you on).
Modernizing Legacy: Wrapping a 25+ Year Computational Fluid Dynamics Codebase.
Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) is the science of using numerical analysis and data structures to solve many processes influencing fluid behavior. CFD requires many complex mathematical representations through various ODE and PDE solvers, and has traditionally been written in Fortran or C++, mostly for their speed in doing massively parallel computations, such as handling array operations and object-oriented features. As such, those codebases have a long-standing legacy in scientific computing, and many established CFD codes are written in them. However, as time goes on, we witness the popularity of a new generation of codebases such as Python, which stems from its simplicity, versatility, and strong community. Extensive libraries and frameworks make Python a popular choice for many developers and scientists alike. It is, however, not a preferred language for core CFD code due to performance limitations and its difficulties with parallelization.
This talk explores modernizing a 25+ year-old C++ CFD model, essential for simulating lake conditions, particularly for predicting temperature variations and algal bloom dynamics, by wrapping it with [C-interop](https://lnkd.in/gAfybrTp) for seamless Python interoperability.
Beyond integration, we leverage [Optuna](https://optuna.org/), a powerful hyperparameter optimization framework, to fine-tune models efficiently, transitioning from manual parameter tuning on a laptop to a distributed, scalable workflow powered by Dask Distributed and JupyterHub. This transformation enables automated hyperparameter optimization across many lakes in Australia, helping researchers investigate trends in tuning parameters and derive deeper environmental insights.
Attendees will gain insights into:
- Wrapping legacy C++ water quality models with CFFI for Python-driven analysis.
- Automating and scaling hyperparameter tuning using Optuna across multiple lake ecosystems.
- Utilizing Dask Distributed and JupyterHub to accelerate environmental simulations.
- Extracting insights from hyperparameter trends to refine large-scale water quality predictions.
For researchers, engineers, and data scientists working in environmental modeling, this session provides practical strategies for modernizing legacy systems, scaling model optimization, and enhancing predictive accuracy without sacrificing scientific integrity.
- Co-authors: Tisham Dhar, Peter Wang, Jean-Michel Perraud, Klaus Joehnk.
- Acknowledgement: many of the results were run on the CSIRO AquaWatch's [Advanced Data Systems (ADS)]
The 90-minute Python: The Documentary | An origin story is out. Please enjoy.
September 1-4, 2025
Science in the Shine Dome, Canberra
🌟 Very glad to have attended Science at the Shine Dome hosted by the Australian Academy of Science.
I came away inspired by so many talks and stories, and learned a great deal from the workshops. It was also wonderful to reconnect with Professors Hans Bachor and Elaine Sadler, hard to believe it has already been more than a year since we last met!
I was pleasantly surprised to meet fellow countrymen who travelled all the way from Vietnam as part of the International Science Council’s Asia–Pacific Mentoring Program. And a special highlight was sharing lunch with this year’s Lindau Australian delegates, especially meeting two of our CSIRO Lindau representatives.
🙏 A big thank you to the Australian Academy of Science, especially the Science Policy & International Affairs team, for giving me the opportunity to attend this inspiring event.
Events like these remind me of the power of science to connect people, spark ideas, and build lasting collaborations.
August 25, 2025
The University of Sydney - Vietnam Institute - 2025 Seed Grants Program
Awarded to the project: Knowledge-informed AI forecasting for water quality in Vietnam's sustainable aquaculture
Congratulations to the team (Dr Mai Thanh Thai, VinUniversity; Dr Duong Du Bui, NAWAPI; Dr Quang Duy Nguyen, University of Sydney - Civil Engineering School) and the CSIRO AquaWatch team (Dr Tim Malthus; Dr Yiqing Guo; Dr Klaus Joehnk; and Dr Duy Nguyen) on receiving seed funding from The University of Sydney Vietnam Institute (SVI).
With this support, we will develop a knowledge-informed AI model to forecast aquaculture water quality. The project is built upon the AquaWatch Australia program (https://research.csiro.au/aquawatch/), whose aquaculture pilot in Vietnam (led by Dr Duy Nguyen) integrates Earth observation, advanced in situ sensing, ecological modelling, and data analytics. Our AI model aims to be the “seed” proof-of-concept toward a future national water quality forecasting capability.
I’m thrilled to be part of this fantastic journey with such a talented team, and grateful for the chance to continue making an impact in Vietnam.
A big thank you to SVI for your trust and support. We’re excited to collaborate and move this forward.
July 25, 2025
I am on Vietnam National Television to discuss higher education
I was on the Vietnam National Television VTV1 to discuss the new government resolution on higher education. More specifically, the Ministry of Education is planning to implement a mass scholarship for students in critical technological fields, with the purpose of increasing the number of students in these fields. This is a part of the newly implemented National Resolution No.57-NQ/TW, which considers science and technology, innovation, and digital transformation as the decisive factors for development.
The scholarship plan is as follows:
- 50/70/100 % tuition fee scholarship (for good, very good, or excellent academic results each semester), which is about 1,7-1,85 million VND per month, according to the government cap for these disciplines.
- Eligible students would receive a monthly living allowance of 3.63 million VND for up to 10 months per year. To be eligible, students only need to pass the average GPA.
In my discussion, I argued that:
- The tuition fee does not cover the full standard student fee at most universities in Vietnam.
- The stipend only covers about a third of the standard living expenses for students in big cities such as Hanoi, HCM City, where most of the universities are concentrated.
- Most low-income students in Vietnam have already chosen to follow technical fields for more secure employment after school. Moreover, as the tuition fee is quite low (compared to standard incomes in Vietnam), the scholarship will not influence the decision of other students who can afford their studies in choosing fields.
So, in a strategic long-term vision, the scholarship program does not actually benefit the original purpose.
I proposed to, instead of a mass funding program, create a prestigious Government Scholarship that:
- Triple the scholarship to meet/surpass standard tuition and living expenses. So fewer students will get scholarships, but the scholarship is actually a full ride (personally, I also think that having a prestigious Government Scholarship will also help brighten up students' CV for job seeking later).
- Increase the requirement standard, only target to very talented students in STEM. Stricter requirements for academic results are needed to maintain the scholarship.
- Criterion will not just be based on GPA, but also on broader merits.
- Examples from STEM fellowship in the USA and Australia, such as NSF Graduate Fellowships in STEM or Research Training Program, etc.
- Most importantly, the government needs to provide clear opportunities for learning and professional development for these students, working on their policy, and directly engage with universities and companies to make sure that the students have the highest learning standards and facilities, as well as secure intern positions and employment after graduation.
As long as I am very happy to know that the Vietnamese Government is putting its effort into critical STEM and fundamental sciences, but funding needs to be allocated strategically.
July 21-25, 2025
20th World Lake Conference, Brisbane
I gave a talk to the WLC in Brisbane, titled: A hybrid approach for cyanobacteria forecasting in freshwater systems.
Cyanobacteria blooms are a common phenomenon in Australian inland waters. Since the 1,000 km long bloom on the Darling River during the summer of 1991, which drew national and international attention, several outbreaks have affected the Murray-Darling River system, culminating in a 1700km stretch along the Murray River in 2016. Such outbreaks of cyanobacteria blooms pose high risks to freshwater ecosystems, public health, the economy, and recreation.
This study focused on three Australian lakes with distinct limnological characteristics, primary uses, and cyanobacterial bloom challenges. Lake Hume, the largest monomictic reservoir in the Murray-Darling Basin, supports downstream irrigation and has historically contributed to blue-green algae occurrences in the Murray River. Grahamstown Dam, a polymictic drinking water source for the Hunter region in NSW, frequently experiences potentially toxic cyanobacterial events. Lake Tuggeranong, a recreational urban lake in Canberra, is often closed due to elevated cyanobacteria levels. The differences in limnological conditions and operational functions make these lakes representative of diverse inland water bodies across Australia.
On these lakes, we have traditional thermistor chains and novel hyperspectral sensors installed, measuring the reflectance from the water surface, similar to satellite sensors but with a higher spectral resolution and not impacted by cloud coverage. A short-term forecasting framework was applied across these systems, simulating the distribution of buoyant cyanobacteria species using an algal growth model coupled with a turbulence hydrodynamic model. The model was driven by meteorology and re-initialized daily with cyanobacterial cell counts derived from hyperspectral reflectance. Simulations of cyanobacteria concentrations captured the dynamic mixing processes within the lakes, characterized by daily near-surface accumulation followed by redistribution driven by wind-induced mixing or nocturnal cooling. Accurate estimation of cyanobacteria surface concentrations at sub-daily timescales necessitates the integration of high-resolution water temperature profiling, hyperspectral reflectance measurements, and quantified diurnal mixing dynamics.
In parallel, a novel hybrid modeling approach combines inputs from a hydrodynamic model, Physics Informed Neural Networks, and empirical mixing criteria. Supervised Machine Learning methods were used to classify mixing and non-mixing conditions in stratified flows at the Darling River at Menindee. These mixing diagnostics can be integrated into the growth model to improve the cell count distribution forecasting outputs.
By incorporating in-situ observations, novel “near-surface” hyperspectral remote sensing, coupled process-based models, and knowledge-informed Machine Learning, the study demonstrates the viability of a hybrid short-term forecasting approach for cyanobacterial blooms. This comprehensive approach improves risk assessment for cyanobacterial blooms and supports informed water management strategies.
June 28 2025
I am deeply honoured, proud, and genuinely surprised to receive the Australian Alumni Award 2025 in the category of Science, Technology, Innovation and Digital Transformation, presented by the Australian Embassy in Vietnam, Aus4Skills, Australian Aid, and Australia Global Alumni.
The award was presented by H.E. Ms. Gillian Bird PSM, Australian Ambassador to Vietnam, and Associate Professor Nguyen Thu Thuy, Director General of the International Cooperation Department, Vietnam Ministry of Education and Training.
This prestigious biennial award celebrates the outstanding contributions of Vietnamese alumni who studied in Australia. It recognises their leadership and efforts in strengthening the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Australia and Vietnam, and advancing economic, social, and environmental progress. The Science, Technology, Innovation and Digital Transformation category recognises an alumnus who has demonstrated leadership in fostering collaboration between Australia and Vietnam in areas such as critical and emerging technologies, digital transformation, and innovation, particularly between research institutions, universities, and businesses. The award to me read as "Dr Duy Nguyen is a University of Sydney alumnus and an environmental scientist at CSIRO Australia, specialising in water quality and quantity modelling using artificial intelligence, remote sensing technologies, and process-based simulations. His contributions play a key role in advancing Australian and Vietnamese water security initiatives."
This year, the awards honoured Vietnamese alumni across six key categories: Distinguished Alumni Award, Women in Leadership Award, Building Knowledge and Connecting People Award, Enhancing Economic Engagement Award, Climate, Environment and Energy Award, and Science, Technology, Innovation and Digital Transformation Award.
I sincerely thank the Australian Embassy in Vietnam, Aus4Skills, and the organisers for creating such a meaningful initiative, recognising the achievements of over 160,000 Vietnamese alumni of Australian education who continue to advance the Australia-Vietnam relationship.
To me, every award is like a shooting star – it shines briefly and beautifully across the sky. People may look up and take notice for a moment, but soon, it fades into the background, just as each of us eventually returns to our daily lives. As a young scientist, both in age and career, I understand this deeply. I know that without continuous effort, any award will simply become just a decoration on a bookshelf. Awards bring recognition and, sometimes, opportunities - but they are only meaningful if we act on them. I know I still have a long way to go, and I will keep pushing forward.
May 18-21, 2025
World Environmental & Water Resources Congress, Anchorage, Alaska, USA
Karl Emil Hilgard Hydraulic Prize Award
The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), a 173-year-old society representing more than 160,000 members of the civil engineering profession in 177 countries, has awarded Dr Duy Nguyen (CSIRO Environment Research Unit and CSIRO AquaWatch) its prestigious Karl Emil Hilgard Hydraulic Prize. The award is given to the paper, “Effect of Thermal Stratification in Meandering Turbulent Open-Channel Flow with Varying Sinuosity,” Journal of Hydraulic Engineering, September 2023. The Karl Emil Hilgard Hydraulic Prize is one of the most prestigious awards in the field of Hydraulic Engineering and has been so for the past 86 years.
The prize instituted in 1939 as a result of an endowment left to the Society by Karl Emil Hilgard, is given to the author, or authors, of one paper each year that deals with water flow and is judged to be of superior merit in terms of both subject matter and presentation. The awarded paper was nominated to the Society by Prof. Fabian Bombardelli (UC Davis), the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Hydraulic Engineering, and judged by the Society’s Board of Directors, Regional Presidents and the Honors & Award Committee.
Karl Emil Hilgard was born in 1858. Hilgard was a Swiss Engineer who studied and worked at ETH in Zurich. He also worked for periods in Paris, London, and the US, where he was involved in water resource infrastructure. Back in Zurich, he was appointed ETH Professor of Hydraulic and Foundation Engineering before establishing his own consultancy in 1906.
The awarded team has developed a numerical model to study thermal stratification in turbulent flow. This study utilises a detailed analysis of the first direct numerical simulation (DNS) of thermally stratified open-channel flows through idealised sine-generated meanders with varying sinuosity to enhance our understanding of the impact of thermal stratification on the mean flow, secondary currents, and boundary shear stresses.
The study will help us better understand stratification, overturning, and mixing in riverine environments and improve the modelling capabilities of turbulent and stratified flows. This is particularly meaningful to lowland river regions, which are particularly prone to thermal stratification due to hot, dry, and sunny climates with its propensity for lengthy periods of drought, a contributing factor to the formation of blue-green algal blooms, low water quality, and especially mass fish kills.
The science provides practical and meaningful impacts on real-world environmental problems, especially in the realm of climate change. This paper was led by Dr Duy Nguyen and written in collaboration with Assoc. Prof. Michael Kirkpatrick, Assoc. Prof. Nicholas Williamson, Prof. Steven Armfield at the University of Sydney, and Prof. Wenxian Lin at James Cook University.
ASCE is a leading provider of technical and professional conferences and continuing education, the world’s largest publisher of civil engineering content, and an authoritative source for codes and standards that protect the public.
March 14, 2025
Canberra, Australia
I will be joining the GeoAquaWatch Management Team for the next three years. It will be a fun journey.
Link: Management Team – AquaWatch
March 13, 2025
Canberra, Australia
I've been granted the National Innovation Visa (formerly known as the Global Talent Visa) to stay permanently in Australia.
The National Innovation visa (subclass 858) is a permanent visa for exceptionally talented migrants from across the world. These migrants will help create jobs and drive productivity growth in key sectors of the Australian economy.
The NIV seeks established and emerging leaders with high-calibre talent and skills who can make significant contributions that will benefit Australia’s future prosperity. This includes:
· global researchers
· entrepreneurs
· innovative investors
· athletes and creatives.
More information about the visa can be found at: Subclass 858 National Innovation visa.
Feb 21, 2025
Canberra, Australia
I've got an award!
The words go as "This reward is in recognition of your vital contribution to AquaWatch. As recognition of your expertise, leadership and collaboration of the AquaWatch pilot projects, contributing significantly to AquaWatch Australia's advancements in water quality modelling and remote sensing".
For me, as an early career researcher, AquaWatch (or CSIRO in general) is such an incredible environment not just for scientific and professional growth but also for the amazing people I've had the privilege to work with and learn from. This recognition, to me, reflects the collaborative spirit of the team. Everyone has been a constant source of guidance and support. I feel lucky that at this early stage of my career, I have the chance to be in CSIRO!
Jan 17, 2025
Hanoi, Vietnam.
Vietnam, Australia, Thailand collaborate in the quest for Water Security
Link:
Vietnam, Australia, Thailand collaborate in the quest for Water Security – Aus4Innovation
Preserving reservoir water quality in Thailand - Australian Water Partnership
A delegation from Australia (CSIRO, Griffith University, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Australian Water Partnership - AWP) and Thailand (Royal Irrigation Department - RID, MTECH, Chulalongkorn University) visited CSIRO’s AquaWatch Australia Program pilot site in Vietnam – an aquaculture farm in Hai Phong. The Program aims to develop a world-class integrated ground-to-space water quality monitoring and forecasting system for Australia and beyond. This can provide actionable information for both inland and coastal water, empowering decision-makers to better manage ecosystem health, support industry, and mitigate human or animal health impacts.
“The visit to observe a working hydra spectra unit from CSIRO’s Aquawatch program for water quality monitoring in Vietnam demonstrated the excellent reliability with low maintenance of the unit in South East Asian conditions,” said Kelvin O’Halloran, Adjunct Associate Professor at Griffith University.
“This field trip was a unique opportunity for trilateral cooperation and learning between Australia, Vietnam and Thailand,” noted Sarah Ransom, General Manager at AWP. “The delegation was able to see Australian expertise in action through CSIRO’s AquaWatch technology and consider the potential for deploying new solutions for managing water quality.”
The goal of the continued knowledge exchange is to strengthen cooperation, enhance water quality monitoring practices and explore tools and a strategy for climate change adaptation.
The field trip was also part of an AWP Phase III activity, ‘Technical support to improve reservoir water quality in Thailand’ led by Griffith University, which builds on previous AWP support to RID on the improvement of reservoir water quality management practices and strategies.
The visit was hosted by the Hanoi University of Geology and Mining, Vietnam National Center for Water Resources Planning and Investigation (NAWAPI) of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Le Quy Don Technical University, Thuy Loi University, and associates in Vietnam. A highlight of the visit was the depth yet breadth of engagements. Scientists, policymakers, diplomats, local farmers and governments, shared water security challenges through real-world insights and opportunities to strengthen the relationship between Australia, Vietnam and Thailand in the quest for water security.
Dec 17, 2024
Hai Phong, Vietnam.
Vietnam partners with Australia to pioneer water quality monitoring
A new pilot site is the first of its kind to monitor inland aquaculture in Vietnam, empowering local shrimp farmers with access to near real-time data and forecasts.
Link: Vietnam partners with Australia to pioneer water quality monitoring - CSIRO
Australia's national science agency, CSIRO, has launched a project in Vietnam to demonstrate AquaWatch Australia, a new water quality monitoring and forecasting system.
The demonstration site at An Lao, in Hai Phong, aims to empower local shrimp farmers with near real-time data and forecasts to protect shrimp stocks by improving water management practices.
The site is the first of its kind in Vietnam to calibrate the AquaWatch system for inland aquaculture and will provide valuable insights for broader application.
AquaWatch Australia Lead, Dr Alex Held, said AquaWatch works by combining satellite imagery and in-water sensors to deliver near real-time updates and forecasts.
“This helps farmers anticipate challenges such as algal blooms and nutrient imbalances,” Dr Held said.
“The system picks up on slight changes in water colour, which can signal water quality problems like algal blooms, excess sediment and run off contamination.
“Vietnam’s aquaculture contributes significantly to the national economy, yet water quality issues can cause catastrophic losses for farmers. AquaWatch aims to bring reliable, timely data to help them make informed decisions to mitigate these risks.”
CSIRO AquaWatch scientist, Dr Duy Nguyen, said this is pioneering work in Vietnam, which supports access to an integrated water monitoring system that combines satellite data, water sensor measurements and AI-based forecasting.
“The demonstration site in Hai Phong is crucial for calibrating the technology to local conditions and it lays the groundwork for expanding AquaWatch to other waterways in Vietnam,” Dr Nguyen said.
“With regular updates and water quality forecasts, shrimp farmers can better manage feeding schedules, adjust water exchanges, maintain water quality parameters within ideal ranges, and respond to extreme events like algal blooms.
“This can lead to healthier harvests and reduced environmental impacts.”
The pilot site in Hai Phong is a collaboration between CSIRO, Hanoi University of Mining and Geology, and the Vietnam National Center for Water Resources Planning and Investigation (NAWAPI).
This partnership brings advanced technology to Vietnam and strengthens its capacity for sustainable aquaculture.
The AquaWatch Vietnam site joins other global demonstration sites for AquaWatch in Australia, Chile, Malaysia, Italy, United Kingdom and United States.
Sept 9-13, 2024
Adelaide, Australia
My very first time at the Advancing Earth Observation Forum, alongside with many colleagues from CSIRO.
I delivered a presentation on the application of hyperspectral data for monitoring and forecasting cyanobacteria blooms in lakes. The talk emphasized the critical role of integrating both in-situ and satellite data into models to enhance spatial and temporal resolution, ultimately improving the accuracy of short-term forecasts. Additionally, I discussed the uncertainties inherent in physics-based models and how AI/ML approaches can address these challenges.
The talk is a part of the CSIRO AquaWatch mission, which aims to build an integrated system to deliver accurate monitoring and forecasting water quality across scales, a comprehensive "weather service" for water quality as we might call it, by using satellite sensors and in-situ sensors with data analysis and artificial intelligence.
I am amazed by the "vibe" of the event. To briefly summaries, I've learnt a lot in the past short week.
July 10, 2024
Lake Stechlin, Germany
I was having fun visit the IGB Berlin Lake lab at Brandenburg, Germany. The lake lab is awesome! I've never seen anything like that in my life. We spent time to take a swim in the lake and enjoy the local fish over lunch.
I also gave a presentation on the monitoring and forecasting algal bloom. In the talk, I introduced the CSIRO AquaWatch system, and the use of the physics-bio coupling model, couple with machine learning to forecast the bloom.
We had a very good discussion, especially on the idea of applying the model to the phytoplankton that are bloom at the deeper layer of the lake.
Attending the talk were Mark Gessner (the department head), and other group leaders (Stella A. Berger, Hans-Peter Grossart, Jens Christian Nejstgaard), and postdocs, PhD students, visiting students from Canada, the US, and South Africa.
As Jen said, anyone who visits us, will eventually come back. Hopefully CSIRO, AquaWatch and IGB Berlin will develop some further collaboration, so that I will be able to come back.
July 08, 2024
I gave a lecture to master's students at the Limnological Institute, University of Konstanz (Limnologisches Institut der Universität Konstanz).
Also, had a great discussion with Prof. Frank Peeters and his group on the constrain of 1D hydrodynamics model to conserve physics law while can also fully describe the empirical relationship of the interaction between fluid dynamics and phytoplankton growth.
July 23 to July 07, 2024
Lindau, Germany
I spent more than 2 weeks as an Australian representative to attend the Nobel Laureate meeting at Lindau, Germany.
The awesomeness of the time spent cannot describe within one post, so I wrote a blog, you can read about the trip here.
In Vietnamese: The Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting (duynguyen.org)
From CSIRO (Internal): CSIRO-Internal-The Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting Experience (duynguyen.org)
From the Academy of science: Young Australian scientists learn from Nobel Laureates at 73rd Lindau Meeting | Australian Academy of Science
From the Australian: At the annual Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings young scientists meet and mingle with Nobel laureates | The Australian
May, Wednesday, 1st, 2024
I'd like to share an overview of my recent trip to Vietnam.
I visited Vietnam from April 24 to May 3, primarily to oversee the handover of the HydraSpectra as part of the CSIRO AquaWatch Vietnam pilot project. Despite enduring sweltering temperatures (reaching a tropical humid 45.6 degrees) and navigating through a long national public holiday, the installation of the HydraSpectra went smoothly. The data is now flowing seamlessly into the AquaWatch server, and the team is delighted with the results.
During the trip, I had the opportunity to engage with local governments, farmers, and various environmental agencies. They provided valuable insights into the impact of the past 15 years of climate change on the local ecosystem, offering an enlightening citizen knowledge session.
Furthermore, I collaborated with the Ministry of Resources and Environment, as well as the Ministry of Science and Technology. A notable highlight was participating in a seminar titled "Tech Solutions and Standardization to Tackle Mekong Delta’s Rising Sea Levels," where I co-presented with Prof. Dzung Dao from Griffith University, introducing IoT-AI solutions to address the issue.
As Vietnam is going through a very hard drought and hot summer, with the declaration of national state of emergency, the seminar generated considerable interests, prompting collaboration with AquaWatch’s communications and Janet Anstee (AquaWatch's deputy director) to ensure coverage of the story in various Vietnamese news and media outlets. I've attached one example of a printed article titled “The Need for Remote Sensing and AI Technologies,” which prominently featured the AquaWatch mission.
The summary of the seminar can be found here: TCVN | DIRECTORATE FOR STANDARDS, METROLOGY AND QUALITY – STAMEQ
Overall, it was an enriching and productive week in Vietnam.
April, Friday, 22nd, 2024
The research office and the business unit covered my Lindau story (internally).
Some articles in Vietnamese:
[E-magazine] Kể về quê hương: https://baohatinh.vn/tien-sy-tre-ha-tinh-khat-khao-cong-hien-cho-que-huong-post264456.html
Kể về nghiên cứu dòng chảy rối: https://vnexpress.net/tien-si-viet-duoc-vien-han-lam-khoa-hoc-australia-vinh-danh-4734005.html
Kể về nghề thủy lợi: https://danviet.vn/tien-si-viet-nam-lot-top-10-nha-khoa-hoc-tre-tai-australia-muon-cong-hien-cho-que-huong-20240402223310472.htm
Kể về quá trình nộp và nhận giải: https://dantri.com.vn/giao-duc/tien-si-viet-nam-lot-top-10-nha-khoa-hoc-tre-tai-australia-20240330092932177.htm
In English:
Trên trường ĐH Thủy Lợi: https://www.tlu.edu.vn/tin-tuc-thong-bao/cuu-sinh-vien-dai-hoc-thuy-loi-lot-top-26186
March, Friday, 22nd, 2024
Happy world's water day!
Celebrating one year of launching of AquaWatch Australia Mission. We have a special Youtube video here.
On this special day, I also recieve a wonderful news. I am happy to be representing Australian early-career researchers at the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting.
Happier to get a lot of supports from CSIRO for acing the fellowship, especially from CSIRO's Research Office, from my line manager Klaus Joehnk - the lead water quality modelling of the AquaWatch mission, the Water Security Program Director Carmel Pollino, the Science Director of the Environment BU Brett Molony, and many more.
And of course, immensely thanks to The Australian Academy of Science, Frances Separovic for the Science and Industry Endowment Fellowship, to make this trip possible.
Fluid Mechanics is a Physics field. Laureates Syukuro Manabe, Klaus Hasselmann and Giorgio Parisi got their Nobel prizes for the revolutionary contribution to disorder and fluctuations of Earth's climate system, recognized the complexity of the Physics in fluid dynamics. With the pressing situation of climate change, as an Environmental Fluid Dynamicist, I am happy to be chosen to a meeting dedicated to Physics.
Here is a small part from what I wrote in my application:
"Understanding turbulence through equations is notoriously difficult, given its chaotic and irregular nature. Turbulence is everywhere, yet it is one of the most challenging concepts for physicists to understand. That is the fun part of working with a turbulent model. I love turbulent flow! Since I was a kid, I have loved watching things in motions be it cars cruise, cats pounce, birds glide, water swirl away in our sink or raging rivers. Thus, it is a natural choice that I got into a gifted high school focused on Physics and Informatics, shaping my path to applying physics in practical ways. My path encompassed fundamental hydraulics in college, investigating air-sea property exchanges, wave dynamics and instabilities for my Master's, and exploring temperature's influence on turbulent stratified flow and mixing processes within complex geometries for my PhD. With the global climate reshaping environments, water-related predicaments are rising, and Australia is no exception. As an Early Career Researcher at CSIRO, I capitalize on my expertise to apply my theoretical turbulent modelling background to advance water quality simulations for rivers and lakes. My efforts contribute to creating the world's inaugural "weather service" for water quality, aiming to transform monitoring and response strategies in Australia and the world, aligning with my passion and societal needs amidst a changing climate."
March, Mon - Tue 18th-19th, 2024
We recently convened in Adelaide, Australia, for a dynamic two-day session aimed at finalizing the draft first version of AquaWatch's Science Application Traceability Matrix (SATM). This innovative matrix offers a structured pathway from overarching objectives down to eventual publications, encompassing mission objectives, science objectives, measurement requirements, instrument specifications, and system requirements. Initially proposed by JPL-Caltech and adapted by NASA for spacecraft design, the SATM concept was embraced by AquaWatch from the project's inception.
A dedicated working group of over 10 AquaWatch scientists has been diligently collaborating for the past eight months to dissect all essential parameters within the AquaWatch mission. Their efforts have resulted in the organization of goals, objectives, and impacts into a cohesive tracking tool that guides mission planning and facilitates solution delivery. This comprehensive chart addresses parameter management, cascading down to instrument design, model requirements, data products, and the desires of end-users.
During our discussions, we delved into the potential parameters that AquaWatch aims to deliver in 2026 and toward 2030. We evaluated their readiness status, distinguishing between those that are ready, those undergoing research and development, and their respective technology readiness levels. This dialogue provided valuable insights and served as a rich learning opportunity, particularly for early-career researchers like myself.
Amidst engaging discussions and productive work sessions, we also had the pleasure of enjoying good science, great company, and delicious food. It was truly a rewarding experience of growth and collaboration. Here's to continued learning and progress!
March, Friday 8th, 2024
CSIRO is absolutely thrilled to roll out the red carpet for the awesome visit of His Excellency, Vietnam's Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh! 🎉
We've got a super cool showcase lined up for AquaWatch, complete with a dazzling array of water bottle samples, a high-tech hyperspectral camera, and a gigantic AquaWatch screen and banner that'll make you feel like you're strolling through a conference poster hall!
And guess what? With the bigwigs in town, we've inked loads of MOUs for future collaborations. Talk about taking things to the next level!
But you know what's the best part? Finally getting to meet all my Vietnamese comrades from across CSIRO sites and cities! Sure, we connect online, but there's nothing like face-to-face camaraderie. Thanks for bringing us all together, PM! 🚀
March, Tue 5th, 2024
Climate change is creating significant challenges to livelihoods, the economy and natural resources across countries in the Mekong subregion. Australia brought together 20 future leaders from across the Mekong subregion, to participate in the Mekong Australia Partnership masterclass on “Responding to the Climate Change Challenge”, implemented by the The University of Queensland. The participants will spend two weeks in Australia this month to learn more about how to support the Mekong subregion’s response to climate change.
Janet - the deputy director of AquaWatch and I, were invited to give a lecture on AquaWatch to the delegations. We had quite a fun chat and a good time hanging out over tea party.
Jan, Tue 30th, 2024
I have been elected as the vice-chair of the GeoAquaWatch Early Career Society. I believe we will do a lot of great things together, such as the currently running "Water talk series" for early career researchers from under-representative backgrounds.
Late December 2023
I had a great time talking and working with various universities and organizations in Vietnam. We came up with many collaborative ideas. I also took the chance to promote CSIRO, our Water Security Program, and also the innovative AquaWatch mission. See photos below.
Working with Australian embassy (DFAT), CSIRO Vietnam, Hanoi University of Mining and Geology (HUMG), and The National Center for Water Resources Planning and Investigation (MoNRE).
Working with Thuy Loi University, Hanoi, Vietnam.
Working with the Vietnam Academy of Water Resources
Dec, Tue 12th, 2023
I have a great time on a field trip to Lake Hume. The lake is about a 15-minute drive from Albury Wodonga, and 4 hours from my office. It is an impressive body of water for drinking water supply, hydropower plant dam, and irrigation.
Lake Hume is one of the inland pilots of the AquaWatch mission. Behind me is the buoy that houses the CSIRO HydraSpectra sensor, which data would help me and other modellers at CSIRO to monitor and forecast various water quality parameters.
A field trip is not just work, it is also a trip to nature. I am lucky to have my driving buddy, a senior researcher who shared many valuable lessons and personal stories from his life and many years of career. It was my lucky learning session.
When standing in front of the big lake, I remember the words by Osho "We are born alone, we live alone, and we die alone.".
Nov, Wed 29th, 2023
I joined a seminar/workshop on the "Risks to shared water in the Murray-Darling Basin". It is an in-person event at ANU, organized by the ANU Institute of Water Future. From a hydrodynamics and water quality modeller perspective and from a researcher in the CSIRO Water Security program, it is an advantageous and exciting learning experience.
It gathers authors from the large-scale review to discuss the previously identified and new emerging risks in the MDB: Full article: A review of the risks to shared water resources in the Murray–Darling Basin (tandfonline.com).
To prepare for a seminar in different fields, I had to go through all the lengthy ~17 papers and four reports and create a comfortable learning curve. I also feel proud to review the CSIRO 2006 and 2012 reports and the CSIRO 2022 Climate Change report. They represent the CSIRO's science front in impacting a social-ecological-economical-scientific complex like the Basin. I am also very impressed with the CSIRO's Murray-Darling Basin Sustainable Yields project.
Back to the seminar, I was delighted to learn about the whole-of-basing approach, account for all of the risks to the water resources and understand the concepts of compounding risk. I like the discussion on how the six risks have changed markedly in the last 20 years, not just the conceptualization, impact, and magnitude but also the nature of risks. From there, provide the knowledge gaps, the research directions and the policy options. The discussion was open and directed, helping me understand the complex science and water governance of an area cross-stated of a vast 1 million km2. I like the saying from one author that "A lack of capacity or willingness to manage these risks is itself a risk".
Happy learning!
Aug, Wed-Fri 16-18th, 2023
I will attend the Coastal Forecasting - Science Workshop, organized by CSIRO's AI4Missions program at CSIRO Black Mountain Science & Innovation Park, Canberra, Australia. The workshop discusses Earth Observation data-driven in water quality forecasting, particularly focuses on coastal water quality forecasting model using machine learning methods, multi-sensor satellite earth observations, in-situ data streams, ecosystem modelling outputs and cloud computing infrastructure.
July, Mon-Fri 24-28th, 2023
I will attend the Hacking Limnology 2023 workshop (DSOS AEMON-J Hacking Limnology Workshop (aquaticdatasciopensci.github.io). This workshop gathers Data Science and Open Science in Aquatic Research (DSOS) and Aquatic Ecosystem MOdeling Network - Junior (AEMON-J) to discuss fascinating presentations about aquatic research including open data and open science approaches. See you there!
July, Mon 3rd, 2023
As a member of the GeoAquaWatch Early Career Commitee, I join with other members to organize the "Water talk" webinar series. The upcoming 2023-24 webinar theme is "Understanding water quality from space". This is an exceptional opportunity for early career professionals and scientists, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds, to showcase their research. We welcome a diverse range of Earth Observation in water quality topics, spanning algorithm development to understanding the needs of the user community. The deadline to respond to our Call for Speakers is August 11, and selected speakers will be notified by August 31, 2023. Moreover, If you are concerned about your presentation skills or English fluency, fear not! We offer optional training sessions with our members to help enhance your presentation skills prior to your webinar. Don't miss this chance to share your research and contribute to the understanding of water quality from space. Submit your abstract now!
Link to the event here: Call for Early Career Scientist Speakers! – AquaWatch (geoaquawatch.org)
June, Wed 14th, 2023
I had a great time at the ON workshop at CSIRO Black Mountain. It was wonderful to meet so many other staffs, develop and deliver pitches, and talk to many of CSIRO's senior/executives.
June, Sat - Wed 3-7, 2023
I will be at the Freshwater Science Conference in Brisbane, Australia. This is the first time the Society for Freshwater Science has held its annual conference outside of North America to the down under. I will present my talk to the Hydrology/Geomorphology session, with the title "Modelling Thermal Stratification, Overturning and Mixing in Australian Rivers" on Monday, 05/06/2023. I will also chair two sessions on the topic of Eutrophication and Harmful Algae on the next day of 06/06/2023. Hope to see you there!
May 2023
I am joining the National CERC Fellow Committee. We have currently 9 members across 8 locations and 7 Business Units, with the responsibility to connect all CERCs across Australia (about 550 members of CSIRO Early Research Career Postdoctoral and Engineering Fellows), represent CERC Fellows to CSIRO leadership, present CERCs perspective on leaning and development opportunities and resources, and oversee the organization of Convergence. I am also hosting the biweekly Right to Write workshop, working with CSIRO Publishing, to organize sessions for all CERCs to improve academic writing.
April, Mon - Wed 3-5, 2023
I am pleased to have participated in the CSIRO Aquawatch face-to-face meeting, a gathering of over 40 scientists from across Australia to discuss the oversight of the Aquawatch project toward 2026 to 2030 and beyond. This opportunity has allowed me to learn from experts in project management, specifically in the areas of project delivery planning, deployment strategies, high-level data product creation, and the Science and Applications Traceability Matrix (SATM), following NASA's methodology.
The SATM is a comprehensive document that includes all the pertinent information necessary to understand a given proposal's relevance, scientific objectives, implementation strategy, and expected results, all of which are end-user requirements driven. As an academic, this level of detail planning for product execution is a novel experience for me, and I find it highly valuable for future research endeavors.
Additionally, the Aquawatch program is an integrated, complex initiative that encompasses the design of a space sensor, in-situ instrumentation, water quality models, and a platform for users. Without the SATM, I may have struggled to keep up with the project's complexity and scope. I am grateful for this opportunity to learn and collaborate with other experts in the field, and I look forward to applying this knowledge to my research and project management.
We also enjoyed the dinner with a big fat bill for beer.
Happy learning :)
March, Friday 31, 2023
Read my story with CSIRO in the Water Security Program's March Newsletter: Here
February, Thursday 23, 2023
A field trip to lake Tuggeranong to install the HydraSpectra. It was a sunny day with little wind, the sun casted a luminescent glow on the lake's surface, and I could see the lake water full of green algae. It was an odd experience for a numerical modeller like me to get out of the computer desk. In the photo is me holding the HydraSpectra with a big smile. I am happy and appreciates where the data I work on come from and how impactful my work is to the environment.
February, Wednesday 8, 2023
I will be the CSIRO representative at the ANU Next Generation Murray Darling Basin Workshop at the Australian National University, Canberra, Australia. It is a great chance for me to learn from other current and future Basin leaders from government departments, non-government organisations and research centres across NSW, ACT, Victoria and Queensland that play a key part in the management and future decision-making in the Murray-Darling Basin. I am excited and can't wait to join and contribute.
December, Sunday 4 to Thursday 8, 2022
I will be at the Australasian Fluid Mechanics Conference 2022
I will be co-chairing sessions 4D, 5D and 6D (Stratified flows I, II, and III). I am excited to talk and learn from everyone.
Otherwise, I am wearing the "University of Sydney" polo grey shirt and help around at the registration desk. Please ask me any questions about the conference, the university, and the city of Sydney. I am there to help.
See you there!
August, Tuesday 30, 2022
I will give a talk about my PhD research at the "Conversations in Fluids" seminar series, organized by the Australasian Fluid Mechanics Society.
Link to the event and any past recorded events can be found here.
Time: 4-5 pm AEDT
Zoom Seminar: ID: 81045541630 – Password: 375531
The abstract and bio can be found here