Lewis’s stay at La Rochelle University was filled with rich academic experiences. He not only gained insights into the innovative research conducted by the CNRS but also had the privilege of presenting his own work. His research focuses on the Monge–Ampère geometric description of incompressible fluid dynamics, a subject with wide-ranging implications for understanding phenomena like weather patterns and shock formations. During his visit, he delivered three talks to the research community at La Rochelle, sharing new methodologies and outcomes, including a cutting-edge numerical algorithm designed to identify non-classical solutions to partial differential equations.

One of the most exciting aspects of Lewis’s visit was his collaboration with Vladimir N. Rubtsov, a CNRS researcher at the University of Angers. Together, they advanced work on persistent homology techniques applied to fluid dynamics, resulting in a preprint soon to be published on ArXiv (open-access repository where researchers can share their scientific papers, preprints, and articles before or after formal peer review). This collaboration underscored the value of in-person exchanges that the SSHN fellowship makes possible.

Lewis also participated in two major scientific events during his stay:

• School on Inverse Problems in Quiberon (9–14 September): This immersive experience introduced Lewis to advanced tools and concepts in geometry and mechanics.
• Conference on Geometry and Combinatorics in Oléron (21–25 October): Here, he engaged with world-renowned experts, including A. Kirillov (University of Pennsylvania) and A. Alexeev (University of Geneva).

These events expanded his knowledge and resulted in fruitful exchanges, including an invitation to present at Boris Khesin's Hamiltonian systems seminar in Canada next year. Discussions with experts further sparked ideas linking geometry to fields like machine learning and fluid dynamics.

Beyond academic pursuits, Lewis immersed himself in French culture and language, an experience he describes as invaluable. "The SSHN fellowship was an outstanding opportunity for researching, networking, and travel, which has left me well-prepared for the next step in my career," he said.

The Scientific High Level Visiting Fellowship scheme is a flagship initiative by the French Embassy in the UK in partnership with CNRS. It supports UK-based researchers with funding for collaborative research stays in France, fostering international cooperation and innovation.

To learn more about the SSHN scheme and how to apply, visit the website of the French Embassy in the UK.