In the past few decades, the field of
astrophysical fluid dynamics has grown enormously. Through a
combination of deeper analytic work and ever more powerful
numerical simulations, we may now address frontier problems of
great complexity. Throughout his entire career, Steve Balbus
has been at the forefront of this field, making important
contributions to a wide range of gasdynamical problems in
astrophysics. His most famous contribution is the elucidation,
with J. Hawley, of the magnetorotational instability (MRI).
This remains the only known generic process capable of solving
the problems of angular momentum transport in accretion disks,
one of the most debated problem in modern astrophysics. In
2013, Steven Balbus and John Hawley shared the Shaw Prize in
Astronomy for their work on this problem. Currently the
Savilian Professor of Astronomy at Oxford University, Steve
Balbus has also held academic posts at the Ecole Normale
Supérieure de Paris (France) and the University of Virginia
(USA). He has developed a large network of collaborations,
both formal and informal. This conference seizes upon the
occasion of Steve's 60th birthday to bring together, in one of
the world's most beautiful settings, many of the experts in
astrophysical fluid dynamics with whom Steve has worked over
the years. Participants will review recent results in many
different areas of the discipline and discuss the road ahead.
