Bundles of C*-algebras over a topological space M can be classified by a Dixmier-Douady obstruction in H^3(M,Z). This talk will describe some recent work with Mathai investigating the relationship between algebra bundles on M and on its covering space, where there can be no obstruction, particularly when there is a group acting on M.

The unsteady flow of a viscous fluid through a curved pipe is a widely occuring and well studied problem. The stability of such flows, however, has largely been overlooked; this is in marked contrast to flow through a straight-pipe, examination of which forms a cornerstone of hydrodynamic stability theory. Importantly, however, flow through a curved pipe exhibits an array of flow structures that are simply not present in the zero curvature limit, and it is natural to expect these to substantially impact upon the flow's stability. By considering two very different kinds of flows through a curved pipe, we illustrate that this can indeed be the case.