Innovation

Climate financing boosting water access for millions in developing nations

Susan Glairon — Wed, 29 Oct 2025 16:02:54 +0000

Climate financing boosting water access for millions in developing nations Susan Glairon Wed, 10/29/2025 - 10:02

Evan Thomas, director of ��ƷSM��ӰƬ’s Mortenson Center in Global Engineering and Resilience, is pioneering climate-financed clean water programs that have brought safe drinking water to over 5 million people in Africa. Using carbon credits to fund long-term maintenance and real-time water quality monitoring, the center aims to reach 3 million more people by 2030.

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��ƷSM��ӰƬ ranked No. 1 for launching startups based on university discoveries

Michelle Wiese — Mon, 27 Oct 2025 15:15:14 +0000

��ƷSM��ӰƬ ranked No. 1 for launching startups based on university discoveries Michelle Wiese Mon, 10/27/2025 - 09:15

The ��ƷSM��ӰƬ reached a historic milestone, launching 35 new companies based on university intellectual property during fiscal year 2024, more than any other U.S. campus that year. In addition to holding the No. 1 spot for that year, the achievement also places ��ƷSM��ӰƬ No. 2 for the most startups launched in a single year by a U.S. campus.

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A better band-aid: New 'suspended animation' technology could revolutionize wound care

Susan Glairon — Fri, 10 Oct 2025 14:49:42 +0000

A better band-aid: New 'suspended animation' technology could revolutionize wound care Susan Glairon Fri, 10/10/2025 - 08:49

A ��ƷSM��ӰƬ research team co-led by Distinguished Professor Christopher Bowman has received up to $5.8 million from ARPA-H to develop new treatments that temporarily suspend the immune response after severe burns or tissue injuries, aiming to reduce pain, speed healing and prevent long-term damage. The approach could also benefit patients with limited access to immediate medical care.

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Frugal engineering innovator Saad Bhamla headed to ��ƷSM��ӰƬ

Susan Glairon — Fri, 03 Oct 2025 15:36:45 +0000

Frugal engineering innovator Saad Bhamla headed to ��ƷSM��ӰƬ Susan Glairon Fri, 10/03/2025 - 09:36

Susan Glairon

Saad Bhamla, a pioneering scientist known for studying unusual biological systems and inventing ultra-low-cost medical devices, will join the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering and the BioFrontiers Institute in August. His work blends biology, engineering and frugal science.

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Integrated Teaching and Learning Program launches innovative 3D printing recycling initiative

Emily Adams — Thu, 25 Sep 2025 22:21:18 +0000

Integrated Teaching and Learning Program launches innovative 3D printing recycling initiative Emily Adams Thu, 09/25/2025 - 16:21

The College of Engineering and Applied Science is taking a step toward advancing campus sustainability, thanks to the Integrated Teaching and Learning Program’s new 3D printing recycling program.

The initiative transforms plastic waste from 3D printing into reusable materials, reducing landfill impact and supporting innovative student projects.

The idea originated in an engineering classroom, where a student team led by integrated design engineering major Ian Mcleod first explored ways to repurpose failed prints and excess support structures generated from PLA filament.

With the support of ITLP engineer Kathryn Penzkover, the concept was developed into a working system and later refined by Eli Post, an ITLP summer intern who is majoring in mechanical engineering. Today, this recycling process has been incorporated into the ITLP ecosystem, and sheets of this material are free for students to use.

The process involves collecting failed or excess PLA prints, grinding them into small fragments and using a T-shirt press to flatten the fragments into durable flat sheets. These sheets serve as raw material for laser cutting projects, offering students a sustainable alternative while conserving resources.

The project has already earned recognition on campus. The student team behind the recycling innovation won both first place and the People’s Choice Award in the Student Idea Showcase at the 2025 Campus Sustainability Summit. In addition, Post published a step-by-step Instructible, allowing others to replicate the process and extend its impact beyond the university.

Further support for the project came from the Engineering Excellence Fund, which awarded a grant to help purchase the polymer shredder. The investment provided the team with a reliable way to process PLA waste into uniform fragments, making the recycling workflow more efficient and scalable.

“What excites me most about this project is that this started with students who saw a problem and decided to solve it. By backing their creativity with mentorship and resources, we are not only cutting down on waste, we are showing future engineers that they have the power to drive real change,” said Kai Amey, director of engineering education and operations for the ITLP. “Incorporating recycled plastic into hands-on engineering education turns what would have been waste into a shared resource for students. By making these materials freely available, we are reducing our environmental impact while giving students new opportunities to innovate and create.”

The ITLP will continue to expand its recycling and sustainability initiatives, ensuring that hands-on engineering education is paired with responsible stewardship of resources.

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Matt Eichenfield named inaugural Karl Gustafson Endowed Chair of Quantum Engineering

Charles Ferrer — Thu, 25 Sep 2025 17:42:59 +0000

Matt Eichenfield named inaugural Karl Gustafson Endowed Chair of Quantum Engineering Charles Ferrer Thu, 09/25/2025 - 11:42

Award-winning physicist Matt Eichenfield has been named the inaugural Karl Gustafson Endowed Chair of Quantum Engineering in the Department of Electrical, Computer and Energy Engineering at ��ƷSM��ӰƬ.

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New endowed professorship in space policy and law to expand frontiers of global collaboration

Emily Adams — Tue, 24 Jun 2025 14:06:32 +0000

New endowed professorship in space policy and law to expand frontiers of global collaboration Emily Adams Tue, 06/24/2025 - 08:06

Through a generous investment in the future of space governance, ��ƷSM��ӰƬ donors Dale and Patricia Hatfield have given $2.5 million to establish the Hatfield Endowed Professorship in Space Policy & Law.

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Mortenson Center innovations delivering clean water to more than five million worldwide

Susan Glairon — Fri, 20 Jun 2025 23:00:23 +0000

Mortenson Center innovations delivering clean water to more than five million worldwide Susan Glairon Fri, 06/20/2025 - 17:00

��ƷSM��ӰƬ's Mortenson Center in Global Engineering & Resilience is transforming global water access by treating clean water as a long-term service—not just a one-time infrastructure project.

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A big fix

Michelle Wiese — Fri, 06 Jun 2025 21:57:41 +0000

A big fix Michelle Wiese Fri, 06/06/2025 - 15:57

Susan Glairon

Researchers confront urgent infrastructure challenges in race against time and climate

In March, the American Society of Civil Engineers’ Report Card for America’s Infrastructure gave the nation a grade of C, citing concerns over deteriorating bridges, roads, dams, pipelines and other critical systems.

Part of the challenge is urban expansion — much of the infrastructure is within or beneath dense cityscapes, making repairs and upgrades both costly and complex. More frequent and severe hurricanes, wildfires and floods are also accelerating the decline.

CU Engineering researchers are tackling these pressing issues head-on, developing innovative solutions to repairing existing infrastructure and building a more resilient future.

Read on for a deeper dive into projects that address construction worker safety, roadways and underground pipelines.

Infrastructure challenges

Roads

Projects in Cristina Torres-Machi’s group include lifecycle cost analysis of pavement rehabilitation alternatives and the value of satellite-based inspections in decision-making.

Read: Paving the way

Pipes

Brad Wham led efforts to establish new standards for internal replacement pipe testing through the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM).

Read: Pipe dreams

Safety

The Construction Safety Research Alliance, established by Matthew Hallowell in 2018, brings together industry leaders and academic experts to eliminate serious injuries and fatalities in the construction industry.

Read: A life-saving mission

Mija Hubler

Bridges

Mija Hubler and her team are developing a technology that infuses concrete with self-repair capabilities found in living organisms. Concrete’s networks of cracks naturally provide a pathway to facilitate internal healing.

Yida Zhang

Dams

Yida Zhang’s research on the stability of dams zeroes in on the tiny sand grains beneath and surrounding them. He investigates how the grain size distribution evolves under stress and compromises the stability of dams, especially during extreme weather events.

Abbie Liel

Housing resilience

Abbie Liel and researchers at the University of Notre Dame are researching ways to design disaster-resistant homes, while also examining what drives people to adopt those innovations.

Researchers confront urgent challenges for roadways, pipelines and more in a race against time and climate.

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Forging the future

Hanna Nordwall — Fri, 06 Jun 2025 19:38:33 +0000

Forging the future Hanna Nordwall Fri, 06/06/2025 - 13:38

Caroline Harrah

New facility will help take quantum from theory to real-world impact

CU Boulder is leading a first-of-its-kind National Quantum Nanofab (NQN) — a $20 million facility that will provide researchers from universities, government and industry with tools to fabricate and test groundbreaking quantum devices.

Expected to open in spring 2029, it has the potential to dramatically revolutionize industries such as healthcare, climate science and communications.

“The most exciting aspect of this initiative is its potential to impact quantum science and engineering on a national scale,” said Aju Jugessur, who will lead infrastructure and instrumentation for NQN. “The NQN will provide the tools and expertise necessary to transform cutting-edge research into practical technologies.”

Supporting Colorado’s quantum economy

��ƷSM��ӰƬ’s leadership in quantum science is built on decades of Nobel Prize-winning research and propelled by initiatives like Q-Sense (quantum sensing), CUbit (quantum computing) and the Quantum Engineering Initiative (interdisciplinary research and education). These efforts are reinforced by partnerships with national labs, industry and other academic institutions.

By the numbers

Located on the east side of the Sustainability, Energy and Environment Labs building at Colorado Avenue and Foothills Parkway, the NQN facility will house:

2,900-square-foot ISO 5/6 clean room
600-square-foot mechanical room
30 of the most advanced processing tools available

The NQN will build on this foundation by providing tools to help drive advancements in powerful computing systems, precise atomic clocks and sensors capable of detecting electric, magnetic and gravitational fields.

Aju Jugessur

NQN is expected to play a pivotal role in Colorado’s designation as a national quantum hub under the Elevate Quantum initiative, which includes multimillion-dollar investments in workforce development and technology commercialization.

“By supporting startups and providing access to state-of-the-art resources, this facility will bolster the local quantum economy and drive technological innovation, further solidifying Colorado’s position in the global quantum economy,” Jugessur said.

Preparing the quantum workforce

NQN will also play a role in training next-generation scientists and engineers. ��ƷSM��ӰƬ intends to develop undergraduate and graduate courses in quantum device fabrication, providing students with hands-on experience using advanced tools and processes.

These programs will teach skills essential to quantum science and engineering and transferable to industries such as semiconductors, energy and biomedical technology. By addressing workforce needs in advanced manufacturing, NQN will support national priorities like the CHIPS Act, ensuring a steady pipeline of skilled professionals.

New $20 million facility will help take quantum technology from theoretical to real-world tools.

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Innovation

Climate financing boosting water access for millions in developing nations

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��ƷSM����ӰƬ ranked No. 1 for launching startups based on university discoveries

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A better band-aid: New 'suspended animation' technology could revolutionize wound care

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Frugal engineering innovator Saad Bhamla headed to ��ƷSM����ӰƬ

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Integrated Teaching and Learning Program launches innovative 3D printing recycling initiative

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Matt Eichenfield named inaugural Karl Gustafson Endowed Chair of Quantum Engineering

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New endowed professorship in space policy and law to expand frontiers of global collaboration

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Mortenson Center innovations delivering clean water to more than five million worldwide

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A big fix

Roads

Pipes

Safety

Bridges

Dams

Housing resilience

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Forging the future

Supporting Colorado’s quantum economy

By the numbers

Preparing the quantum workforce

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��ƷSM��ӰƬ ranked No. 1 for launching startups based on university discoveries

Frugal engineering innovator Saad Bhamla headed to ��ƷSM��ӰƬ