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Using nanoscale membranes to clean water on the Moon

Anonymous — Wed, 16 Oct 2024 14:47:43 +0000

Using nanoscale membranes to clean water on the Moon Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 10/16/2024 - 08:47

Jeff Zehnder

Kian Lopez (L) and Anthony Straub (R) in the lab.

Anthony Straub is making major advances in water purification technology for industry and human consumption on Earth and in space, with his work on a nanotechnology membrane process taking a major step toward commercialization, thanks to a new NASA grant.

An assistant professor in the Department of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering at the University of Colorado Boulder, Straub’s research focuses on using membranes to improve water treatment.

“The membrane technology that is widely used now is essentially half a century old, and it has well-known limitations,” Straub said. “ It works well for many applications, but it has a tendency to let certain impurities through and it degrades if exposed to certain harsh chemicals.”

NASA has awarded Straub and one of his PhD students, Kian Lopez, a phase one Small Business Innovation Research award to develop a pilot water purification system for astronauts to use on a future Moon base.

Current space water purification systems are bulky and prone to repairs. The technology Straub’s lab has developed only requires a pump to pressurize water, reducing size and weight. Low weight is especially important in moon missions, where every kilogram of cargo can cost tens of thousands of dollars.

“Current membranes remove impurities based on size and charge and, as a result, allow for small impurities to bypass the membrane,” Straub said. “What we’ve designed traps a very small layer of air inside a membrane and the only way for the water to cross the barrier is by evaporating and then re-condensing on the other side, which impurities inherently cannot do.”

The entire process occurs over a 100 nanometer span, a distance 160 times smaller than the width of a human hair, and the water that results is nearly pure H2O – distillation quality — since it has been turned to steam and then back to liquid.

These new membranes can be made from a wide variety of materials; the advance is in modifying them to create the air trapping layer. Although the work has been a longtime focus of Straub, he had not considered space applications or commercialization until Lopez returned from an internship at NASA.

Schematic of the membrane process.

“My mentor at NASA said this technology looks promising and the biggest impact we could have would be to start our own company,” Lopez said.

Straub and Lopez decided to attend the New Venture Launch class together in the CU Boulder Leeds Business School, participating in campus technology transfer initiatives, including the New Venture Challenge and Lab Venture Challenge. They founded Osmopure Technologies, Inc. in January of this year.

Space is but one application. Other potential is in municipal water systems and industry, particularly semiconductor or computer chip manufacturing, which requires ultrapure water.

Although ultrapure sounds like a marketing buzzword, it has a formal definition: water free of all minerals, particles, bacteria, microbes, and dissolved gasses. The needs go far beyond water that is safe for human consumption.

“The minimum for ultrapure water in chip manufacturing is a 14-step process right now. The final product must contain less than one 10-nanometer particle per milliliter of water, which would be the density equivalent of having only a single person on the entire planet Earth,” Lopez said.

Semiconductor chips are manufactured in clean rooms, and ultrapure water is necessary to maintain temperature and humidity as well as to wash away residue produced during chip etching. Even the tiniest water impurities can damage the chips.

“Our work starts with NASA, but the beachhead market here on Earth is in ultrapure water production for semiconductors,” Straub said. “This is a huge potential market, and we have filed a provisional patents with Venture Partners at CU Boulder.”

Straub is optimistic the grant will enable them to make significant progress in the coming months.

“This has been a four-year process, and at the beginning we didn’t know if it would work,” Straub said. “We started with theory and then went into the lab to test. The fabrication has gone through several iterations here in the CU labs. Now we are moving towards a commercial product, and the performance is impressive.”

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CU Boulder will share atmospheric science tech, expertise through new grant

Anonymous — Mon, 07 Oct 2024 22:27:53 +0000

CU Boulder will share atmospheric science tech, expertise through new grant Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 10/07/2024 - 16:27

Jeff Zehnder

Drone technology and atmospheric science instruments developed by the University of Colorado Boulder will be available to researchers nationwide through a new grant.

The National Science Foundation has awarded CU Boulder a three-year, $1 million grant to establish a Community Instruments and Facilities program titled Mobile Uncrewed Systems for Atmospheric Science (MUSAS).

“We have a track record for atmospheric research with the equipment we’ve created and the campaigns we’ve partnered in. Whenever atmospheric scientists need to collect data in environments they can’t get other ways, that’s where we come in,” said Brian Argrow, principal investigator for the grant.

Argrow, a professor in the Ann and H.J. Smead Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences, is a nationally recognized expert in uncrewed aerial systems. He and CU Boulder colleagues have spent decades developing fixed-wing and quad-copter-style drone systems to study weather and other atmospheric conditions.

Their work has spanned the globe, including in extreme conditions like the North Pole and several campaigns in the United States to analyze supercell thunderstorms that spawn tornadoes.

The new grant will provide the larger scientific community access to CU Boulder’s instrumentation and know-how.

“We’re bringing aerospace to the atmospheric sciences community,” Argrow said. “We have the expertise, the drones, the deployment systems, and regulatory approval to fly in the national airspace system.”

Although the program does not officially begin until Nov. 1, Argrow said they have already been contacted by a university with a partnership proposal.

Inspecting a RAAVEN drone while on deployment.

“By increasing access to small uncrewed aerial systems, we’ll increase the amount of data available to the broader community to help solve some of the toughest problems in atmospheric science. Our technology can sample the physics and chemistry of the lower atmosphere and offer new perspectives on this environment,” Argrow said.

MUSAS joins a network of NSF-supported initiatives across the country that allow universities to share research equipment and expertise.

Through the program, partners will have access to CU Boulder’s personnel as well as the RAAVEN and Super RAAVEN fixed-wing drones and the CopterSonde 3 quad-copter, along with deployment and tracking vehicles.

Argrow anticipates an array of research to come from the partnerships, including into boundary layer processes, coastal circulations, aerosol processes, turbulence and turbulent fluxes, surface-atmosphere exchange, high-latitude environments, and severe weather.

“Building on the initial investment from the CU Grand Challenge Initiative, we have assembled infrastructure which is unique,” Argrow said. “CU Boulder has extensive experience operating and developing these systems, and this gives us the opportunity to expand our impact.”

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CU Boulder partners with Notre Dame to improve housing resilience

Anonymous — Mon, 07 Oct 2024 20:32:55 +0000

CU Boulder partners with Notre Dame to improve housing resilience Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 10/07/2024 - 14:32

Susan Glairon

CU Boulder’s Abbie Liel and Notre Dame’s Susan Ostermann are leading a collaborative NSF-funded study on resilient housing in disaster-prone areas lincluding Maui, Alaska and Puerto Rico. Their research combines Liel’s expertise in structural engineering with Ostermann’s background in political science and law, aiming to find solutions for safer, more resilient housing.

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CU Boulder and Colorado Mountain College launch guaranteed admission agreement for engineering students

Anonymous — Tue, 24 Sep 2024 15:07:57 +0000

CU Boulder and Colorado Mountain College launch guaranteed admission agreement for engineering students Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 09/24/2024 - 09:07

Colorado Mountain College students are now eligible for guaranteed admission to the University of Colorado Boulder’s College of Engineering and Applied Science if they complete four specific courses at CMC, thanks to a new partnership between the two institutions. The agreement creates a guaranteed admission and transfer pathway for CMC students, enabling a seamless transition for those pursuing a bachelor’s degree in engineering at CU Boulder.

Kathryn Regjo, vice president of academic affairs at Colorado Mountain College, emphasized the importance of the partnership for local communities.

“This agreement will have a profound impact on students from our mountain communities, who often face geographical barriers when pursuing higher education,” Regjo said. “Now, they can begin their engineering journey right here at CMC and seamlessly transition to CU Boulder, opening opportunities that might have previously seemed out of reach.”

Through this innovative guaranteed admission agreement, students enrolled at CMC — including high school students taking concurrent coursework — will have access to a clear path toward admission at CU Boulder’s top-ranked engineering school, provided they meet specific academic requirements. This agreement marks a significant milestone in expanding access to engineering education for students in the mountain communities CMC serves.

“This agreement supports CU Boulder’s mission to broaden access to our engineering programs,” said Keith Molenaar, dean of the College of Engineering and Applied Science at CU Boulder. “We’re excited to welcome more students from Colorado’s mountain communities into our engineering school.”

�鶹��Ժ in two categories are eligible to participate in the guaranteed admission program:

High school students enrolled in CMC courses with no post-high school credit hours earned.
Current CMC students

Eligible students must complete two college-level calculus courses, along with either calculus-based Physics 1 or General Chemistry 1 with lab, and an additional advanced math or science course. A cumulative GPA of 3.0 is required, and students must earn grades of B or better in core math and science courses.

“We are thrilled to collaborate with CU Boulder on this initiative, which reduces barriers and provides a direct and achievable pathway for our students,” said John Lawrence, dean of CMC’s School of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. “This partnership provides multiple options for CMC students to earn a world-class engineering degree, building on the academic foundation they’ve established here at CMC.”

“As the flagship public university in the state of Colorado, we embrace our responsibility and are deeply committed to serving the students of our state,” said Chris Anderson, senior director of academic success and transfer pathways with CU Engineering. “Collaborative partnerships like this allow us to continue to remove barriers, create better transparency in the transfer process and further expand access for our rural and mountain communities.”

�鶹��Ժ interested in the transfer pathway can learn more by visiting CMC's pre-engineering website.

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CU Engineering ranked as a top 5 aerospace program, top 20 overall

Anonymous — Mon, 23 Sep 2024 22:12:58 +0000

CU Engineering ranked as a top 5 aerospace program, top 20 overall Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 09/23/2024 - 16:12

Learn more

CU Boulder’s College of Engineering and Applied Science maintained a top 20 spot in U.S. News and World Report’s Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs rankings, coming in at No. 17 among its public institution peers for the third year in a row.

The most notable change in the engineering specialty rankings was in the aerospace / aeronautical / astronautical category, where CU Boulder’s aerospace engineering sciences degree jumped to No. 5 from No. 8 among public university peers.

The college’s Environmental Engineering Program also earned a top 10 public ranking, coming it at No. 9.

Five other programs were ranked in the top 20 among public peers:

Chemical engineering: No 11, up three spots from last year
Mechanical engineering: No. 17, up three spots from last year
Civil engineering: No. 15
Computer science: No. 16 (ranked in Best Undergraduate Computer Science Programs)
Electrical engineering: No. 16

The rankings were released on the U.S. News and World Report website on Sept. 24. Undergraduate rankings are based solely on the judgments of deans and senior faculty at peer institutions who participated in a peer assessment survey. Read more about the methodology.

CU Boulder’s College of Engineering and Applied Science maintained a top 20 spot in U.S. News and World Report’s Best Undergraduate Engineering rankings, coming in at No. 17 among its public institution peers for the third year in a row.

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Michael Gooseff elected as an AGU Fellow

Anonymous — Thu, 19 Sep 2024 23:25:44 +0000

Michael Gooseff elected as an AGU Fellow Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 09/19/2024 - 17:25

Michael Gooseff has been elected as a Fellow of the American Geophysical Union (AGU), the union announced on Wednesday. AGU, the world's largest Earth and space science association, bestows the honor annually on a select number of individuals who have made exceptional contributions in their fields.

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Discovery could lead to longer-lasting EV batteries, hasten energy transition

Anonymous — Thu, 12 Sep 2024 20:10:46 +0000

Discovery could lead to longer-lasting EV batteries, hasten energy transition Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 09/12/2024 - 14:10

Batteries degrade over time, which is why older phones lose power faster. An international team led by Professor Mike Toney has uncovered the cause of this degradation, paving the way for improved batteries that could extend the range of electric vehicles and advance clean energy storage.

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Leeker will use NSF grant to promote participation of Black families in STEM

Anonymous — Mon, 09 Sep 2024 15:09:06 +0000

Leeker will use NSF grant to promote participation of Black families in STEM Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 09/09/2024 - 09:09

Wendy Martin

Jessica Rush Leeker of CU Boulder’s Lockheed Martin Engineering Management Program has been awarded a $2 million National Science Foundation grant to develop pathways for Black families to engage in engineering practices and see themselves as integral members of the engineering community.

Her project – a collaborative effort with Lauren Mims from New York University and Tamecia Jones from North Carolina State – is focused on creating informal learning resources out of what has traditionally been a very structured, formal discipline.

Deliverables will include video workshops for caregivers, easy-to-use engineering activities, public dissemination of research results, and professional networks of STEM educators.

“We plan to develop educational tools and frameworks that can be replicated beyond the initial study, enhancing the broader educational landscape by incorporating these rich cultural narratives into engineering education,” Leeker said. “This will not only benefit the participating families but also create a model that can be adapted and used in other contexts, transforming how underrepresented groups engage with engineering globally.”

Ultimately, Leeker's project aims to broaden participation in engineering among the Black population, who remain underrepresented in engineering.

The resources, designed for 6- to 10-year-olds, will provide opportunities to engage in various engineering activities at home. The aim is to encourage children to consider engineering careers by allowing them to engage in engineering practices such as empathizing, defining, ideating, prototyping, and testing.

For Leeker, the research is an invaluable opportunity to expand her innovative research on the role of informal learning in engineering education among Black families. The team will explore how these identity-affirming resources can foster children's engineering identities and interests by connecting them with their historical and cultural roots, enhancing their sense of belonging and confidence in engineering fields.

Leeker believes the research can significantly increase diversity and inclusion in engineering fields by reconnecting children with their legacies of innovation and problem-solving. Their goal is to build bridges between generations, linking personal and communal histories with contemporary educational and professional opportunities in engineering.

This approach is expected to enrich children's academic and personal development, thereby broadening participation and success rates among underrepresented in engineering disciplines.

“This grant is a testament to the importance of creating inclusive educational resources that reflect the diversity of our communities. I am excited to see how these informal learning tools can inspire the next generation of Black engineers and innovators. We hope to expand these efforts to other underrepresented populations in STEM,” Leeker said. “By partnering with Black families, we can develop educational materials that teach engineering concepts and celebrate the rich cultural heritage of Black scientists and engineers. This approach is crucial for fostering a sense of identity and belonging in STEM fields, and we aim to extend this inclusive model to other communities as well.”

Her project is focused on creating informal learning resources, including video workshops for caregivers, easy-to-use engineering activities, public dissemination of research results, and professional networks of STEM educators.

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Professor earns two major grants to advance AI for autonomous systems

Anonymous — Fri, 06 Sep 2024 17:29:05 +0000

Professor earns two major grants to advance AI for autonomous systems Anonymous (not verified) Fri, 09/06/2024 - 11:29

Jeff Zehnder

Zach Sunberg’s research developing better artificial intelligence systems is getting a major boost from two federal grant awards.

Sunberg is receiving a $599,000, five-year CAREER Award from the National Science Foundation and is a partner on a related $4 million multi-university initiative from the U.S. Office of Naval Research.

Both projects focus on advancing game theory algorithms so AI systems can better solve problems in real-time in the field.

“I’m excited to receive the recognition that I’m looking at important problems to solve in both of these areas,” Sunberg said. “ONR shows the relevance for defense applications, and the NSF award focuses on making our nation and our world a better place.”

Sunberg is an assistant professor in the Ann and H.J. Smead Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences at the University of Colorado Boulder. His research focuses on autonomous systems and AI, with an emphasis on game theory.

Although game theory has origins in solving tabletop board games and card games, it is a broad field of research that studies problem-solving in complex, real-world situations.

“You might think of a game as a board game, but any situation where multiple agents are interacting and have their own goals can be mathematically represented as a game. Poker has clear rules, but so does driving a car; there are just a lot more variables,” Sunberg said.

AI systems like those used in self-driving cars typically rely on offline reinforcement learning. In such a system, automakers use historical data collected from a fleet of vehicles to optimize an algorithm to react to future situations. Sunberg is seeking to develop online decision-making systems, where an AI can think in real time to interact with situations that do not match historical data.

“This has previously been considered a computationally intractable problem” Sunberg said. “But our lab recently had a breakthrough with single-agent planning where we proved we did not need a lot of computation even in a large state space. What we want to do next is work on more complex multi-agent situations.”

The research focuses on a framework used by scientists and engineers to model possible outcomes when full data is not available, called partially observable Markov stochastic games.

“An application is airborne collision avoidance. In the past, the other pilot’s actions would be modeled as a probability distribution. That wasn’t satisfying to me. The other pilot is a decision maker themselves, so it would be better to model as a multi-agent game, but we don’t know how to solve partially observable games like that using online systems,” Sunberg said.

The research from the NSF grant has applications across an array of autonomous systems, from search and rescue robots, to self-driving cars, to how satellites navigate while orbiting the Earth. The Navy award is focused more on AI deception and counter deception in the military realm.

“An enemy is going to try to deceive you in some way, so we want to focus on how that can happen and how do we make AI resistant to it. We’re also looking at developing AI that can deceive an adversary. If you have a drone that you want to avoid enemy air defenses, how can it use bluffing to help it do that,” Sunberg said.

The ONR award is brings together four universities. The project is being led by the Georgia Institute of Technology with partners at the University of California Santa Barbara, CU Boulder, and the University of Texas at Austin. Sunberg’s portion of the $4 million grant is worth roughly $1 million.

“The current most widely used methods for AIs, these offline systems, are really a function approximater. It’s kind of an intuitive reaction or instinct. We want an AI that can go further, like people, and think and deliberate about a situation. There’s huge potential with this work,” he said.

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Why do plants wiggle? New study provides answers

Anonymous — Thu, 15 Aug 2024 16:59:39 +0000

Why do plants wiggle? New study provides answers Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 08/15/2024 - 10:59

In a new study, researchers from the United States and Israel — including CU Boulder computer scientist Orit Peleg — may have gotten to the bottom of a quirky behavior of growing plants and a mystery that intrigued Charles Darwin during the later decades of his life.

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