Tech Briefs Magazine - May 2022 - 56

FACILITY FOCUS
University of Colorado Boulder
F
ounded in 1876, the University of Colorado Boulder (CU
Bolder) is a public research university in Boulder, CO. The
College of Engineering and Applied Science at CU Boulder
was founded in 1893. With an increased focus on research excellence,
its interdisciplinary research programs are advancing
knowledge in the areas of autonomous systems, multi-functional
materials, hypersonic vehicles, engineering education and
AI-augmented Learning, resilient and sustainable infrastructure,
and quantum engineering.
CU Bolder's College of Engineering and Applied Science's
key departments include Ann and H.J. Smead Aerospace Engineering,
Chemical and Biological Engineering, Civil, Environmental
and Architectural Engineering, Computer Science,
Electrical, Computer and Energy Engineering, and Mechanical
Engineering.
Multidisciplinary Research
Boulder's College of Engineering and Applied Science students
focus on research topics ranging from biotechnology to
space systems at one of the school's 15 interdisciplinary research
centers. Each research institute supports faculty from
multiple academic departments, allowing institutes to conduct
multidisciplinary research.
The ATLAS Institute is a center for interdisciplinary research,
where engineering, computer science, and robotics are
blended with design-oriented topics. The institute offers academic
programs at the undergraduate, master's and doctoral
levels, and administers research labs, hacker and makerspaces,
and a black box experimental performance studio.
The college is leading a new multidisciplinary Simulation
Center funded by the Department of Energy and the National
Nuclear Security Administration's Advanced Simulation and
Computing program. It will significantly expand activities in
computational science and engineering for particulate materials
along with multiscale data-driven modeling, machine learning,
and uncertainty quantification capabilities.
CU Boulder is also leading a new multi-university, industry-focused
research Center on Pervasive Personalized Intelligence
through the National Science Foundation that's working
toward strengthening America's strong position in computing
and the Internet of Things.
The Quantum Engineering Initiative is expanding internal
efforts in quantum research while also strengthening connections
to local and regional partners. Created in 2021, the initiative
is a strategic investment into translational quantum engineering
research.
At Smead Aerospace, public institutions and private companies
partner with CU Bolder to enhance their work and break
new ground in aeronautics and astronautics. The College of
Engineering and Applied Science recently launched a new research
initiative focusing on hypersonic vehicles. The research
draws on partnerships with NASA, the Department of Defense,
and the aerospace industry.
Technology Breakthroughs
The Marshall Fire, which spread throughout much of Boulder
County including the towns of Superior and Louisville, became
the most destructive fire in Colorado's history. In coordination
with local officials, Brad Wham, Assistant Professor of
Geotechnical Engineering and his colleagues from Oregon
State and Purdue universities have been surveying the damage
since first-responders extinguished the flames.
Hypersonic: Artist's depiction of NASA's X-43A aircraft, an experimental vehicle that was designed to fly at speeds many times faster than the speed of
sound. (Photo: NASA)
56
www.techbriefs.com
Tech Briefs, May 2022
TB Facility Focus 0522_1.indd 56
Cov
ToC
4/19/22 9:45 AM

http://www.techbriefs.com http://info.hotims.com/82321-809

Tech Briefs Magazine - May 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Tech Briefs Magazine - May 2022