Sustainability

News & Noteworthy

Hanna Nordwall — Fri, 15 May 2026 20:44:46 +0000

News & Noteworthy Hanna Nordwall Fri, 05/15/2026 - 14:44

CU Engineering hosts NAE Quantum & Space Symposium

��ñ��’s College of Engineering and Applied Science hosted the National Academy of Engineering’s Regional Meeting & Symposium, which focused on the convergence of quantum technologies and space applications. Participants discussed technical pathways for space deployment, implications for satellite architectures and national security applications and shared insights on accelerating the transition from laboratory prototypes to mission-ready systems. The program leveraged Colorado’s interconnected ecosystem of academic quantum and aerospace research, national laboratories, and commercial quantum, space and technology partners to facilitate technical exchange across academia, government and industry on this emerging frontier.

Clockwise from top: NAE Symposium hosts and special guests, from left, Hanspeter Schaub, Scott Diddams, Dana Anderson, Tsu-Jae Liu and Keith Molenaar; ��ñ�� Chancellor Justin Schwartz greets an attendee; aerospace PhD student Zack Funke explains his research during the poster session.

Scott Diddams

Diddams, Schaub elected to NAE

Hanspeter Schaub

Two CU Engineering faculty members were elected to the 2025 class of the National Academy of Engineering.

Scott Diddams is a professor and Robert H. Davis Endowed Chair in Discovery Learning in the Department of Electrical, Computer and Energy Engineering. He is also affiliated with the Department of Physics and the National Institute of Standards and Technology. He was recognized for his outstanding contributions in optical frequency combs and their applications.

Hanspeter Schaub is a distinguished professor and chair of the Ann and H.J. Smead Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences. A leader in the field of astrodynamics and spacecraft control, his research has advanced theoretical and practical understanding of spacecraft operations.

Diddams and Schaub were among 128 new U.S. members and 21 international members in the class of 2025.

Degrees launched in AI, sustainable engineering

CU Engineering has launched two master’s programs designed to meet industry demand in key areas of national importance.

A Master of Science in artificial intelligence is now available both online and in-person (starting fall 2027), making ��ñ�� one of only a handful of universities offering a master’s degree in AI. The core curriculum addresses a breadth of areas central to AI engineering expertise, including machine learning, statistical learning, natural language processing and ethics.

The Master of Science in sustainable engineering represents a new model of cross-college collaboration at ��ñ��, uniting expertise from business, engineering and the natural sciences to prepare students for the global demand for sustainability jobs. The nine-month program features an integrated 15-credit core with students from ��ñ��’s MS in Sustainable Business, as well as engineering-focused electives and a capstone project with real-world partners in industry or government.

Astronaut Candidate and U.S. Navy Lt. Cmdr. Erin Overcash. Photo credit: NASA

Alum tapped as NASA astronaut candidate

In September, Erin Overcash (AeroEngr'14, MS'17) reported for duty as part of NASA's 2025 astronaut candidate class. In addition to her ��ñ�� degrees, she attended U.S. Navy flight school and has logged more than 1,300 hours of flight in a variety of aircraft, according to her astronaut profile.

During her time at ��ñ��, Overcash competed in track and field in the pentathlon, hurdles and high jump, among other events. She went on to train with the USA Rugby Women's National Team and has also competed in Ironman Triathlon events.

Marcus Holzinger
Hatfield Endowed Professor

Professorship established in space policy & law

��ñ�� donors Dale and Patricia Hatfield have given $2.5 million to establish the Hatfield Endowed Professorship in Space Policy & Law.

Underscoring the university’s commitment to leadership in this fast-evolving field, the professorship will drive teaching and research on space policy and law, with broad implications for national security, global communications, navigation, weather forecasting and international collaboration.

This interdisciplinary position will rotate every two years between the College of Engineering and Applied Science, the Leeds School of Business and Silicon Flatirons, supporting faculty whose teaching and research advance this work. Professor Marcus J. Holzinger of the Ann and H.J. Smead Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences is the inaugural Hatfield Endowed Professor, bringing expertise in space policy, domain awareness, development and strategy.

New book addresses engineering student wellness

As Counseling and Psychiatric Services therapists embedded in the College of Engineering and Applied Science, Audrey Gilfillan and Alison West have more than eight years of combined experience supporting engineering students.

They recently harnessed that experience to co-author Decompile Your Mind: An Engineer’s Guide to Thoughts and Emotions, which tackles common challenges faced by engineering students, including perfectionism, imposter syndrome, self-criticism, loneliness, emotional suppression, rumination and uncertainty.

“Engineers have inspired us to rethink how we approach mental health — but the content itself offers value to many people, not just engineers,” West said. “Anyone who sees the world through an analytical, logical lens can gain value from this book.”

Jay Arehart
Assistant Teaching Professor

Symposium tackles embodied carbon reduction practices and materials

��ñ��’s Department of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering and the Structural Engineering Institute co-hosted a summer symposium focused on advancing the structural engineering profession toward zero carbon.

The event, which drew 166 participants from 65 companies, marked an industry-wide step toward cutting emissions tied to building materials like steel and concrete, said faculty member and event organizer Jay Arehart.

The event explored design practices and materials that reduce embodied carbon — the greenhouse gases emitted during the production, transport and disposal of building materials. Arehart said he believed it was the largest gathering to date of structural engineers focused on embodied carbon reductions.

CU President Todd Saliman, left, with Amy Moreno-Sherwood

Inclusivity champion wins CU System award

Amy Moreno-Sherwood, senior director of the Campos Student Center (formerly the BOLD Center), was the recipient of the 2025 President’s Inclusive Excellence Award. The award is one of the university’s highest honors for individuals who go above and beyond to build inclusive and empowering communities.

Dean Keith Molenaar said Moreno-Sherwood’s unwavering commitment has profoundly impacted the college community. “Amy’s leadership of the Campos Student Center has elevated efforts to support engineering students of all backgrounds,” Molenaar said.

“Amy’s dedication and innovative approach are truly inspiring. Her recognition with the President’s Inclusive Excellence Award is a testament to her exceptional contributions.”

Learn what events and innovations have been taking place in the College of Engineering and Applied Science.

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ME outreach program brings big engineering dreams to small rural towns

Alexander Servantez — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 21:56:29 +0000

ME outreach program brings big engineering dreams to small rural towns Alexander Servantez Wed, 04/01/2026 - 15:56

Associate Research Professor Daniel Knight and Professor Michael Hannigan are leading an outreach program that connects ��ñ�� students with rural high schools to introduce hands-on engineering experiences in the classroom. The initiative, known as the Science and Engineering Inquiry Collaborative (SCENIC), serves 12 schools and nearly 700 high school students across rural Colorado each year, turning local questions about air and soil quality into real-world research projects.

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ME senior project turns waste heat into clean energy savings

Alexander Servantez — Wed, 25 Mar 2026 20:53:21 +0000

ME senior project turns waste heat into clean energy savings Alexander Servantez Wed, 03/25/2026 - 14:53

Many industrial facilities rely on cryogenic gases for processes such as cooling, materials testing or energy transport. But before those gases can be used, they must be vaporized with electricity-intensive equipment that can cost companies tens of thousands of dollars each year. A team of seniors are working to address that problem by developing a heat-exchange device for their senior capstone project that captures waste heat circulating through refrigeration systems.

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Professor featured in Colorado Environmental Film Festival documentary

Susan Glairon — Fri, 13 Feb 2026 23:39:07 +0000

Professor featured in Colorado Environmental Film Festival documentary Susan Glairon Fri, 02/13/2026 - 16:39

Susan Glairon

“Women of Carbon,” featuring Associate Professor Mija Hubler, opens the Colorado Environmental Film Festival in Golden on Feb. 20. The documentary highlights women reshaping construction through sustainable innovation and decarbonization.

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PhD student Erin Dunphy honored with Ludo Frevel Scholarship

Susan Glairon — Fri, 13 Feb 2026 15:13:48 +0000

PhD student Erin Dunphy honored with Ludo Frevel Scholarship Susan Glairon Fri, 02/13/2026 - 08:13

Susan Glairon

Dunphy's research involves studying interactions at the atomic level to design more efficient catalysts for polymer upcycling, an innovative approach for converting plastic wastes into valuable products, such as jet fuels.

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How one engineering alum optimizes clean energy operations before they break

Charles Ferrer — Thu, 05 Feb 2026 15:53:18 +0000

How one engineering alum optimizes clean energy operations before they break Charles Ferrer Thu, 02/05/2026 - 08:53

Aoife Henry (PhDElEngr‘24) is leading Zentus, a startup she founded that addresses a critical challenge in the energy sector: how to prevent costly equipment failures that can bring wind and solar farms offline without warning.

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Engineers develop real-time membrane imaging for sustainable water filtration

Charles Ferrer — Tue, 16 Dec 2025 16:19:28 +0000

Engineers develop real-time membrane imaging for sustainable water filtration Charles Ferrer Tue, 12/16/2025 - 09:19

��ñ�� researchers have developed a laser-based imaging method called stimulated Raman scattering to improve the performance of desalination plants by allowing real-time detection of membrane fouling. The advance could help make desalination more efficient and reliable as global demand for clean water rises.

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Brewing engineers: Inside ��ñ��’s new food engineering program

Alexander James Servantez — Wed, 03 Dec 2025 22:25:43 +0000

Brewing engineers: Inside ��ñ��’s new food engineering program Alexander Jame… Wed, 12/03/2025 - 15:25

Faculty member Carmen Pacheco is the architect behind the Food Engineering Graduate Certificate, one of ��ñ��'s most innovative academic ventures. Launched in 2024, the program was designed to introduce engineering students to the science behind their favorite foods and career opportunities in the food industry, but it can also reinforce scientific concepts that students can apply to any engineering discipline.

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A window underground: New sensors measure emissions from soil in real time

Alexander James Servantez — Thu, 20 Nov 2025 21:40:29 +0000

A window underground: New sensors measure emissions from soil in real time Alexander Jame… Thu, 11/20/2025 - 14:40

Soil is comprised of an intricate network of bacteria and other microbes that humans depend on, but this complex environmental system is constantly shifting, making it difficult for scientists to measure. Associate Professor Gregory Whiting and his team of researchers are developing reliable, inexpensive and easy-to-deploy sensors that monitor soil in real time to help farmers optimize their use of fertilizers, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and save money in the process.

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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 ��ñ��’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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Sustainability

News & Noteworthy

CU Engineering hosts NAE Quantum & Space Symposium

Diddams, Schaub elected to NAE

Degrees launched in AI, sustainable engineering

Alum tapped as NASA astronaut candidate

Professorship established in space policy & law

New book addresses engineering student wellness

Symposium tackles embodied carbon reduction practices and materials

Inclusivity champion wins CU System award

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ME outreach program brings big engineering dreams to small rural towns

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ME senior project turns waste heat into clean energy savings

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Professor featured in Colorado Environmental Film Festival documentary

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PhD student Erin Dunphy honored with Ludo Frevel Scholarship

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How one engineering alum optimizes clean energy operations before they break

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Engineers develop real-time membrane imaging for sustainable water filtration

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Brewing engineers: Inside ��ñ����’s new food engineering program

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A window underground: New sensors measure emissions from soil in real time

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Climate financing boosting water access for millions in developing nations

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Brewing engineers: Inside ��ñ��’s new food engineering program