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Evan Thomas wins International Water Association Career Award for Global Water Impact

Susan Glairon — Mon, 15 Dec 2025 22:59:40 +0000

Evan Thomas wins International Water Association Career Award for Global Water Impact Susan Glairon Mon, 12/15/2025 - 15:59

Evan Thomas, a professor and director of the Mortenson Center in Global Engineering & Resilience at the University of Colorado Boulder, has been awarded a career honor from the International Water Association for work that has reshaped how safe drinking water is delivered in some of the world’s most vulnerable regions.

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Reconstructing the ancient Indus River

Susan Glairon — Fri, 12 Dec 2025 00:18:20 +0000

Reconstructing the ancient Indus River Susan Glairon Thu, 12/11/2025 - 17:18

By combining hydrology and paleoclimate modeling, Professor Balaji Rajagopalan and colleagues uncovered the long-standing mystery behind the disappearance of the Harappan Civilization.

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Homes that can withstand extremes: New study reveals pathways to housing resilience

Susan Glairon — Tue, 09 Dec 2025 22:40:15 +0000

Homes that can withstand extremes: New study reveals pathways to housing resilience Susan Glairon Tue, 12/09/2025 - 15:40

Professor Abbie Liel along with University of Notre Dame political scientist Susan Ostermann and María J. Echeverría, a civil engineering professor from California State University, Sacramento, have identified building code features that have the biggest impact on hazard resilience and translated those features into tangible, practical building solutions. The findings from their National Science Foundation-funded study were published in the International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction.

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PhD student earns top award for video showing hidden odor patterns

Susan Glairon — Wed, 03 Dec 2025 18:47:48 +0000

PhD student earns top award for video showing hidden odor patterns Susan Glairon Wed, 12/03/2025 - 11:47

Susan Glairon

Elle Stark

It’s well known that animals rely on odors to survive. Bees, for example, can follow the scent of a flower from far away to collect nectar and pollen. But in turbulent air, how do bees and other animals trace those scents back to their source?

Understanding that relationship between wind and odor plumes is the focus of University of Colorado Boulder PhD student Elle Stark’s work in the Ecological Fluid Dynamics Lab.

Stark, who is part of a large NSF-funded scientific effort called the Odor2Action Network, was recently awarded a prestigious Gallery of Fluid Motion (GFM) Award for a video describing her research. The competition, part of the American Physical Society Division of Fluid Dynamics conference, was held in Houston on Nov. 23-25.

“The award reflects the quality of our research within the fluid dynamics community and the importance of using data visualization to communicate complex ideas," Stark said. “It’s a chance to share our findings in a way that connects with a broad audience.”

The video illustrates the lab’s years of research measuring precise data about odor plumes, which animals regularly use to locate food, mates and habitat.

“Navigating natural plumes is a critical skill for many animals, yet we don’t fully understand how they do it,” Stark said. “The gaps in current knowledge stem partly from the complexity of how odors travel from a source to an animal.”

Hidden patterns

Odor2Action is an international network of scientists across 16 research institutions that seek to understand how animals use odors to guide natural behaviors.

This effort will help researchers better understand the sensory and behavioral processes in the brain, with broad implications for health and security for both animals and human beings. The work could inform search and rescue, chemical leak detection and even improvements in neural network architectures, computer models inspired by the brain.

Experimental setup for plume illumination. Precisely aligned lasers (center right), are sent through specialized sheet-forming optics (center left) to illuminate a slice of the plume in the wind tunnel (left).

The Ecological Fluid Dynamics Lab studies how fluid dynamic processes shape the signal an animal encounters as it navigates an odor plume. For the work shown in the video, the researchers investigated odors moving through air, which required multiple lasers and cameras precisely timed to collect data across a 30 x 30 cm area.

To measure flow, the researchers used particle image velocimetry, which tracks particles in the air and calculates their velocity from successive images. To measure odor, they released acetone vapor into the flow through a small tube that serves as the odor source. When a UV laser is shined on the acetone, it fluoresces in visible light, allowing them to photograph the evolving odor plume.

Because the researchers measure both flow and odor simultaneously, they can better understand how the two are related, Stark said. The visual layers shown in the video reveal structures and boundaries within the flow, highlighting how closely flow and odor are linked. This relationship has been experimentally investigated in water plumes, but obtaining accurate and detailed time-resolved measurements in air has only recently been possible.

Stark hopes that those watching the video come to appreciate the complexity and beauty of the fluid dynamics underlying “something as seemingly humble as an odor plume.”

“Viewers can see structures in the flow shaping the odor, stretching and rotating it along the same regions where the flow itself is stretching and rotating,” Stark said. “At the same time, the odor diffuses outward, making it difficult to predict exactly how it will be shaped by these flow structures. These factors determine the odor cues an animal experiences."

Odor concentration (blue/purple) overlaid on flow patterns (gold lines), showing how odor moves with air.

“While computer simulations are powerful tools, taking direct measurements of physical phenomena is critical for discovering and testing theoretical dynamics in the real world,” Stark continued. “More broadly, we hope the viewer will understand that the fundamental physics of plume dispersion not only provides abstract scientific understanding but also drives the ecological and atmospheric processes that shape our world.”

Looking ahead

The researchers are developing advanced analysis techniques to investigate the relationship between the flow and the odor under different plume conditions.

“By rigorously quantifying these fundamental relationships, we hope to provide tools both for understanding olfactory navigation and, more broadly, understanding the fluid dynamics of flow and transport in these types of conditions.”

Elle Stark, a PhD student in the Department of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering, was recently awarded a prestigious Gallery of Fluid Motion (GFM) Award for a video describing her research.

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Caroline Mumm honored with CEAS Global Engagement Award

Susan Glairon — Wed, 26 Nov 2025 12:30:49 +0000

Caroline Mumm honored with CEAS Global Engagement Award Susan Glairon Wed, 11/26/2025 - 05:30

Susan Glairon

Caroline Mumm in front of Neuschwanstein Castle in the Bavarian Alps in southwest Germany.

While studying architectural engineering at ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ��, Caroline Mumm participated in a summer abroad program at Freie Universität Berlin International Summer University (FUBis) in Berlin, Germany, where she took an intensive German language class as well as a sustainability and a business class. She also served as an ambassador for the university.

Mumm is the recipient of the College of Engineering and Applied Science Global Engagement Award.

“Caroline represented ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� and her department with professionalism and enthusiasm,” said Associate Professor Steven Ayer. “Her experience broadened her understanding of key topics such as sustainability, enabling her to bring valuable global insights back to Boulder and integrate them into her coursework and professional growth.”

Major

Architectural Engineering

Post-graduation plans

Visit family, then begin a lighting design position at WSP in Denver.

What sparked your interest in studying abroad?

When I was in the third grade, I lived in Germany with my family for six months. Since then, I’ve had only a few chances to travel abroad, but each one brought the same excitement of the unknown. Living in another country is an engaging experience that challenges what you perceive to be normal and pushes you out of your comfort zone. A summer abroad program felt like a fantastic way to explore again, while earning credits and gaining academic experience.

How did studying abroad shape the way you think about sustainability?

The sustainability class I took pushed me to think about building practices more broadly. Before this, I mainly focused on approaches used in the U.S. Studying in another country helped me see the different challenges and innovations happening elsewhere, and how the rest of the world is working to advance sustainable practices for the future.

How’s your German these days?

I still try to keep up with it! There are some great German shows to watch, and I stay in touch with a few people I met who live there. I’ve definitely lost some of my language skills, but I hope to regain them one day.

What was the most meaningful lesson from your global engagement experience?

The biggest lesson from my global engagement experience is that growth happens when you're uncomfortable. Navigating daily life, using transit and interacting with people on my own in a country with a different language often felt scary and uncomfortable. But through

Caroline Mumm and her student teammates present their final research project for a sustainability and business course in the FUBiS program at Freie Universität Berlin.

those uncomfortable moments, I met amazing people, saw incredible places, learned alongside students from around the world and ate amazing food. I came home with more confidence in my ability to take on difficult tasks, one moment, one minute, one step at a time.

Did this experience change the way you see yourself or the world?

Yes! This experience changed both the way I see myself and how I see the world. I see a new version of myself — a more confident, well-rounded and well-spoken person. I see the world as smaller and less intimidating. To be able to fully immerse yourself and experience different cultures is an eye-opening event. Why stay in your comfort bubble when there's so much to explore, so many sights to see and so many amazing people to meet?

If you could offer one piece of advice to students interested in global engagement, what would it be?

If you're interested in global engagement, just do it! Find a program, a project, anything that gets you out of your comfort zone. You'll meet amazing people, see beautiful places, try new foods and come home wanting to explore even more of the world.

Anything else you would like to add?

Completing my degree at ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� was one of the best decisions I’ve made. I’ll miss this university I’ve called home for the past few years. Sko Buffs!

Learn more about study abroad for civil or architectural engineering students.

Caroline Mumm, an architectural engineering major, represented the department during a summer abroad program at Freie Universität Berlin International Summer University (FUBis). Mumm returned with a deeper understanding of the diverse challenges and innovations in sustainable building worldwide.

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Matt Hallowell wrote a book on workplace safety. Industry made it a bestseller.

Susan Glairon — Mon, 17 Nov 2025 16:29:16 +0000

Matt Hallowell wrote a book on workplace safety. Industry made it a bestseller. Susan Glairon Mon, 11/17/2025 - 09:29

Susan Glairon

Professor Matt Hallowell presents at the 2025 CSRA Safety Summit, held in November at the Limelight Hotel in Boulder. More than 2,100 industry and academic professionals participated, both in person and virtually.

��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� Construction Safety Research Alliance (CSRA), a nonprofit research organization established in 2018 by Professor Matthew Hallowell, brings together hundreds of industry and academic researchers to collaborate on creating and sharing new safety knowledge. The goal: to eliminate serious injuries and fatalities in the construction industry.

Recently Hallowell wrote the book, “Energy-Based Safety: A Scientific Approach to Preventing Serious Injuries and Fatalities,” which summarized the research of more than 100 journal papers in reader-friendly terms.

Within 48 hours of announcing the book pre-order on Amazon, the book topped the charts in industrial psychology, ergonomics and industrial health and safety.

Your book is an Amazon bestseller. Why is a book about worksite safety so popular?

Serious issues and fatalities have been a big problem for a long time, and there hasn't been an evidence-based solution. There's a hunger in our profession for something new, and there's a big community behind it.

The book grew from the research we conducted in the CSRA—examining the unique causes of serious injuries and fatalities. We had produced a lot of papers on the topic, but they were scattered across journals and hidden behind paywalls. Industry simply isn’t going to chase them down.

This book is a one-stop shop; all the scientific evidence in one place. I took the research and presented the theory in accessible terms and explained how to integrate that knowledge into the everyday activities companies already perform.

Professionals have relied on traditional safety practices for decades. When did you first realize those methods weren’t enough to prevent serious injuries and fatalities?

Less-severe injuries have been declining year over year for a long time. Unfortunately, over the same period, the fatality rate has remained statistically unchanged. In fact, roughly the same number of people die on worksites as did 17 years ago. We knew we need to do something different. We had to figure out what’s different about serious injuries and fatalities.

What inspired you to do this type of research and create the CSRA?

I initially focused on traditional civil engineering. During my PhD, I became interested in safety, and, once I started at CU, I developed my own research style. Safety is a multi-faceted topic. There’s a little bit of engineering. A little bit of law. Some psychology, business. And I was interested in exploring all these angles.

Who is buying the book?

The biggest volume is from industry, although several professors from different universities will be using the book in their courses, which is cool! There’s a big push from industry to modernize academic programs, and this new evidence-based approach to safety is beginning to get attention in the academic realm.

What are the biggest takeaways from the book?

The book covers four major principles.

Energy causes harm. So anytime somebody gets hurt, energy from the environment is contacting them, like being struck by something, or an electrical shock.
More energy causes more harm. There's a limit to what we can sustain, and it's 1,500 joules.
Controls save lives. Energy is required to do work. Safety becomes our ability to harness that energy to get work done without it coming in contact with a person.
People drive performance. The situations we put employees in affect the decisions they make. If people are rushed and tired and they don't know the safety procedures, the controls are much less likely to be used correctly.

These principles apply to any injury that happens to anybody anywhere. These concepts are far broader than construction. Somebody recently posted on LinkedIn that they've been using energy-based safety for their commercial drone flying operations.

Industry members of the Construction Safety Research Alliance proudly hold Matt Hallowell’s new book, which showcases safety research contributed by these and other members.

What do you see as the biggest barrier to adopting this evidence-based research?

The biggest challenge is communicating that this work is not my idea of how safety should work, or what I think about safety. It's hundreds of people, it's hard evidence, it's experimentation and empirical data. And that's something that the safety profession hasn't had enough of in the past.

What's next for you?

For me, “next” probably won't be a book.

I underestimated how difficult it would be to write an evidence-based book. I'm not just sharing my ideas or guesses. Everything in the book is drawn from evidence. I tried hard to explain where the knowledge came from and why you should trust it. And I had to explain it in a way that would be easily understood. It’s much easier to write a journal paper!

I’m working on the next generation. We need to grow the scientific community in this field. Our PhD students are going off and teaching at other universities. That's the biggest way we improve our ability to do research. All proceeds from this book are being redirected to a scholarship fund that supports this next generation.

Attendees of the 2025 CSRA Safety Summit raise green and red buffalo-shaped paddles to answer a question projected on a screen during a panel session.

With fatalities unchanged for nearly two decades, industry has been hungry for clear, practical guidance rooted in solid research, says Professor Matt Hallowell. In his first book, Hallowell summarized the research of more than 100 journal papers in reader-friendly terms, providing the first comprehensive, evidence-based explanation of why serious worksite injuries persist and how to prevent them.

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Supply-chain delays, rising equipment prices threaten electricity grid

Susan Glairon — Fri, 14 Nov 2025 18:50:52 +0000

Supply-chain delays, rising equipment prices threaten electricity grid Susan Glairon Fri, 11/14/2025 - 11:50

In this Conversation story co-written by Associate Professor Kyri Baker, the authors explain how two new Silicon Valley data centers sit idle because essential electrical equipment isn’t available—highlighting a nationwide shortage of transformers, breakers, cables and other critical grid components. These supply-chain bottlenecks are delaying projects, raising costs and straining the reliability of the U.S. power grid.

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AWWA Journal Cover Story: Q&A with Professor Karl Linden

Susan Glairon — Wed, 22 Oct 2025 22:44:00 +0000

AWWA Journal Cover Story: Q&A with Professor Karl Linden Susan Glairon Wed, 10/22/2025 - 16:44

Professor Karl Linden received the American Water Works Association’s 2025 A.P. Black Research Award, which honors outstanding contributions to water science and supply. Linden was recognized for his pioneering work in developing and applying ultraviolet technologies to improve water and wastewater treatment.

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5 ways to make AI more trustworthy

Susan Glairon — Wed, 22 Oct 2025 18:34:11 +0000

5 ways to make AI more trustworthy Susan Glairon Wed, 10/22/2025 - 12:34

In a new paper published in the journal, "AI and Ethics," Professor Amir Behzadan and his PhD student, Armita Dabiri, are unearthing new insights into how the artificial intelligence (AI) technology we might encounter in daily life, such as self-driving cars, can earn our confidence.

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Wildfires can still contaminate water 8 years later, researchers find

Susan Glairon — Tue, 21 Oct 2025 16:31:42 +0000

Wildfires can still contaminate water 8 years later, researchers find Susan Glairon Tue, 10/21/2025 - 10:31

This KJZZ Phoenix radio story reports on a study led by Alumna Carli Brucker (CivEngr PhD 23) of 100,000 samples from 500 watersheds across the western U.S., finding that wildfires can still contaminate water up to eight years later.

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