Research
CU Boulder researchers have spent four years studying the vulnerability of Colorado's prisons and jails to climate-related hazards, revealing that 75 percent of the state's facilities are exposed to risks like extreme heat, wildfires and floods, which disproportionately affect incarcerated individuals, especially those from Black and Latino communities.
CU Boulder’s Living Materials Laboratory contributed to groundbreaking research showing how engineered microbes can create bioglass microlenses, paving the way for advanced imaging technologies in medicine and materials science.
CU Boulder’s Center for Infrastructure, Energy, and Space Testing (CIEST) has pioneered testing procedures for innovative pipe replacement solutions for aging urban pipes buried beneath buildings and roads.
Professor Balaji Rajagopalan research suggests that increased precipitation in the Colorado River basin over the next 25 years could boost river flows despite rising temperatures. However, he warns of more frequent extreme droughts, highlighting the need for improved reservoir management.
In this 9NEWS article, Associate Professor Shideh Dashti highlights the need for prison infrastructure to prioritize inmate well-being rather than solely containment, urging updates like evacuation plans and improved facilities to address extreme conditions and poor air quality.
Arizona schools spend more than $30 million annually on air conditioning due to rising heat, according to a study by the Center for Climate Integrity. CU Boulder Professor Emeritus Paul Chinowsky, who helped with the study, stressed the equity challenges this creates for underfunded districts and suggested solutions like shading, blinds and natural materials to reduce classroom heat.
Prometheus Materials, a zero-carbon building materials company spun out of the labs of Wil Srubar, Mija Hubler and Sherri Cook, along with partner groups will receive $10 million from the DOE to study the removal of carbon dioxide from cement.
Professor Abbie Liel and her collaborator Susan Ostermann at Notre Dame are exploring solutions for building homes that can withstand disasters like hurricanes and fires.
In a new paper, drawing on accounts from nearly three dozen previously incarcerated people, CU Boulder researchers reveal a disturbing story of how prisons and jails in Colorado have failed to provide humane protections from growing environmental hazards brought on by climate change.
Kyri Baker, Mija Hubler and JH Song were selected for the Deloitte/University of Colorado Boulder Climate Innovation Collaboratory Research Awards for translating climate research and data into meaningful climate solutions for businesses, organizations, government agencies and communities.