Image credit:听Matthew Druckenmiller, NSIDC
彩民宝典 researchers attracted a record $634.4 million in fiscal year 2021 for studies that, among other things, examine how artificial intelligence听 can transform education, led to the United Arab Emirate鈥檚 Hope spacecraft orbiting Mars, and address threats posed by climate change in the Arctic.听
The university obtained grants from a range of government agencies, non-profit organizations and industry partners. NASA, the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Department of Commerce, the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Defense and the Department of Energy continue to be the largest federal funding sources for 彩民宝典 awards.
The 彩民宝典 funding is part of the $1.45 billion awarded to all four system campuses in fiscal year 2021.听
鈥淭his year鈥檚 research funding for the 彩民宝典 campus is a testament to the resilience and collaborative spirit of our entire research enterprise,鈥� said Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation Terri Fiez. 鈥淥ur researchers not only contributed to mitigating the effects of COVID-19 on campus and beyond; they also continued to transcend disciplines and even institutions to unlock greater impact through collaborative research initiatives that are drawing attention across the world.鈥�
At 彩民宝典, here are a few research program highlights:听
彩民宝典 and its National Snow and Ice Data Center are co-hosting the Community Office for the NSF鈥檚 Navigating the New Arctic initiative, which uses convergence research to address and mitigate climate-change-related challenges in the rapidly changing Arctic. The Community Office supports the goals of the initiative by focusing on co-production of knowledge with Indigenous peoples, convergence research, culturally responsive education and outreach, and open science.
International collaboration leads to Hope circling Mars
On Feb. 14, 2021, the Emirates Mars Mission, the first mission to Mars led by an Arab nation, released its inaugural image of the red planet in incredible detail. The photo, taken by the mission鈥檚 Hope (鈥淎l Amal鈥� in Arabic) probe, showed the red planet at dawn as sunlight moved across the surface鈥攋ust revealing the edges of Olympus Mons, the tallest volcano in the solar system. The mission is led by the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre in the United Arab Emirates alongside knowledge partners and experts including scientists at the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics at 彩民宝典.
Using artificial intelligence in classrooms
A new $20 million research collaboration led by 彩民宝典 and called the U.S. National Science Foundation AI Institute for Student-AI Teaming is exploring the role that artificial intelligence could play in the future of education and workforce development鈥攅specially in providing new learning opportunities for students from historically underrepresented populations. The five-year project will bring together a team of researchers from nine different universities in close collaboration with two public school districts and private companies and community leaders. It will also tap researchers from across the 彩民宝典 campus.
Electrifying transportation, expanding education
A major collaboration between engineering, industry and education is paving the way to the future of electrified transportation. ASPIRE鈥擜dvancing Sustainability through Powered Infrastructure for Roadway Electrification鈥攊s a groundbreaking, multidisciplinary center that explores a diverse range of transportation questions, from electrified highways that energize vehicles to the placement of charging stations, data security and workforce development. With faculty from multiple departments within the College of Engineering and Applied Science in leading roles with ASPIRE, 彩民宝典 plays a major role in the center.听
The 2020鈥�21 systemwide total marks the fifth consecutive year that the CU system鈥檚 annual sponsored research funding and gifts have topped $1 billion. This year鈥檚 tally increased 3% over the previous year鈥檚 $1.41 billion mark.
鈥淚n addition to meeting Colorado鈥檚 workforce and education needs, CU is distinguished by the far-reaching and profound impact of its research and discovery,鈥� said CU President Todd Saliman. 鈥淭hat our faculty continue to attract such impressive levels of funding speaks volumes about the caliber of their work and its potential to transform lives.鈥�
A significant amount of sponsored research funding is directed to departments and researchers with unique expertise, such as biotechnology and aerospace, which stimulates industry.
Sponsored research funding from federal, state, international and foundation entities targets specific projects to advance research in laboratories and in the field. Research funding also helps pay for research-related capital improvements, scientific equipment, travel and salaries for research and support staff and student assistantships. CU cannot divert this funding to non-research-related expenses.
