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Professor Rajagopalan Balaji, a ����ֱ�� Boulder professor of civil engineering and an expert in hydrology, climatology and water resources, was elected as an honorary fellow of the  in December. The honor was received on his behalf at the inaugural ceremony of TROPMET 2024, India’s annual tropical meteorology conference.

Rajagopalan has dedicated more than 25 years researching Indian monsoon variability as a way to give back to his home country. His research aims to improve flood preparedness and explore the complex relationship between monsoonal climate and public health. 

“Making significant advances in understanding Indian monsoon variability is a labor of love,” Rajagopalan says. “This honor is particularly meaningful and gratifying, especially being recognized as part of such a .”

Rajagopalan Is one of 21 honorary fellows, joining a distinguished group that includes the late A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, PhD, a former president of India. The honor recognizes those who have made significant contributions to meteorological research, education or practice, both in India and globally. 

In 2023 Rajagopalan received a Fulbright-Kalam Climate Fellowship. His Fulbright work in India centered around developing monsoon forecasting models to aid residents in flood preparedness; exploring the intricate interplay between monsoonal climate and public health; and unraveling the monsoon variability over a timeframe of 5,000 to 10,000 years, along with its role in the peopling of the Indian subcontinent. 

India, in particular, remains highly vulnerable to the monsoon’s variability, and the impact extends beyond floods or droughts. The monsoons also affect water quality, public health, agricultural output and even the Indian stock market, he says.

Weaker rainfall directly impacts the country’s GDP, given that at least 50 percent of the population resides in villages heavily reliant on agriculture. Crop failures often drive rural residents to migrate to urban areas in search of employment, placing sudden strain on urban resources. This has an impact on nutrition, poverty and public health, he says.

Founded in 1956, the Indian Meteorological Society was established to promote the advancement of meteorology in India and to provide a platform for scientists, researchers and professionals in the field to collaborate and share knowledge. 

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Two professors from ����ֱ�� Boulder’s Department of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering have been honored by The American Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists through its 40 Under 40 Recognition Program.

Associate Professor Sherri Cook and Assistant Professor Cresten Mansfeldt were recognized as “talented individuals who have, either personally or as part of a team, been responsible for helping to advance the fields of environmental science or environmental engineering in a demonstrable way within the last 12 months,” according to the academy’s website.

Cook received her BS from Virginia Tech and her MSE and PhD from the University of Michigan. At ����ֱ�� Boulder, she pioneered three courses that teach sustainability principles to students across disciplines. Her research focuses on sustainable solutions to global drinking water and sanitation challenges, aiming to improve treatment systems while minimizing risks to human health, the environment, and financial stability. Her research has included innovative technologies such as biochar-based micropollutant removal from wastewater and advancing zero-carbon bio-cement through her co-founded company, Prometheus.

Mansfeldt earned his PhD at Cornell University, after completing his undergraduate studies at the University of Minnesota.  He refined his expertise during a postdoctoral fellowship at Eawag, the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology. Mansfeldt teaches courses on material flows, from microbial carbon cycling to urban waste management. His research focuses on the interplay between natural and built environments, emphasizing water reuse, the microbiome of built environments and the impacts of disasters, such as wildfires, on urban systems. Past projects include monitoring SARS-CoV-2 in campus wastewater, evaluating the risk of synthetic biology products and exploring the bioethics of biological innovations in environmental engineering. His current research examines contaminants from wildland-urban interfaces, tracking synthetic biology products in the environment and advancing water reuse.

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Paul Chinowsky is interviewed in a new ����ֱ�� Sun feature on obstacles to air conditioning in schools.

The article discusses how schools are handling the growing need for cooler temperatures in K-12 buildings.

Chinowsky, an emeritus professor in the Department of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering and director of the Environmental Design Program, is an expert on climate and infrastructure.

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Professor Paul Chinowsky discusses a push to expand seawalls in an interview with Roll Call.

The piece highlights funding from the federal government to build barriers to hold back ocean surges in the face of climate challenges.

Chinowsky, an emeritus professor in the Department of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering, is an expert on climate and infrastructure.

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The Department of Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering at the University of ����ֱ�� Boulder is welcoming two new faculty members for the 2022-2023 academic year. Meet the team and see why we're excited about these talented new hires:

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Evan Thomas discusses the possibilities of using carbon offset markets to address water scarcity in a new column in Harvard Public Health.

Thomas, an associate professor in the Department of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering and director the Mortenson Center in Global Engineering, is an expert in water and air testing and treatment in developing communities.

The column discusses market-based approaches to curb water use in the American West as a way to mitigate ongoing droughts that are depleting reservoirs like Lake Mead and Lake Powell.

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Kyri Baker has been honored with the John and Mercedes Peebles Innovation in Education Award from the College of Engineering and Applied Science.

The award recognizes ����ֱ�� Engineering faculty who have shown a unique commitment to students demonstrated through innovations in education.

Baker, an assistant professor in the Department of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering, joined ����ֱ�� Boulder in 2017.

“I consider teaching one of the most important and meaningful parts of my job, and one aspect that I truly enjoy and look forward to,” Baker said. “I've worked really hard on trying to figure out simple and straightforward ways of describing basic concepts. If possible, I try to relate concepts to things that students may interact with in their daily lives, so the material seems more tangible to them.”

Students nominate faculty for the Peebles award and the nomination comments for Baker highlight her drive, ability to build connections with the course materials, and sense of humor:

"This faculty member constantly goes above and beyond by constantly making class something that I truly look forward to. Her work ethic is phenomenal, and she goes above and beyond with being a good resource along with a good instructor.”

 “One of the most engaging classes I have ever had was taught by Dr. Baker. She made me learn a lot on a subject I was not very confident at, but with her teaching style I managed to pull through the course – which was circuits – and be very confident in that subject.”

“By far the only professor I had I where I never wanted to skip class and would always go to her class because it’s always fun. And I’m glad to say that I have never missed a class yet. She is very funny and always tries to light the class up and really treat the class like its family.”

Baker has also been recognized for her outstanding research. In 2021, she received a National Science Foundation CAREER Award and CEAE Early Career Researcher Award. Her work focuses on power systems and smart grids, particularly how advanced controls and optimization methods can help integrate renewable electric generation.

The Peebles Award was endowed by John and Mercedes Peebles. John Peebles is a 1985 recipient of the Distinguished Engineering Alumni Award and former chair of the college's Engineering Development Council.

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Professor Paul Chinowsky discusses the growing importance of air conditioning along the Front Range in a new article in the Denver Post.

The article highlights the impact of increasing temperatures for Denver residents and how they are coping.

Chinowsky, a professor in the Department of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering and director of the Environmental Design Program, conducts research on climate and infrastructure.

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Engineering a sustainable and equitable future takes innovation and collaboration.

Shideh Dashti is the Acting Associate Dean of Research at ����ֱ�� Boulder's College of Engineering & Applied Science, as well as an Associate Professor in the Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering Department.

Dean Dashti's research is specifically focused on geotechnical engineering, centrifuge modeling, and designing resilient infrastructure in the wake of earthquakes and climate-related natural disasters.

Shideh is also a Co-Director of the College's Center for Infrastructure, Energy and Space Testing (CIEST), as well as the Director RISE - an interdisciplinary research collaboration at ����ֱ�� Boulder to explore the intersection of resilient infrastructure, sustainability, and equity.

[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUww6HOz8A8]

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