2006-2007 Research Calendar
The Economic Impact of a 21st-Century Land-Grant Institution
This edition of our research calendar highlights people and programs at Colorado State University that seek to address global challenges faced by society today. The following are stories highlighted in the 18-month calendar.
January
Center for Extreme Ultraviolet Science and Technology: Exploring the frontiers of light
Jorge Rocca, director of the NSF Center for Extreme Ultraviolet Science and Technology, and his team at Colorado State University are helping to develop new sources of short wavelength laser light that have enormous potential in scientific applications.
As the size of the most advanced electronic circuits and nanoscale machines continues to shrink, light in the extreme ultraviolet is poised to become a key element in technologies and exciting new opportunities that are of critical importance to the nations economy, Rocca says.
A partnership between CSU, the University of Colorado and the University of California-Berkeley, the Center for Extreme Ultraviolet Science and Technology is funded by the National Science Foundation.
Febuary
Water Center overflows with opportunity
Combining an overflowing history of water-related education with a flood of experts from 22 different departments, Colorado State Universitys Water Center creates a rich environment for learning and research in water management.
The Water Centers offerings cascade into three major areas: education and training for students and professionals, water research for a changing environment and outreach and transfer of knowledge. The center has been instrumental in defining research needs and then facilitating funding of those needs.
Based on recent crises, the Water Centers efforts have grown, focusing attention on wider dimensions of water resources including climatic shifts, socio-political changes, technological developments and strategies for maintaining agricultural viability.
The Water Center is a coordinated partnership led by Reagan Waskom, interim director of the center.
March
Health and well being of society depends on research on infectious diseases
In June 2005, Colorado State University was awarded a four-year, $40 million grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases to establish a Regional Center of Excellence, or RCE. As part of the national network of 10 RCEs for biodefense and emerging infectious disease research and training, each center will serve a particular geographical region. The RCE at Colorado State will work with regional health research institutions and universities to develop diagnostics, vaccines and other therapies for infectious diseases.
A key point that makes CSU exceptional in infectious disease research is the ability of researchers in different fields to work collaboratively. Jeff Wilusz, head of the Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, hopes to see collaboration with biotech companies as well. A primary goal is to pursue translational research that will contribute to curing infectious diseases.
April
EnviroFit tackles global air pollution
Clearing the air of pollution by reducing global carbon dioxide emissions is no small task, but thats exactly the challenge that a new company, EnviroFit, is tackling. In Asia and other parts of the world, a major source of air pollution comes from millions of two-stroke engines that power taxis and other vehicles.
EnviroFit, borne out of the Engines and Energy Conversion Laboratory at Colorado State University, is responding to the problem by retrofitting engines with a conversion kit that vastly reduces hydrocarbon emissions while increasing fuel efficiency.
But EnviroFit hopes to do more than just introduce new technology to developing nations. Tim Bauer, vice president of operations at EnviroFit, says that capacity building helps end users to manage businesses at all levels while instilling in them independence and entrepreneurship.
May
STARMAP: Water quality by the numbers
Water resources in the United States embrace more than 3.5 million miles of streams, 41 million acres of lakes and 300 million acres of wetlands. Monitoring the quality of all this water is a titanic task.
The Clean Water Act of 1972 requires each state to monitor water quality and report every two years to the Environmental Protection Agency. In practice, however, states struggle to fulfill this requirement because of the difficulties in measuring such a vast resource.
To bridge the gap, researchers are increasingly turning to statistical sampling procedures that help them understand and predict water quality in specific environments. N. Scott Urquhart of Colorado States Department of Statistics is director of the Space-Time Aquatic Resources Modeling and Analysis Program, or STARMAP, one of the countrys leading research programs. In addition to statistical research of aquatic resources, STARMAP develops innovative methodologies that state and federal agencies can apply to address many environmental problems.
June
Dryland Agroecosystems Project reaps harvest of possibilities
Adequate rainfall has been and continues to be the main production-limiting factor for dryland cropping systems in a semi-arid environment. But now, the Dryland Agroecosystems Project at Colorado State University, led by soil scientists Neil Hansen and Dwayne Westfall, offers a stream of possibilities for farmers caught in the price-cost squeeze of modern farming.
Dryland farmers traditional means of tilling and wheat/fallow farming is not sustainable in the long run because of economic and environmental issues. Since 1986, the Dryland Agroecosystems Project has shown how no-till practices can increase water retention by about 10 percent, offering the possibility of more intense cropping and greater economic returns. Acreage in Colorado in this system has grown to more than 1 million acres since 1989.
Current studies include biodiesel fuel and finding more alternative crops.
July
Center for Fair and Alternative Trade Studies: Room for fair trade in free markets
Globalization is a powerful force, rapidly transforming trade and consumption practices across the world. The upside includes the availability of a wide variety of goods and services at affordable prices. What consumers dont see, however, are the severe human and environmental costs often borne by Third World citizens who make or grow the goods.
The Fair Trade movement, one of the best-known responses to these issues, certifies that commodities are produced under improved social and environmental conditions and guarantees higher prices to farmers who agree to grow under these conditions.
The success of the movement inspired Colorado State sociology Professor Douglas Murray to found the Center for Fair and Alternative Trade Studies, which is researching how consumer-based movements can refine and redirect free markets in ways that have social and environmental benefits.
August
CoCoRaHS: Backyard weather watchers learn that every drop counts
Backyard scientists of all ages are serving as the eyes and ears when it comes to weather. Developed by Colorado State University scientist Nolan Doesken, the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail & Snow Network, or CoCoRaHS, teaches volunteers how to be weather detectives by providing clues that help experts and others better understand seemingly cryptic weather events.
Using low-cost measurement tools, CoCoRaHS volunteers undergo training and interact frequently with participating scientists to collect and share valuable information. They send daily precipitation reports to an interactive Web site, www.cocorahs.org, where the information is posted to charts and maps that anyone can view.
"With CoCoRaHS, we can see the small-scale details and other people can, too," says Matt Kelsch, meteorologist with the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research.
September
Colorado State graduates: The foundation of economic and human health
Since 1870, Colorado State University has awarded 170,000 degrees and has trained thousands more to apply knowledge and skills toward a higher quality of life.
Today, our 147,000-plus alumni are the universitys pipeline to supporting a knowledge-based economy.
Increasing the bottom line in todays economy is about developing human capital. Its about developing and practicing personal responsibility within our jobs, families and communities. Its about providing tools, encouragement and training for people to excel. Its about engendering among our families, neighbors, co-workers and leaders a sense of cooperation and caring that fosters progress toward our common goal of present and future prosperity.
Trained to be critical thinkers, innovative problem-solvers and conscientious world citizens, Colorado States alumni are contributing to human and economic development. Participating in applied research and service-learning projects as students, our graduates now share their passion, extend their knowledge, explore new ideas, create new ventures and serve as responsible, invested employees, managers, parents, citizens and leaders.
October
Plant Select hand-picks only the best
The Plant Select program is beautifying the Rocky Mountain region through a cooperative effort between Colorado State University and the Denver Botanic Gardens, with James Klett, CSU professor in landscape horticulture, serving as coordinator. Plant Select focuses on finding landscape plant material with outstanding ornamental appeal that can be adapted to the Rocky Mountain region.
Potential plants are selected from natural populations, cultivated seedling populations or unique landscape specimens. Candidate plants are grown at the Denver Botanic Gardens and CSU, then tested at demonstration sites throughout the region to determine suitability for the area. The plants are judged on various criteria, patented or trademarked as appropriate and propagated to provide stock for the nursery industry.
CSU and the Denver Botanic Gardens jointly administer the program and work with landscape and nursery professionals throughout the Rocky Mountain and Plains states.
November
Colorado Crop to Cuisine: A match made at market
Small farmers put their time, energy, hearts and souls into growing nutritionally superior foods that look, smell and taste great. But the distribution system that large producers use doesnt work for them.
Colorado State University agribusiness specialist Dawn Thilmany figured out how a distribution system drawing on the weekly gathering of producers at farmers markets could help small growers get their products into new markets. Thilmanys research led to the development of Colorado Crop to Cuisine, or CCC, an organization that enables farmers to sell directly to chefs, consumers and schools.
"Colorado Crop to Cuisine promotes economic development by allowing small producers to buy into a competitive distribution system and new market segments they didnt have before," says Thilmany.
Winner of the 2002 Governors Award for Marketing Colorado Proud, CCC also provides small producers with professional development opportunities in marketing and helps them better understand how the food marketing system works.
December
Federal partnerships address problems and solutions of global significance
While many universities have significant federal funding, Colorado State University is unique in having federal dollars as well as the facilities and staff for federal activities on or near campus.
CSU has received more than $1 billion in federal research money in the past 10 years. Just recently, CSU was awarded a four-year, $40 million grant to establish a Regional Center of Excellence, or RCE, for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases research and training. Other federal partnership projects with CSU include the Environmental Management of Military Lands, a national response plan to bioterrorist attacks and pollution studies in our national parks.
Research done at CSU deals with problems of local, national, and global significance; attracts biotech companies; initiates startup companies; and brings products to market.
2007
January
WESTFIRE fans flames of fire research
In the aftermath of devastating fires of the past few years, the hot topics under the canopy of the Western Forest Fire Research Center, or WESTFIRE, are fanning the flames of public interest in fire management and gaining national attention for the Colorado State University program.
WESTFIRE, an umbrella organization that draws from CSUs expertise in addressing forest fire issues, generates about $2 million annually in fire research funds. The center is under the direction of Philip Omi, emeritus professor in the Department of Forest, Rangeland, and Watershed Stewardship in the College of Natural Resources.
Although the center came into existence after the 1988 Yellowstone fires, interest in WESTFIREs activities became more widespread with the severity of more recent fires. Since WESTFIRES inception, funding for research projects has grown each year.
Febuary
Doing the money math: Colorado State Universitys economic power
Colorado State University is a major catalyst in stimulating the local and regional economies and creating new jobs. The university spends millions of dollars each year as a major employer and for technology, laboratory equipment, construction projects and many other purchases.
CSUs annual research expenditures alone, which in fiscal year 2005 reached a record $244 million, add to the economic power of higher education and help to produce one of the single most significant drivers of economic health and vitality in the state of Colorado.
Research universities such as CSU are crucial assets to the economy. In addition to the universitys roles of furthering knowledge, educating the workforce and developing technologies and vaccines among many other innovations the institution works to use new research dollars that are garnered from outside the state and offer opportunities for public/private partnerships with state agencies.
March
The destination is Colorado State University
What do the University Center for the Arts, Department of Athletics and the Office of Conference Services have in common? All three bring visibility and economic vitality to Colorado State University and the region.
Arts, athletics and conferences attract prospective students to CSUs campus, invite diverse community members to a wide range of events, employ hundreds of individuals and promote a healthy economy, both locally and throughout the area.
Whether a theatre performance, a football game or a national conference, audiences and participants alike come to Fort Collins for entertainment or professional development and stay to enjoy ethnic dining, our special Old Town atmosphere and a wealth of recreation in the Rocky Mountains.
As Mike LaPlante, assistant athletic director for Development, says, "We want to be as welcoming as we can to get people in that front door."
April
New degrees match regional and national needs, workforce development
Interdisciplinary MBA programs, progressive Continuing Education and collaboration with industry are just three of the many ways Colorado State University defines itself as a 21st-century land-grant institution.
The economic benefits of pursuing a multidisciplinary education and keeping up to speed with industry technology include more jobs and better incomes for CSU graduates and greater awareness of global needs.
CSU's human talent and diverse expertise is recognized worldwide. Tony Frank, provost and senior vice president, notes: "We take a lot of pride in creating a workforce that has a big impact locally and regionally, but the people that we are educating here are having an impact globally as well, and we're especially proud of that."
May
Fort Collins Technology Incubator: Growing new jobs from within the community
The National Business Incubation Association estimates that 80 percent of incubated companies survive their first three years of operation. Among non-incubated companies, however, only 35 percent survive.
The Fort Collins Technology Incubator, developed and supported by Colorado State University, the city of Fort Collins, the Northern Colorado Economic Development Corporation, and the CSU Research Foundation, provides a safe shelter in which fledgling technology companies sprout wings. By the time they graduate, they have what it takes to prosper in a highly competitive environment.
"The incubators a great idea for Northern Colorado," says incubator client Todd Massey. "When you have the HPs and Kodaks and LSI Logics, when all these CEOs are located here, theyre more likely to look at the impact of new companies to the local community and the people. Now that big companies are laying off so many people, we need to look at developing a base of smaller companies."
Which is exactly what the Fort Collins Technology Incubator is doing.
June
Technology Transfer helps change the world
As the states land-grant university, one of Colorado State Universitys fundamental priorities is to generate new knowledge while simultaneously applying that knowledge for societys benefit. A leader in scientific discovery, CSU is engaged in technology transfer in a wealth of areas to help meet the challenges of our global society, an effort anchored by the Office of Technology Transfer at the Colorado State University Research Foundation, or CSURF.
CSURF, a nonprofit organization, helps facilitate the transition of university research from the laboratory to the marketplace, leading to business development, positive impacts on the economy and the improvement of people's day-to-day lives.
Good research becomes even more valuable if it can be developed into usable products. By helping to bring such products to commercial markets, technology transfer at Colorado State is actively helping to change our world.