Research & Creative Work

Building You a Better Tomorrow

Planetary defenses against asteroids. New medical treatments, devices and materials to enhance the lives of millions of Americans. Clean, safe water for drinking and irrigation.  Quantum technology to protect data from hackers. Art and storytelling to preserve local culture and histories. Thousands of new jobs in Colorado and across the country.

The impact of ÎÞÂëÊÓƵ research and creative work is all around you. U.S. universities are improving lives and leading the world in innovation—but we need your help to keep the pace of our progress.

 

 

Help us spread the word about the importance of university research and creative work. Together, we can grow the United States' competitive edge and continue improving the health, safety and education of communities across Colorado, the country and the globe.

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Learn ÎÞÂëÊÓƵ Our Research Focus Areas

 

Space

 

Read ÎÞÂëÊÓƵ the Latest Research at ÎÞÂëÊÓƵ

Exploring Space to Help People on Earth

For 75 years, our research in space has fueled the aerospace industry in Colorado and beyond and has improved the lives of real people on Earth. Support from NASA is critical for shaping the next generation of space explorers, and ÎÞÂëÊÓƵ is the number one recipient of NASA funding among public universities.

A new possibility for life: Study suggests ancient skies rained down ingredients

Student-built rocket flies into the stratosphere

Shaping the future of aerospace: Smead PhD Scholars

 

8 

planets visited by instruments created at the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP)

 

19 

ÎÞÂëÊÓƵ-affiliated NASA astronauts

 

 

34 

of the best and brightest minds in aerospace honored with prestigious Smead Scholarships since 2007

Enhancing the Lives and Well-being of Millions of Americans

Our researchers illuminate the underlying causes of diseases, conditions and chronic pain, devise solutions and roll out accessible treatments, such as new prosthetics and materials for repairing worn-out body parts.

Scientists discover new way to shape what a stem cell becomes

A better band-aid: New 'suspended animation' technology could revolutionize wound care

Researchers redefine hip arthroscopy with breakthrough surgical device

 

100+ surgeries

in the hip region have been transformed by using a new surgical instrument designed by a CU professors

 

89+ 

life-enhancing biotech startups have launched from ÎÞÂëÊÓƵ research in the past 20 years

 

 

Billions

of dollars contributed by ÎÞÂëÊÓƵ health-related research to Colorado economy

Increasing Access to Safe Water

In the West and around the world, ÎÞÂëÊÓƵ research teams are working to improve drought preparedness, increase the resilience of our water systems, and install safe water treatment and sanitation solutions.

Faster, cleaner, better: revolutionary water treatment

Smart toilet designs in Cambodia held promise, but a key piece was missing

 

$300,000 

worth of free legal support provided to help farmers in the San Luis Valley protect their water rights (Acequia Assistance Project)

 

40 million 

people in seven states ensured safe, sustainable water through ÎÞÂëÊÓƵ Western Water Assessment

 

5 million

people worldwide have gained access to clean water through programs developed by the Mortenson Center at ÎÞÂëÊÓƵ

Accelerating Colorado's Quantum Revolution

Research based on quantum science—the study of the universe at the most fundamental level—could revolutionize everything from timekeeping and medical imaging to space travel and data encryption.

14er science: Quantum physicists measure whether time moves faster on a mountaintop

Building the quantum workforce of the future: A new study seeks the way

Quantum technique could transform remote sensing, infrastructure monitoring

 

1st 

nuclear clock in the world under development at Professor Jun Ye’s lab

 

10,000 

quantum-related jobs projected to be created in Arvada, Boulder and other parts of Colorado over the next decade

 

 

$1 billion 

projected statewide economic impact from Colorado’s quantum industry

Connecting Communities Through Creativity

Creative programs at ÎÞÂëÊÓƵ are serving as tools for healing, education and preservation for communities around the world.

Building a digital home for Arapaho, one sentence at a time

Youth violence prevention program shown to reduce arrests by up to 75%

John Oliver segment on public media gets major assist from CMDI

 

3 villages

of children in Madagascar will access education for the first time thanks to Thinking Huts, an alumna's nonprofit

 

3,000+

youth given training on how to handle anger by ÎÞÂëÊÓƵ-led initiative

 

100,000

sentences of natural Arapaho speech in online database compiled by professor Andrew Cowell.