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Championing Colorado's World-Class Research Ecosystem We Connect Colorado's Scientists, Universities & Businesses Federal lab internships & jobs #ScienceMatters CDC News: COVID-19 Info DID YOU KNOW? Colorado Has Over 30 Federal TaxPayer-Funded Scientific Research Labs From agriculture to aerospace, geology to GPS, extreme weather to quantum physics, even wildlife biology to ice cores (and more!) the range of crucial, world-class research in our state is astounding. Nurturing this network is our mission. We aim to keep these labs funded , and keep them here . ​ We connect technologists to help manifest scientific discoveries improving the world - Let us connect you with brilliance! PROMOTE We get into the numbers, the ROI, answer the "who cares " question. We promote the economic and intellectual value of taxpayer-funded research through reports, studies and media coverage. ​ EDUCATE We spotlight incredible work by Colorado's world-class scientists. ​ We communicate the value of Colorado's federal research labs with newsletters, podcasts, social media and interviews. CONNECT We connect smart, curious people with scientific research labs. ​ We host lab tours, conference calls, workshops and special gatherings to connect you with brilliance. “CO-LABS does outstanding work for Colorado’s science community, supporting research labs that advance the frontiers of knowledge as well as sustain Colorado’s diverse economy. Its mission strengthens productive connections among research facilities and vital stakeholders across the state. I deeply appreciate the dedication of CO-LABS and look forward to continuing collaborations with this important organization.” ​ - Antonio J. Busalacchi President, University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) NEWS National Wildlife Research Center (NWRC) Lab Tour Recap Research at 500 MPH: For the April 8 Solar Eclipse NSF NCAR Scientists Will Host Experiments and Outreach Projects National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Lab Tour Recap On October 11, 2023 the CO-LABS annual Governor's Awards for High Impact Research event was hosted at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. 200 scientists, technologists, academics, business leaders and a range of civic leaders and science champions gathered to celebrate groundbreaking discoveries by scientists in Colorado for their achievements and innovative ideas. See the winners' spotlight videos below, and the full event wesbite here. ​ The annual Governor’s Awards provides a unique opportunity to recognize our state’s prestigious scientific community, and highlight their central role in worldwide innovation that significantly contributes to Colorado’s economy. 2023 CO-LABS Governor's Awards for High ... Play Video Play Video 04:40 2023 CO-LABS Governor's Awards for High Impact Research: Outstanding Early Career Scientist On October 11, 2023 the annual CO-LABS “Governor’s Awards for High Impact Research” event recognized Dr. K Shankari at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) with the Outstanding Early Career Scientist Award. See more about Dr. Shankari's research at https://www.nrel.gov/transportation/openpath.html See more about the Awards at https://www.2023govawards.com This Award recognizes outstanding scientific achievements by researchers in the early stages of their careers, with significant demonstration of initiative, collaboration skills and demonstrated exceptional potential to advance their field of study through their research and academic contributions. (*Early Career Scientist is defined as someone who received a Ph.D. or a Masters Degree within the past 5 years.) Dr. K Shankari was raised in a dense urban environment and her eighth-grade bicycle became a symbol of mobility and ignited her passion for equitable transportation. Despite facing personal challenges, she returned to academia decades later, pursuing a Ph.D. guided by advisors who shared her vision. Despite being met with skepticism and rejections, her journey has been a testament to resilience and dedication to science: she found her stride at the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory, developing NREL OpenPATH— a groundbreaking open-source tool that empowers communities to collect and analyze their own transportation data, removing financial barriers and democratizing access. Today, her role as Principal Software Architect at the U.S. Joint Office of Energy and Transportation reflects her commitment to advancing transportation decarbonization. In her early career, Dr. Shankari encountered setbacks, facing skepticism from both academia and industry. Rejections during her post-graduate job search pushed her to the brink, but she found a supportive community at NREL. At that time she began attending her local bicycle and pedestrian advisory committee as a private citizen to stay up to date on and raise concerns about transportation safety and infrastructure. The City Council then selected her to serve on a five-person committee that presents recommendations regarding local transportation matters and proposals. During this time, she saw the limitations of transportation data collection with existing mechanisms, especially for bicycle and bus infrastructure proposals where car-oriented data models dominated the discussion. Dr. Shankari formulated the idea for what would later become NREL OpenPATH from this deficit in data that omitted the perspective of non-car users. She transformed her doctoral research and made it her mission to give transportation planners and stakeholders a tool that could provide a complete view of travel behavior by collecting data across all trips and all modes and calculating the corresponding carbon footprint. Dr. Shankari’s research is pioneering and exceptional, merging the disparate fields of computer science and urban planning with a passion for making transportation accessible to all. The NREL OpenPATH tool calculations are the first of their kind—homing in on improving the efficiency of transportation systems holistically and inclusive of understudied modes such as micromobility. In contrast to the transportation sector’s tendency to collect data on and optimize infrastructure for larger vehicles in urban areas, Dr. Shankari’s research bridges the data gap in real-world travel behavior in underrepresented, rural, and even remote communities. This can help address disparities in how transportation projects are funded and shift from a car-centric to a people-centric view of transportation decarbonization. With more than 15 communities around the world directly leveraging NREL OpenPATH to inform their micromobility programs and incentives, the tool is undeniably accomplishing its goal of improving access to often overlooked data. New collaborations are anticipated to follow as the tool continues refinement and will amplify the impact of Dr. Shankari’s research. She has become a pivotal figure in leveraging OpenPATH for impactful projects, including a successful collaboration with the Colorado Energy Office during the pandemic to deploy electric bicycles to low-income essential workers. Dr. Shankari has garnered awards and honors for both research excellence and mentorship at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory: she received the prestigious Director’s Award for exceptional achievements in her OpenPATH project and commitment to mentorship based on written nominations from NREL associate and deputy laboratory directors in 2021. In the same year she was also honored as one of NREL’s Top 15 Outstanding Mentors for her eager and unwavering support of her mentees’ career growth. Outside of NREL, in her previous career in the tech industry, Shankari and her colleagues were awarded four patents related to distributed resource management for data centers. Play Video Play Video 04:14 2023 CO-LABS Governor's Awards for High Impact Research: Technology Transfer On October 11, 2023 the annual CO-LABS “Governor’s Awards for High Impact Research” event recognized the Institute for Telecommunication Sciences (ITS) with the Technology Transfer Award. The ITS is the research and engineering arm of National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) See more about the ITS research at https://its.ntia.gov/ See more about the Awards at https://www.2023govawards.com/ This Award recognizes research that resulted in a technological solution to a significant issue or challenge at a national or global level, that is “transferred” - provided by, licensed or leveraged by an outside entity, with widespread and/or significantly measurable societal utilization. The ITS team was tasked with assessing possible interference between the nationwide rollout of 5G wireless technology and aircraft radar altimeters, which inform pilots about their distance to the ground. This concern affected over $80 billion worth of investments in 5G wireless spectrum licenses. The Institute for Telecommunication Sciences team collaborated with wireless companies, airlines and federal agencies to design effective altimeter filters - allowing 5G services to operate safely near airports. In early 2022, AT&T and Verizon were preparing to commission 5G base stations throughout the U.S. using newly purchased licenses in the range 3.7-3.98 GHz (part of the C Band). Aviation authorities and airlines raised grave concerns that 5G transmissions near airports might interfere with radio altimeters (radalts) that operate in the range 4.2-4.4 GHz and lead to aircraft crashes, so full 5G commercial deployment in the C Band was delayed. Between them, these two carriers had paid about $69 Billion of the $80 Billion in total proceeds generated by the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) recent auction of licenses to transmit in the C Band and they were anxious to begin realizing the benefit of their investment. However, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had issued an airworthiness bulletin warning of potential adverse effects on radio altimeters from 5G transmissions. This warning played a role in causing significant disruptions for aviation operations in the U.S.; in fact, some airlines began canceling flights. Major news outlets carried the story which resulted in headlines that caught the attention of policymakers at the local, state, and federal levels. Negotiations between the FAA and cellular operators led to a compromise solution under which C Band auction winners agreed to postpone initial launch until they could come to agreement with the FCC on establishing operational parameters to ensure safe co-existence. ITS researchers designed, built, tested, and flew a novel airborne 5G radiation measurement system that exhaustively explored, through calibrated radiated measurements, the three-dimensional aerial radiation patterns and emission spectra of 5G base station transmitters then being commercially deployed in the United States. Crucially, the group’s work demonstrated that 5G transmissions should not interfere with radar altimeters that incorporate suitable altimeter receiver filters and suppression of 5G-base stations’ out-of-band and skyward emissions. For example, some of their research involved aircraft carrying representative examples of a wide variety of radalts (mostly military but some civilian and some dual-use) were used at Hill AFB in Utah (near Salt Lake City) and at Majors Airfield at Greenville, Texas (near Dallas). In these flight tests, aircraft with radalts were repetitively flown in closed-loop routes, such as traffic patterns. In some cases, U.S. Army helicopters were coordinated and specially equipped and ITS engineers operated the measurement system in the back seats of these helicopters as they flew above, below, around, and over the tops of every manufacturer’s 5G tower. All the measurements were performed via radiated 5G base station emissions at the U.S. Department of Commerce Table Mountain Radio Quiet Zone north of Boulder, Colorado. The data publicly released by this team - with open peer review by all stakeholders - was instrumental in resolving the grave concerns that 5G transmissions near airports might interfere with radio altimeters that had delayed full commercial deployment of 5G commercial services. ITS also collaborated with the FAA to develop mitigation methods and issue new airworthiness directives so 5G base stations and radalts could safely co-exist. On July 1, 2023, cellular operators were able to complete full-power deployments across the C-Band and take full advantage of their multi-billion dollar investment in spectrum licenses. Play Video Play Video 02:29 2023 CO-LABS Governor's Awards for High Impact Research - About the Event On October 11, 2023 the CO-LABS annual Governor's Awards for High Impact Research event was hosted at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. 200 scientists, technologists, academics, business leaders and a range of civic leaders and science champions gathered to celebrate groundbreaking discoveries by scientists in Colorado for their achievements and innovative ideas. The annual Governor’s Award provides a unique opportunity to recognize our state’s prestigious scientific community, and highlight their central role in worldwide innovation that significantly contributes to Colorado’s economy. The 2023 awards included: • The “We Are Water” project is this year’s winner of the Pathfinding Partnership Award, which brings together diverse indigenous, scientific and education partners to enhance community resilience in the face of climate impacts like drought and wildfire. The Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES) at the University of Colorado Boulder, funded by the National Science Foundation, collaborated on water exhibits, storytelling sessions and community activities conducted in Navajo, Ute, Spanish and English languages. • Researchers from the Institute for Telecommunication Sciences (ITS) of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) received the Technology Transfer Award for swiftly addressing concerns about interference between 5G wireless technology and aircraft radar altimeters. With an impact of $80 billion on 5G wireless spectrum licenses, ITS collaborated with wireless companies, airlines and federal agencies to design suitable altimeter filters - allowing 5G services to operate near airports. • Dr. K. Shankari received the Outstanding Early Career Scientist Award for her groundbreaking research that empowers underrepresented communities to understand their travel behavior in the support of decarbonization. Shankari created an open-source transportation data tool at National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in Golden, CO, which is now used by more than 15 communities worldwide to collect and analyze their own transportation data and shift behaviors from car-centric to people-centric decarbonization. • Dr. Alan Rudolph received the Lifetime Achievement Award. Recently retired as Vice President of Research at Colorado State University, Rudolph is a former leader of U.S. Biodefense, Biosecurity and Biotechnology programs at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Department of Defense and Department of Homeland Security. Dr. Rudolph is also a serial entrepreneur and founder of Cellphire, a biotechnology company in phase II human clinical trials for freeze-dried platelets that drastically extend the shelf life of existing liquid solutions. Keynote speaker for the ceremony Dr. Jorge Rocca discussed the incredible research on fusion energy being conducted at Colorado State University and the recently announced $150 million partnership investment by Marvel Fusion to construct one of the most powerful laser facilities in the world on the Fort Collins campus. About the Governor’s Awards for High Impact Research: Started in 2009, the annual Governor's Awards for High-Impact Research celebrates the brilliant ground-breaking discoveries and innovative research from Colorado’s ecosystem of federally-funded laboratories and institutions. That year, following the creation of CO-LABS in 2007, Governor Bill Ritter suggested hosting a celebratory and spotlighting event; the various labs were prompted to submit nominations and a Selection Committee was convened of professional researchers, technologists, academics and economic development experts to identify remarkable research having “high impact” on society. Each year at this event, CO-LABS spotlights the men and women creating our future through brilliant technological and engineering discoveries in aerospace, energy, agriculture, public health, weather prediction, wildlife ecology, communication, earth science and dozens of other fields of research right here in our Colorado communities. Over the years, Colorado governors Bill Ritter, John Hickenlooper and Jared Polis have presented and/or spoken in support of the winners with these awards, recognizing their impact on our country's leadership in science. See the winners' spotlight videos at our playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z8Y3rNdAc1M&list=PL6buriUJ4t4Sju9SPQH763PEZU3cJIMZJ Play Video Play Video 05:25 2023 CO-LABS Governor's Awards for High Impact Research: Lifetime Achievement Award On October 11, 2023 the annual CO-LABS “Governor’s Awards for High Impact Research” event recognized Dr. Alan Rudolph with the Lifetime Achievement Award recognizing a leader in scientific research whose discoveries, vision and influence have revealed new understandings of foundational science and/or theories within a given field with profound results benefitting humanity. See more about the Awards and links to Dr. Rudolph's work at www.2023govawards.com. Dr. Alan Rudolph - recently retired VP of Research at Colorado State University; former CO-LABS Board Chair; former leader of the U.S. Biodefense, Biosecurity, and Biotechnology programs at the DARPA; and serial entrepreneur and founder of Cellphire, a biotechnology company in phase II human clinical trials for freeze-dried platelets - has had an illustrious career marked by a profound commitment to scientific innovation and collaboration. He has published over 100 papers and 15 patents. While serving as the Vice President for Research at Colorado State University (CSU), he orchestrated a transformative journey that elevated CSU into the prominent research institution it is today. Under his visionary leadership, CSU's research enterprise flourished, achieving total sponsored expenditures of $456.9 million, solidifying CSU's position among the nation's foremost research universities. Dr. Rudolph's enduring commitment to interdisciplinary research led to the inception of influential research hubs such as the Center for Healthy Aging, One Health Institute, and Data Science Research Institute. Additionally, Dr. Rudolph played a pivotal role in the realm of robotics, collaborating with Boston Dynamics on groundbreaking projects. Dr. Rudolph’s German short-haired pointer, Laney, was the inspiration behind BigDog, the remarkably lifelike four-legged robot used by the Pentagon. In collaboration with the renowned robot maker Marc Raibert, Dr. Rudolph initiated the creation of "BigDog." This remarkable four-legged robot captured the imagination of millions through its ability to navigate challenging terrains and carry substantial loads. Beyond its captivating locomotion, BigDog showcased the potential of robotics in addressing critical military logistics challenges. His involvement with Boston Dynamics showcased his powerful imagination and dedication to pushing the boundaries of technology, enabling robots to achieve feats previously thought impossible. Its exceptional feats of balance and mobility underscored the convergence of technology and biology and exemplified the potential of robotics and automation in diverse applications. Dr. Rudolph's dedication to leveraging “bioimagination” extended to improving the lives of individuals grappling with physical disabilities. He was instrumental in pioneering brain-machine interface technology, as demonstrated during the 2014 World Cup when a paralyzed individual operated a robotic exoskeleton using their brain. This groundbreaking initiative showcased the potential of technology to bestow newfound independence on those with paralysis. Dr. Rudolph has also recognized the potency of collective problem-solving by uniting institutions, individuals, and sectors, addressing challenges such as infectious diseases and national security. His advocacy for investments in research institutions has resulted in crucial public assets such as the Colorado State University Regional Biocontainment Laboratory which provides a safe, secure, state of art facility for university investigators, government scientists and industry representatives to collaboratively research bacteria and viruses that cause human and animal disease. Likewise the Infectious Disease Research Center at CSU provides a research environment for developing new scientific discoveries, vaccines, methods of diagnosis, and therapeutic agents for infectious agents and is among the world’s leaders in researching West Nile Virus, drug-resistant Tuberculosis, Yellow Fever, Dengue, Hantavirus, Plague, Tularemia and other diseases. Dr. Rudolph's efforts to raise awareness within funding agencies and congressional supporters have paved the way for sustaining these and other critical institutions. His visionary leadership also extended to CO-LABS, where he served as a Board Director and Chair for several years, expanding the organization's engagement with federal elected officials and across scientific agency leadership. In the words of Dr. Ray Goodrich,the Director of the IDRC who has worked closely with Dr. Rudolph, "Dr. Alan Rudolph is an incredible leader, a great friend, a wonderful collaborator, and a fantastic resource for the state of Colorado and the United States." Dr. Rudolph's journey is a testament to the transformative power of science and research in shaping a brighter future for all. CO-LABS is grateful and proud to recognize him with the 2023 Lifetime Achievement Award while also looking forward to the next chapters of his visionary story to unfold! Play Video Play Video 03:39 2023 CO-LABS Governor's Awards for High Impact Research: Pathfinding Partnerships On October 11, 2023 the annual CO-LABS “Governor’s Awards for High Impact Research” event recognized the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES) at the University of Colorado Boulder and their network of outstanding partners with the Pathfinding Partnerships Awards. The Award recognizes research that engaged four or more distinct entities in Colorado (with at least two being federally-funded labs) whose results leveraged the resources and strengths among partnering organizations – and demonstrate the power of collaboration. See more about the We Are Water project at https://wearewater.colorado.edu/about Communities in the US Southwest are—increasingly—experiencing disruptions from climate change, including drought, wildfire, and other extremes. In 2020, CIRES’ Education & Outreach Program began looking for opportunities to build community resilience to some of these impacts by creating spaces where people could tell their own stories about water topics and engage with others (including, but not limited to, scientists). Ultimately, the goal was to build awareness and understanding by inspiring these community conversations and honoring multiple ways of knowing about water. The Pathfinding Partnership Award recognizes the sophisticated and crucial effort CIRES is leading which is funded by the National Science Foundation. For the We Are Water program, CIRES pulled together a diverse array of desert Southwest partners including Indigenous education organizations; rural libraries; experts in climate, weather, and hydrology; community organizations; and others. The program, which includes a robust education research component, started with the foundational idea that water, critical and scarce in the Four Corners Region, connects diverse communities through our shared place and unique stories. Key partners include the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, which hosts the CU Boulder-NOAA cooperative agreement; Western Water Assessment, a NOAA Climate Adaptation Partnership (CAP) program based at CIRES in CU Boulder; Colorado Libraries: Ignacio Community Library, Montrose Regional Library, Pine River Library, other libraries in the Four Corners region, and the Colorado State Library, part of the state’s Department of Education; Indigenous Education Institute, Native Pathways, and Reimagine Research Group. These Indigenous organizations are based in Washington, New Mexico, and Oregon, not Colorado. However, they are national in scope and have impact in the state and the region, and both are critical partners to the success of the We Are Water program. CoCoRaHS, the NOAA-funded Community Collaborative Rain, Hail, and Snow Network, is a program of the Colorado Climate Center, whose community-collected weather data are used by the NOAA National Weather Service in forecasting, and the Space Science Institute in Boulder, CO. The team narrowed in on rural libraries and community centers as important gathering places, anchoring their work there, and collaborating deeply to develop a high-impact, high-visibility traveling exhibit and associated programming around water topics. The work involved storytelling, community discussions and panels, an interactive exhibit, film festivals, and more. These elements are known to support inclusive, multi-generational engagement around contentious and vital environmental topics, supporting critical awareness building and laying the groundwork for community action. We Are Water drew from this hopeful model, to bridge partisan conversations about these topics into something more rewarding and ultimately, more high-impact. Thousands of people visited We Are Water installations in community centers, mostly libraries, across the Four Corners region, including in Southwestern Colorado. They engaged with the physical exhibits—the augmented reality sandbox was the most popular component—and watched or listened to stories in person as well as online. And they took home, collectively, 2,800 kits so far. These hands-on activities, easily done at home, engaged families in We Are Water activities during the early days of the coronavirus pandemic, when local restrictions closed many physical buildings and library materials were hand-out only. Collectively, these activities helped communities and individuals translate complicated science topics (water scarcity in the Colorado River Basin, water rights, etc.) into engaging, hopeful experiences. Communities explored their shared watershed and local ecosystems, and people connected with neighbors through common and unique experiences with water in the region. One critical result of the We Are Water project was the establishment of new protocols within the field of science education research. CIRES’ education researchers are already incorporating these protocols in new research and proposals, and upcoming papers will share lessons learned with the broader research community. Presented by: Hosted by: For the Colorado Space Business Roundtable (CSBR), m any of our members are small and medium businesses who may not understand the value of the labs that are in our own backyard - CO-LABS provides tours and opportunities for sharing information that allows our membership to tap into the work of amazing scientists and create new partnerships. I believe it is important to keep these lines of communication and opportunity open for all.” Alires Almon, Founder, Deep Space Predictive & Chair, Colorado Space Business Roundtable

Board of Directors Dedication. Expertise. Passion. We at CO-LABS are thankful for the time and dedication our Board of Directors has shown our organization. Learn more below about who helps us do what we do. Chair of the Board Chris McKay Operations Manager ​ Battelle/National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) Board Director Adam Bratis Associate Lab Director National Renewable Energy Laboratory Board Director Bonnie Meinke Director of External Engagement and Business Development, University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) Board Director Nicole Duncan, Ph.D. Strategic Planning Manager, Civil Space Space & Mission Systems Sector BAE Systems, Inc. Board Director Bruce E. Dahl Patent Attorney ​ Fennemore Craig, P.C. Board Director Dr. Gijs de Boer Director for National Laboratory Partnerships — Research and Innovation Office (RIO) ​ CU Boulder Board Director Matthew Futch Managing Director Black & Veatch Board Director Valerie Eastman President ​ WinterWinds Robotics Board Director Edgar Johansson Director of Business Development Commercial Space ​ VALT Enterprizes Secretary Ed Kase President ​ EK Consulting, LLC Treasurer Kristina Kesselring Professor of Accounting ​ CPA & Metropolitan State University of Denver Board Member Ann Powers Associate Director for Science Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Board Member Steven Christensen, Ph.D. Technology Assessment & Planning Manager ​ Xcel Energy Board Director Cassandra Moseley Vice President of Research Colorado State University Board Member Dr. William Vaughan Director, Technology Transfer ​ Colorado School of Mines Dan Powers Executive Director of CO-LABS

Join CO-LABS Do You Believe Science Matters? ​ Imagine connecting with the spectrum of brilliant researchers shaping the future of Colorado's leadership in science - and supporting this network with your organization and personal involvement. Prepare to make inspiring, relevant connections as a CO-LABS member. ​ The CO-LABS consortium includes Colorado federal research laboratories, research universities, state and local governments, economic development organizations, private businesses and nonprofit organizations. Plus, individuals with a savvy and principled support for science. ​ Your support includes funding for COLABS’ Economic Impact studies that quantify the significant contributions of federally funded labs to Colorado’s economy. You can also access special events, tours, reports and connections with Colorado’s innovative scientific resources. ​ We are rebuilding this page for automatic membership purchases for organizations - please reach Dan Powers at dan@co-labs.org if interested. ​ If you are interested in Individual Membership (starting at $125 including lab tours) you can contribute to CO-LABS via our Colorado Gives Day portal . ​ CHAMPION Our top level membership. ​ Includes exclusive gatherings, presentations and access to Awards, tours, luncheons and conference calls and curated introductions with VIPs $3000/year Click for Info PROMOTER Special access to tours, reports and gatherings, including significant exposure within CO-LABS communications ​ and more ​ ​ $1250/yr Click for Info SUPPORTER Special access to tours, reports and gatherings, ​ ​ $600/yr Click for Info

Frequently Asked Questions When was CO-LABS formed? ​ What is a "federal research lab? Who are your members? ​ How can I join? ​ ​ Social Media Followers February 22, 2020 Linked In 204 Instagram 160 YouTube 17 Twitter 629

​ Careers and Job Opportunities Battelle/National Ecological Observatory Network The National Science Foundation's National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) is a continental-scale ecological observation facility, fully funded by NSF and operated by Battelle. NEON collects and provides open data from 81 field sites across the United States that characterize and quantify how our nation's ecosystems are changing. ​ Headquarters in Boulder, CO; sites throughout North America. ​ Check https://www.neonscience.org/opportunities/careers ​ National Renewable Energy Laboratory ​ At the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), we focus on creative answers to today's energy challenges. From breakthroughs in fundamental science to new clean technologies to integrated energy systems that power our lives, NREL researchers are transforming the way the nation and the world use energy. ​ Located in Golden, CO. Check Women's Soccer vs. NYU Sept. 23, 2023 at 11am Innovation Day 2023 Sept. 23, 2023 at 11am University Symphony Orchestra Sept. 23, 2023 at 11am Student Council Elections Sept. 23, 2023 at 11am

CO-LABS Social Media Streams CO-LABS Member Videos Play Video Facebook Twitter Pinterest Tumblr Copy Link Link Copied Now Playing Open Access Geodetic Data at UNAVCO 02:09 Play Video Now Playing JILA: Exploring the Frontiers of Physics 05:18 Play Video Now Playing Building a Relationship with ARS to Enhance Your USDA SBIR Proposal 57:08 Play Video Now Playing Air • Planet • People - Introduction to NCAR 10:52 Play Video Now Playing Fire & Flood Prediction - Advanced Capabilities from NCAR 04:31 Play Video Now Playing NREL's Sustainable Energy Research 1977-2017 40:22 Play Video Now Playing History of National Renewable Energy Labs (NREL) Arpa-E - Earth Day March For Science 2017 07:01 Play Video Now Playing NASA's MMS Mission: Revolutionizing our understanding of magnetic reconnection 01:14:10 Play Video Now Playing How Does LiDAR Remote Sensing Work? Light Detection and Ranging 07:45 Play Video Now Playing LASP Contributions to Monitoring Earth’s Energy Balance from Space 01:09:40 Play Video Now Playing Eddy Covariance: Measuring an Ecosystem's Breath 03:55 Play Video Now Playing NCAR Mesa Lab rededication ceremony 01:01:14 Play Video Now Playing Out of this World! Operating the Kepler Mission with University Students 46:59 Play Video Now Playing NREL Blows Up Batteries to Make the World Safer 01:46 Play Video Now Playing Plate Convergence Demonstration 02:18 Play Video Now Playing Our Shared Climate Future 05:10 Play Video

The ScienceMatters Newsletter Get the latest events, commentary, news and updates from the brilliant research ecosystem in Colorado September 2021 Issue Excerpt below Click here to see entire September newsletter September, 2021 Hello CO-LABS friends, The forces of science and discovery-based policy are coalescing towards an historic national decision to fund federal research to levels not seen (in context) since the 1960s. Within parts of Congress, the vision is clear for investments that would empower the spectrum of federal agencies' research in Colorado (and across the country) and support federally-funded science entities across the state. However, the support is not formalized yet. Fortunately there is so much to be inspired by in the research labs throughout Colorado - we are sincerely communicating to our elected and civic leaders how your projects and partnerships are crucial and provide the science-based solutions to our country's challenges. Alas, as I write this the federal government is set to shut down again on October 1. If this is not resolved immediately, the waste of time next week incurred by scientists to plan to not be able to access their work as of Oct. 1 would be another self-inflicted setback to our country's scientific leadership. If a shutdown indeed happens, it is another blow to our global scientific standing, and an egregious waste of our taxes as the expense of a "restart" is more than any theoretical savings, with the attendant loss of data, research activity and collaborations. Fortunately the network of CO-LABS is resilient and includes a range of stakeholders who can continue their research and partnership activities that leverage the brilliance and resources of federal labs. In fact, Colorado's robust spectrum of innovative technologists and science-themed companies and academics embody one of the most active and growing hubs in the country. I am optimistic for a budget approval vote that recognizes the value of keeping our national competitiveness engine cycling along strong. There are a few recent highlights below. Thank you for your support, and for all the ways you enhance Colorado's crucial research ecosystem! Sincerely, Dan Powers Executive Director, CO-LABS

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ABOUT US We Connect Technologists To Manifest Scientific Discoveries Improving the World: Since World War II, our country's national security and global leadership in technology has relied on fundamental scientific research and discoveries in taxpayer-funded research labs. At CO-LABS we believe it is crucial to support scientific research in Colorado - and that discoveries in federal research labs here are making the world smarter, safer, more resilient and capable of meeting the challenges of the 21st Century. For the United States, being the source of our own brilliance is crucial in the face of global challenges ranging from public health to energy to cybersecurity to food production (and space exploration, climate change/extreme weather, robotics, augmented reality, quantum computing, and much more...) We ensure technologists, economic development experts, scientific thought leaders and elected officials can leverage the resources, discoveries and cutting-edge technologies available in Colorado's federal research labs. Our Aspirational Purpose: To Make Colorado THE Hub of Scientific Research Addressing the Planet's Most Crucial Challenges What CO-LABS Means to Colorado's Innovation Economy: Our Mission : It is our mission to ensure Colorado's federal research laboratory ecosystem remains a world-class scientific discovery and innovation asset to the state and the country by communicating the value of taxpayer-funded research, promoting partnerships with federal labs and connecting with key stakeholders across academia, the private sector and civic leadership. ​ Our Vision: We envision Colorado as the Epicenter of Interdisciplinary Scientific Discoveries by a Diverse Network of Scientists Shaping The Path of Humanity. ​ In pursuit of this mission and vision, CO-LABS educates the public, businesses, educational organizations, and government officials about the value of federally-funded scientific laboratories. We create connections between these sectors, and support the technology transfer of Colorado's scientific resources from the lab into society. ​ Through events, economic analyses, strategic communications and networking activities we work to: • PROMOTE Colorado as a global leader in research and technology • EDUCATE the public about the labs’ impact and importance of sustained funding for research • CONNECT the labs, universities and businesses to facilitate partnerships and technology transfer Established in 2007, CO-LABS is a tax exempt 501(c)3 that is funded through membership and event sponsorship donations. The CO-LABS consortium includes Colorado federal research laboratories, research universities, state and local governments, economic development organizations, private businesses and nonprofit organizations. ​ Colorado’s research laboratories are often called upon to help solve state, national, and global issues. CO-LABS plays an important role in bringing together the collective research and development expertise within Colorado to highlight the state-of-the-art in scientific knowledge and identify solutions to difficult societal challenges. CO-LABS considers any research entity getting 50% or more of its funding from federal sources to be included in Colorado's network of "federal labs", whether they are financially contributing members or not to CO-LABS. With this definition, we include several joint research institutes on university campuses working on basic research as well as the commercialization of technologies. ​ Key CO-LABS Activities We collect and analyze data to understand the scientific and economic value of federally-funded research labs in Colorado. According to our 2017 study by the CU-Boulder Leeds School of Business for CO-LABS, federal labs in Colorado together with their affiliates contributed $2.6 billion to the state economy in fiscal years 2014-2015 and accounted for more than 17,000 direct and indirect jobs. We inform the public about what the federal labs do and their scientific and economic value to Colorado. We promote the work of those federal research labs in Colorado and provide information about technology transfer, testing facilities and scientific specializations. We facilitate interactions between Colorado’s federal labs, universities, and its businesses to enhance the potential for new partnerships, technology transfer, and job creation. We host the annual Governor’s High-Impact Research Awards celebration to recognize the global research impact of Colorado-based federal scientists. ​ To find out more about becoming a CO-LABS partner contact Executive Director Dan Powers at 720-389-0455 or dan@co-labs.org . Raymond P. Goodrich, PhD Executive Director, Infectious Disease Research Center , Colorado State University "The work that CO-LABS does helps us maintain a leadership position that not only benefits Colorado, but also provides the source of problem solving and problem preventing efforts ranging from infectious disease research, agricultural programs, energy programs, defense related programs and environmental efforts that impact the citizens of Colorado, the United States and the world in general.” Katie Woslager Senior Manager- Advanced Industries , Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) “The State of Colorado has enjoyed working with CO-LABS to strengthen our relationships with Federal Labs to further promote collaboration and participation. We support your mission and role in bringing together the collective research and development expertise from Colorado. The convening of government, EDO's, Federal Labs, Universities and the private sector strengthens Colorado assets to help us become a global leader in technology development.” Vicky Lea Director of Aerospace and Aviation, Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation “The recent CO-LABS tour of CU Boulder’s Laboratory for Atmospheric & Space Physics certainly offered a wonderful atmosphere for learning and networking! CO-LABS tours provide a highly engaging way to learn about the exceptional Federal research assets in our region, and they’re also very effective in connecting us to the outstanding “people assets” within our community - the leaders, scientists and innovators who work at the cutting edge of scientific advancement.” Erik Mitisek President, Highwing & Founder, Denver Startup Week ​ “CO-LABS is the innovation glue that inspires, connects and convenes science and our lab community in Colorado. The greatest innovations are created – together – and CO-LABS’ commitment to connect ideas to resources and opportunity – is a blessing to our State and a pillar of our innovation community. I could not be more thankful for the work they so passionately do.”

Eleventh Annual Event Honored Colorado’s Top Scientists and Engineers for Projects Having a Significant Impact on Society! On November 12, 2019 we celebrated brilliant discoveries from the realms of atmospheric science, nanotechnology and laser physics, extreme weather and flood dynamics, global greenhouse gas tracking, and tax-payer funded grants enabling commercialization of Nobel-Prize winning technology to track methane leaks - and all projects were the result of amazingly creative, complex and necessary multi-agency partnerships. ​ Our premier scientific research recognition event in Colorado saw 250 researchers, entrepreneurs, business leaders and government officials celebrate the exceptional and groundbreaking work of scientists and engineers from Colorado’s federally-funded research labs and institutes. ​ Presented By: ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ CONGRATULATIONS to the WINNERS! WINNER: "Free Range Frequency Combs: a collaborative journey from national lab to Colorado’s oil and gas fields" ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ The winning technology is Dual Comb Spectroscopy Methane Detection : Technology based on Nobel Prize-winning research in Colorado can detect methane emissions as small as a quarter of a human breath from over a mile away! WINNER: "Avoiding deadly floods through innovative partnerships: Estimating extreme precipitation in the 21st century to enhance dam safety and community resilience" ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ A multi-agency, private sector partnership to calculate flood risks to dams in Colorado with incredible precision to improve public safety - AND serve as a national model. WINNER: "Discovering a major violation of the most successful international treaty, the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer" ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ A data-sleuthing effort that revealed outlaw emissions of CFC-11 - violations of Montreal Protocol emissions standards - resulting in China making a national-level plan to comply with the Protocol. ​ Watch their Spotlight Videos below - and say "WOW!"​ ​ See full project details at the 2019 Governor's Awards for High-Impact Research Website ​ including nominations, press releases, photos and more! ​ 2019 Governor's Awards for High Impact R... All Categories Play Video Play Video 02:26 CO-LABS 2019 CO-LABS Governor's Awards for High Impact Research Event Eleventh Annual Event Honored Colorado’s Top Scientists and Engineers for Projects Having a Significant Impact on Society! On November 12, 2019 CO-LABS celebrated brilliant discoveries from the realms atmospheric science, nanotechnology and laser physics, extreme weather and flood dynamics, global greenhouse gas tracking, and tax-payer funded grants enabling commercialization of Nobel-Prize winning technology to track methane leaks - and all projects were the result of amazingly creative, complex and necessary multi-agency partnerships. ​ Our premier scientific research recognition event in Colorado saw 250 researchers, entrepreneurs, business leaders and government officials celebrate the exceptional and groundbreaking work of scientists and engineers from Colorado’s federally-funded research labs and institutes. The winners: Dual Comb Spectroscopy Methane Detection Technology based on Nobel Prize-winning research in Colorado can detect methane emissions as small as a quarter of a human breath from over a mile away #NIST #CIRES #RASEI #LongPathTechnologies Estimating Extreme Weather to Avoid Flood Risks and Improve Community Resilience A multi-agency, private sector partnership to calculate flood risks to dams in Colorado with incredible precision to improve public safety - AND serve as a national model #ColoradoDNR #NOAA #USGS #FEMA #FERC and many others! Discovery of Emission Violations to the Montreal Protocol A data sleuthing effort that revealed outlaw emissions of CFC-11 - violations of Montreal Protocol emissions standards - resulting in China making a national-level plan to comply with the Protocol #NOAA #CIRES and many others! See the winners' spotlight videos on CO-LABS' YouTube channel and more info at www.2019GovAwards.com/the-winners Play Video Play Video 03:35 CO-LABS WINNER: 2019 Governor's Awards - Estimating Extreme Weather to Avoid Flood Risks WINNER: 2019 Governor's Awards - Estimating Extreme Weather to Avoid Flood Risks. A multi-agency, private sector partnership to calculate flood risks to dams in Colorado with incredible precision to improve public safety - AND serve as a national model. In the last 100 years, the leading cause of dam failure and resulting loss of life has been overtopping due to inadequate or improperly designed spillways. With increases in severity and frequency of extreme precipitation events, current modeling practices of rain and snowfall has shown to be inadequate for assessing possible public safety issues regarding dams and spillways. Leveraging 21st century scientific and engineering advances and applying creative approaches, a unique federal-state-private sector team of nationally recognized scientists, engineers, public safety officials and dam owners designed and implemented an innovative scientific approach to understanding extreme precipitation in the Rocky Mountain region. This Award involves a significant multi-partner effort, with key stakeholders including: William McCormick - Colorado Division of Water Resources (DWR) Kelly Mahoney - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Jeffrey Lukas - University of Colorado - Boulder Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES)/ Western Water Assessment (WWA) Charles McWilliams - United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) David Keeney - United States Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) Kenneth Fearon - Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) William Asquith - United States Geological Survey (USGS) James Demby - Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Bill Kappel - Applied Weather Associates (AWA) Tye Parzbok - MetStat, Inc. Will Silva - Acclivity Associates Read full details in their nomination at www.2019govawards.com/the-winners Play Video Play Video 03:49 CO-LABS WINNER: 2019 Governor's Awards: Dual Comb Spectroscopy Methane Detection WINNER: 2019 CO-LABS Governor's Awards for High Impact Research Dual Comb Spectroscopy Methane Detection Technology based on Nobel Prize-winning research in Colorado can detect methane emissions as small as a quarter of a human breath from over a mile away. Principal Investigators: Ian Coddington, Applied Physics Division, NIST Greg Rieker, CTO, LONGPATH Technologies, Inc. Nathan Newbury, Applied Physics Division, NIST November 12, 2019: Combining the engineering expertise of the University of Colorado – Boulder, the laser spectroscopy expertise of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and micro-meteorological modeling expertise of the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and NIST, this team began a multiyear effort to build the first ever field-ready dual-comb spectrometer capable of pinpointing small methane leaks from over 1 mile away. As a nod to taxpayer-funded research, funding from ARPA-E and DARPA enabled the team to expand to conquer the series of key developments that were required to realize this system. In 2018, members of the team and local business experts founded LongPath Technologies to provide monitoring services to oil and gas partners. With established industry partnerships and systems deployed in four locations, their work is shifting the paradigm of methane leak detection and is a technology informing the evolution of environmental regulations, such as Colorado’s 2019 legislation SB-181 which stipulates continuous monitoring for certain oil and gas infrastructure. CO-LABS is emphasizing the unique collaborations among many partnering organizations that made this pathfinding work possible, including: Caroline Alden, Research Scientist, CIRES Esther Baumann, Senior Research Associate, Applied Physics Division, NIST Sean Coburn, Research Scientist, University of Colorado Boulder Kevin Cossel, Physicist, Applied Physics Division, NIST Fabrizio Giorgetta, Senior Research Associate, Applied Physics Division, NIST Andrew Goldstein, CEO, LongPath Technologies Inc. Kuldeep Prasad, Engineer, Fire Research Division, NIST Eleanor Waxman, Chemist, Applied Physics Division, NIST Ted Weaver, Former CEO, LongPath Technologies, Inc. Robert Wright, Research Engineer, University of Colorado Boulder Read full details in their nomination at www.2019govawards.com/the-winners Play Video Play Video 04:02 CO-LABS WINNER: 2019 Governor's Awards - Discovery of Emission Violations to Montreal Protocol 2019 Governor's Awards - Discovery of Emission Violations to Montreal Protocol: A data sleuthing effort that revealed outlaw emissions of CFC-11 - violations of Montreal Protocol emissions standards - resulting in China making a national-level plan to comply with the Protocol. Principal Investigators: Stephen A. Montzka, NOAA Geoff S. Dutton, CIRES Eric Ray, CIRES The methodical detective work undertaken by these scientists allowed them to announce to the world that despite indications of success, the Montreal Protocol was in fact being breached in a substantial way by a country in eastern Asia. The United Nations Ozone Secretariat responded rapidly with a call to address the issue, specifically calling out this team’s research. This discovery became an immediate topic of discussion at the United Nations and in other international and national agencies, and within the scientific community. A few months after those findings were made public, China made a commitment to the United Nations to immediately curtail the production of CFC-11 within their boundaries. Country-wide searches and crackdowns on CFC use in the country have been conducted. Furthermore, an international workshop (attended by Montzka) explored a range of actions China might take to address this issue, including the creation of a national atmospheric measurement network for the detection and quantification of CFC-11 emissions across China. This outcome, which can be attributed directly to this team’s long-term and accurate measurements of CFC-11 in the atmosphere and their skill in communicating this critical information to a global audience, will benefit people worldwide for generations to come. See complete details of the winners research at www.2019GovAwards.com/the-winners History of the Governor’s Awards for High Impact Research: Started in 2009, the annual Governor's Awards for High-Impact Research celebrates the brilliant ground-breaking discoveries and innovative research from Colorado’s ecosystem of federally-funded laboratories and institutions. That year, following the creation of CO-LABS in 2007, Governor Bill Ritter suggested hosting a celebratory and spotlighting event; the various labs were prompted to submit nominations and a Selection Committee was convened of professional researchers, technologists, academics and economic development experts to identify remarkable research having “high impact” on society. Each year at this event, CO-LABS spotlights the men and women creating our future through brilliant technological and engineering discoveries in aerospace, energy, agriculture, public health, weather prediction, wildlife ecology, communication, earth science and dozens of other fields of research right here in our communities. Over the years Colorado Governors Ritter and Hickenlooper have presented winners with these awards and comments recognizing their impact on our country's leadership in science. ​ 2018 Governor's Awards Read More 2017 Governor's Awards Read More 2016 Governor's Awards Read More