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In late March, 2020, operations in Colorado at nearly all federal research laboratories, university and college research institutes, and related federally-funded scientific organizations were suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Through April, 2020 we were scrambling to adjust to travel restrictions, workplace shutdowns, school closures, cancelled events, at-home schooling, virtual meetings and the realization that our work, our kids’ schooling, our summer plans, our organizations’ budgets – nearly every crucial piece of our lives was not going to return to normal soon. This unknown trajectory for society quickly added to the uncertainty felt about the public health threats of COVID-19. There became a pragmatic urgency to trend out the reality of how work and life could function with this new social distancing paradigm. CO-LABS surveyed our network of scientists, economic development experts, professional researchers, academics, private sector technologists and engineers to learn the issues they were facing immediately and their outlook for possibly new normal attributes of our lives in the fall of 2020. We offer this quick overview and further anonymized comments to help inform your perspective on the new priorities, activities, challenges, concerns and topics that may not have existed – or at least were not nearly so impactful – before the COVID-19 pandemic. We will also share our findings with elected officials and civic leaders to assist with policy and support efforts at the federal level. Note: This survey will remain open through August 31, 2020. We will release an update if appropriate – please contribute your thoughts at https://bit.ly/375x026 READ THE FULL SURVEY RESULTS>>> (37-page PDF)

Watch the NOAA Innovator Series Presentation June 11, 1:00 - 2:00pm EST: In-situ Methane Sensor for Real-time Vent and Seep Analysis. Hear from SBIR Phase II company OptoKnowledge about their new type of measurement tool has been developed for in-situ gas analysis at depth. There is a need for deep ocean sensors that can help determine the role of methane in the global carbon cycle. We have developed a sensor using laser absorption spectroscopy with membrane-free water sampling for in-situ analysis at depth. The device is designed to be deployed on an ROV and will stream methane concentration and isotope ratio measurements to a host ship in real-time. RSVP>>>

With predictions for an above-normal 2020 Atlantic hurricane season, NOAA forecasters have added meteorological muscle from a new combination of satellite data flowing into its computer models.The Constellation Observing System for Meteorology, Ionosphere and Climate (COSMIC-2) is a new fleet of six small satellites launched last June. Since May 26, the constellation has begun feeding more than 4,000 vertical sets of measurements of atmospheric temperature and humidity in the tropics and subtropics daily into NOAA's forecast models. Measuring the moisture in and around tropical cyclones is important because it is a key ingredient for their development and intensification. COSMIC-2 is built on the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR)'s COSMIC Program that has been a leader in the retrieval and scientific application of GNSS, e.g. GPS, data since UCAR led the GPS/MET GPS radio occultation (RO) mission in the mid 1990s. It contributed to the design, management, and operation of the FORMOSAT-3 / Constellation Observing System for Meteorology Ionosphere and Climate (COSMIC-1) mission since 2006. The mission is still providing high-quality RO profiles that are having a significant positive impact on weather and space weather forecasting and research. NOAA is currently involved in a Commercial Weather Data Pilot effort, where NOAA purchases space-based, radio occultation data — as COSMIC-2 provides — from private-sector companies to demonstrate the data's quality and its potential value to NOAA's weather forecasts and warnings. This commercial-sector radio occultation data could augment the data NOAA gets from COSMIC-2. “COSMIC-2, along with our advanced geostationary and polar-orbiting satellites, underscores NOAA’s commitment to putting the best and smartest satellite technologies in orbit to protect lives and property through improved weather prediction,” said Steve Volz, Ph.D., director, NOAA’s Satellite and Information Service. READ MORE>>>

The Asian giant hornet (Vespa mandarinia) is native to East and South Asia, so alarm bells rang when scientists spotted the hornets last fall in British Columbia. In December, the hornet was spotted in Washington state, the first time on U.S. soil, which eventually led to viral media coverage about its inevitable spread through the country. So how concerned should Colorado be? Not very, says Colorado State University entomologist Whitney Cranshaw in the College of Agricultural Sciences. “[The hornet] is a woodland species adapted to moist, low elevation sites, like the area where it presently occurs, not like anywhere in Colorado,” Cranshaw said. “This is not an insect that hitchhikes well so for it to spread, it’s on its own. And between eastern Washington and western Colorado there are thousands of geographic barriers that it would likely not be able to cross. I cannot see any scenario on how it could get to Colorado on its own. Not to mention it likely would not be well adapted to the area, and likely would not establish, if someone were to carry it here.” The fear stoked by the unprecedented presence of V. mandarinia isn’t totally unfounded. The nickname for the species derives for its size, venom and aggressiveness. The average hornet reaches a body length of about 2 inches, a wingspan of 3 inches and wields a stinger a quarter-inch long with the potential to inject large amounts of powerful venom. Stings have been equated to the feeling of hot metal piercing the skin. READ MORE>>>

The 2020 Atlantic hurricane season starts June 1, and the U.S. Geological Survey is prepared to provide science that can help guide efforts to protect lives and property if a major storm makes landfall this season.Already there have been two tropical storms before the official start of the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season, which goes from June 1 to Nov. 30. This year there is a 60% chance of an above average season and a 30% chance of a near-normal season according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Climate Prediction Center’s 2020 hurricane season forecast. An average hurricane season produces 12 named storms with winds of 39 miles per hour or higher, and includes six hurricanes, three of which are major hurricanes with winds of 111 miles per hour or higher. This year the NOAA forecast calls for 13 to 19 named storms, of which six to 10 could become hurricanes with three to six of those being major hurricanes. You can track storm-tide sensor and RDG deployments and view past storms on the USGS Flood Event Viewer and see USGS streamgage readings in real time on both the viewer and the USGS National Water Information System. During a disaster like a hurricane, first responders often rely on the USGS National Geospatial Program, which collects, archives and shares digital records of the nation’s topography, natural landscape and human-made environment. The program’s Geospatial Information Response Team (GIRT) works within the USGS and with partner agencies to provide key information to federal, state and local agencies, emergency managers and first responders. The information is shown on multi-layered digital maps or on printed maps that can provide a big-picture view of a storm’s impacts or a close-up of a specific community. READ MORE>>>

Graduating students face a greater challenge than ever before finding job placements amid the economic disruption of COVID-19. Adopt a Business Buff matches job-seeking seniors, MS and second-year MBA candidates with alumni and community members who can assist with networking and job placement during this uncertain time. Volunteers are matched with students based on common career interests and act as job search catalysts to help graduating students navigate unexpected new hurdles in the job or internship search process that are part of this new reality. It’s a short-term commitment to make a last difference in a graduating student’s life. Join us today to help launch Business Buffs on a track for success. READ MORE>>>

Amazing climatechange research including scientists from our network from the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, NOAA: National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration, Colorado State University, University of Colorado Boulder, & the National Science Foundation (NSF): Embark on the largest polar expedition in history: in September 2019, the German research icebreaker Polarstern has set sail from Tromsø, Norway, to spend a year drifting through the Arctic Ocean - trapped in ice. The goal of the MOSAiC expedition is to take the closest look ever at the Arctic as the epicenter of global warming and to gain fundamental insights that are key to better understand global climate change. Hundreds of researchers from 20 countries are involved in this exceptional endeavour. READ MORE>>> Expedition website: https://mosaic-expedition.org/

Join our Zoom meeting as a guest to hear U.S. Representative Joe Neguse from Colorado, CD-2 describe recent Congressional action on COVID-19 related bills and get his outlook on next legislative steps to help mitigate the coronavirus outbreak and its economic and public health impacts. We will also get updates from members and supporters of CO-LABS: (5 minute quick update each) Update on vaccine and testing research - Dr. Alan Rudolph, VP of Research, Colorado State University & Dr. Raymond Goodrich, Director, Infectious Disease Research Center, CSU. Update on Battelle's Critical Care Decontamination System equipment in Colorado - Chris McKay , Manager at Battelle's NEON Program, Boulder headquarters. Update on State of Colorado legislation issues: Colorado State House Speaker KC Becker. Guests will have the opportunity to submit questions via the chat function in the Zoom platform. This event is free and open to all. A link to the meeting will be sent to confirmed guests.

Colorado State University has been recently active in COVID-19 research. The university has been asked by Gov. Jared Polis and the State of Colorado to lead testing qualification for protective masks in COVID-19 fight. Senator Michael Bennett visited CSU and the Research Innovation Center for a first-hand view on efforts to develop a vaccine. Engineers, disease researchers moving quickly on a disinfectant against COVID-19. CSU's research is sponsored by U.S. federal agencies (NIH, DoD, USDA, CDC), large and small Pharma and biotech companies, and non-profits (CEPI, Gates Foundation, Morris Foundation) focused on understanding and mitigating regional and global chronic and emergent infectious diseases. READ MORE >>>

We’re excited to announce another COVID-19-related webinar series featuring frank and timely insights from CU Boulder’s world-renowned faculty and alumni. All webinars will start at 12 p.m. MT. If you are unable to watch the live webinar, please register, and we will send you a link to view the recording. Coming 12pm MST, Monday, May 18, 2020: Presenter: Dr. Matthew McQueen, Associate Professor, College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Colorado Boulder on The Epidemiology of COVID-19: Where Do We Go From Here? Other topics in the schedule include: Entrepreneurial Approaches to COVID-19: Plan, Pivot and Persist The Impact of COVID-19 on Professional Sports How is COVID-19 Affecting the Electric Power Grid? Lessons from the 1918–19 Influenza Pandemic Disinformation During a Pandemic: The Politics of COVID-19 Legal Ramifications of the Nation’s Response to the Pandemic COVID-19 Webinar Series: READ MORE>>>

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 Global Monitoring Annual Conference (GMAC) scheduled for May 19-20 in Boulder, CO will instead be a series of weekly webinars where scientists from our global research community will share recent and exciting work. The “eGMAC” or “Electronic/Virtual GMAC”webinars will start the week of June 8, and will last ~1.5 to 2 hours. Hosted by the Global Monitoring Laboratory of the Earth Systems Research Laboratory of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the eGMAC is the most relevant way to stay abreast of recent observations concerning trace gases, aerosols, radiation, ozone, and climate forcing, within a forum in which these observations can be relayed and discussed with experts from around the world. This will include the Earth Systems Research Laboratory monitoring and research results of the past year, plus many other reports. The meeting includes observations related to these themes by both independent and cooperative investigators, and other national and international programs. READ MORE>>>