CITRIS Foundry alumni innovate for a more sustainable world
06/01/23 — CITRIS: Startups founded by Berkeley engineers work to combat climate change, improve energy efficiency and develop more sustainable solutions
Energy
Smart and in charge
05/17/23 — As California moves toward an electric vehicle future, professor Scott Moura is creating a smart charging system that promotes grid stability.
Raising the stakes
05/17/23 — To identify climate-friendly farming practices for biofuel crops, scientists are devising a tracking system that uses inexpensive printed sensors.
On the grid
05/17/23 — A device from Gridware, founded by engineering alums, uses harmonics from power poles to evaluate grid integrity and hazard risks.
To more effectively sequester biomass and carbon, just add salt
04/11/23 — Salting and burying biomass crops in dry landfills could economically capture greenhouse gases for thousands of years
On the road to better solid-state batteries
03/01/23 — Berkeley Lab: Berkeley engineers help design a new blueprint for solid-state batteries that may lead to greater efficiency and affordability
Scientists reveal how copper catalyst converts CO₂ into liquid fuels
02/16/23 — Berkeley Lab: Berkeley engineers capture real-time movies of copper nanoparticles as they convert carbon dioxide and water into renewable fuels and chemicals, gaining valuable insights
Energized for real-world impact
01/25/23 — Founded by Berkeley Engineering alumni, Gridware uses sensors to tackle the threat of wildfires
Scientists develop a cool new method of refrigeration
01/04/23 — Berkeley Lab: Berkeley engineers Drew Lilley and Ravi Prasher hope ionocaloric cooling can someday replace current refrigerants and provide safe, efficient cooling and heating for homes
Berkeley Engineering alumni help achieve decades-long quest for nuclear fusion
12/22/22 — Andrea Kritcher (M.S.’07, Ph.D.’09 NE) and Brian Spears (Ph.D.’04 ME) share their thoughts on the future of fusion research and how their time at Berkeley shaped their careers
Two from Berkeley Engineering named to Forbes 30 Under 30 list
12/09/22 — Magazine cites Ph.D. candidate Jiachen Li for work on an all-season, smart-roof coating, and MEng alumna Alison Burklund of Nanopath for diagnostics that speed treatment of pelvic and gynecologic infections
To battle climate change, scientists tap into carbon-hungry microorganisms for clues
11/30/22 — Berkeley Lab: Scientists led by Peidong Yang have developed a nature-inspired technique for converting carbon dioxide into solar fuels
Ultrathin capacitor could enable energy-efficient microchips
06/24/22 — Berkeley Lab: Scientists led by materials science professor Lane Martin turn century-old material into a thin film for next-gen memory and logic devices
Solar beats nuclear at many potential settlement sites on Mars
04/27/22 — The high efficiency, light weight and flexibility of the latest solar cell technology means photovoltaics could provide all the power needed for an extended mission to Mars, or even a permanent settlement there, according to a new analysis led by Berkeley engineers
Researchers discover pathway to safer lithium-ion batteries
04/13/22 — New study describes materials that offer stability and high conductivity in solid-state batteries
Engineered crystals could help computers run on less power
04/07/22 — New negative capacitance material reduces energy needed to control advanced silicon transistors
Campus drills 400-foot borehole to explore geothermal heating
03/30/22 — If successful, a geothermal heat pump system to help heat and cool buildings more efficiently could become part of UC Berkeley’s plan to decarbonize the campus
New smart-roof coating enables year-round energy savings
12/16/21 — Berkeley Lab: Rooftop material that automatically switches between radiative cooling in the summer to heat retention in the winter could lower household energy costs
Daniel Kammen named senior adviser to USAID
10/21/21 — Kammen, who holds joint appointments in energy and resources, public policy and nuclear engineering, will serve as senior adviser for energy, climate and innovation for the U.S. Agency for International Development.
With a damp TV, Berkeley engineers demonstrate the potential of a green energy harvester
09/06/21 — Researchers report that moisture-induced energy harvesting could be a potential new source of power, particularly in areas of naturally high humidity