CU Boulder Graduate School

3D printing just got a major upgrade thanks to a CU Boulder PhD student. Charles Wade has launched Open VCAD, an open-source design tool that lets engineers seamlessly blend materials within a single object. Read more about this new tool on Plastics Today: plasticstoday.com/automotive-mobility/cu-boulder-researchers-launch-openvcad-a-tool-for-multi-material-3d-printing

If you're struggling with finishing your to-do list, join us for the Converting Intention into Action workshop! Stacy Gerberich, Psy.D., will guide students in exploring tools for rekindling motivation and avoiding the pitfalls of self-sabotage in graduate school and beyond. Link to register: calendar.colorado.edu/event/converting-intention-into-action

This year's historic dryness means electric utilities are facing a dilemma: how to deliver power through dry, windy regions without accidentally starting a catastrophic fire. In our latest for The Conversation, PhD candidate Jasmine Garland suggests three approaches that utility companies could use instead of sweeping blackouts, which are fast becoming the norm for residents in the American West. Read more at the link: colorado.edu/graduateschool/2026/07/09/conversation-electric-companies-dont-need-black-out-customers-prevent-wildfires-here-are

Join our final Grad+ Summer Intensive to explore how identity, purpose and habits shape your confidence, productivity and resilience. Gain practical strategies to build self-trust, communicate your value and thrive in graduate school and beyond. 🌟 Link to register: calendar.colorado.edu/event/grad-summer-intensive-identity-purpose-image-confidence-for-resilience

As we get into July, be sure to check out this month's Graduate School Bulletin for graduation deadlines, funding opportunities, and events that you won't want to miss! Link for details: colorado.edu/graduateschool/2026/06/25/july-2026-graduate-school-bulletin

Congrats to the 20 grad students selected for the Graduate Peer Mentoring Impact Recognition! Nominated by their mentees, these outstanding mentors have gone above and beyond to help fellow graduate students navigate academics, build community and find a sense of belonging at CU Boulder. Read more about this year's recipients: colorado.edu/graduateschool/2026/06/24/twenty-outstanding-graduate-peer-mentors-recognized

China is building some of the world’s largest solar farms on the Tibetan Plateau, where nomadic people have grazed herds of animals for millennia. PhD candidate Sanggay Tashi discusses what that development means or these communities in his latest for The Conversation. Read the full article at the link: theconversation.com/how-the-development-of-solar-and-wind-farms-on-the-tibetan-plateau-is-affecting-local-communities-282689