Environmental Engineering Program - CU Boulder

Wildfire smoke doesn’t have to be nearby to affect your health. Tiny particles called PM2.5 can travel long distances, enter deep into the lungs, and cause symptoms such as coughing, headaches, and difficulty breathing.

Protect yourself by checking local air quality, staying indoors when conditions are unhealthy, regularly checking your air filters, and wearing a N95 mask outdoors when appropriate.

Learn more from The Conversation: https://bit.ly/4pK1e2J

Yes, breathing wildfire smoke can harm your health – here’s what you can do to protect yourself When you breathe in wildfire smoke, harmful particles can travel deep into your body.

CU Boulder has been ranked No. 8 in the world for climate science research! 🌎

This recognition highlights CU Boulder’s global impact in studying the atmosphere, oceans, ice, ecosystems, and the complex systems that drive climate change. The ranking reflects decades of interdisciplinary research and collaboration across campus, including work from leading institutes like CIRES and partnerships with organizations such as NOAA and NCAR.

CU Boulder researchers are at the forefront of advancing climate modeling, improving our understanding of extreme weather, and developing solutions to address environmental challenges worldwide.

Read more about this accomplishment here: https://bit.ly/3RqMFEz

CU Boulder ranks among world's top institutions for climate science research CU Boulder has been ranked eighth globally in the latest analysis of the most highly cited climate research institutions by Carbon Brief.

Ever wonder where Boulder's water comes from?

Boulder gets its water from three main sources on both sides of the Continental Divide: the Silver Lake Watershed, Barker Reservoir, and the Colorado River. Having multiple sources helps make Boulder's water supply more resilient, but drought and climate change continue to make water conservation increasingly important.

Learn more about Boulder's water supply and its connections to the Colorado River:

The Colorado River and Boulder | City of Boulder How is Boulder's water supply impacted by the Colorado River and climate change? The Colorado River is a hot topic lately. Reports have mentioned climate change, drought, lower water levels and diminishing flows on the river. Here are some answers to commonly asked questions about how the Colorado R...

As fire risk increases across the West, smarter grid technology could help keep communities safer without relying on widespread blackouts.

A recent article from The Conversation explains how utilities can reduce wildfire risk with solutions like covered power lines, faster circuit shutoffs, AI cameras, and real-time sensors.

Read more from The Conversation and see what Colorado is doing: https://bit.ly/44lt1Ng

Safety tips you can do: Sign up for local emergency alerts, keep basic supplies ready, and avoid outdoor sparks during dry, windy weather.

Electric companies don’t need to black out customers to prevent wildfires – here are 3 relatively fast, affordable solutions Utilities face a dilemma: How to deliver power through dry, windy regions without accidentally starting a catastrophic fire.

How did a Triceratops end up in SEEC?

For 41 years, CU Boulder had a Triceratops skull on loan from the Smithsonian Institution. In 2022, the skull was sent back to Smithsonian for further study.

In exchange for the departure, the Smithsonian gifted CU Museum of Natural History something a little bigger. A full-scale Triceratops Horridus skeleton cast.

The only issue? It was 22 feet long and 9 feet tall, so finding a place for it took some problem-solving. Museum staff measured doorways, checked gallery spaces, and explored how it could be moved and displayed.

Eventually, SEEC became the perfect home.

As for how they got the Triceratops to stand still for the cast... we're still looking into that.

What EVEN is CU Boulder Environmental Engineering?

EVEN is our environmental engineering program, but at CU Boulder, its not limited to just one department.

Our program brings together ideas from Civil, Architectural, Mechanical, Chemical, Biological, and even Aerospace Engineering to study environmental challenges from multiple angles.

EVEN students don't study "the environment" in one narrow way. We study systems that connect people, infrastructure, water, air, energy, climate, sustainability, and public health.

EVEN is engineering for the world we live in.

CU Boulder's Environmental Engineering program is ranked #8 among public universities (and #13 overall) in the 2026 U.S. News & World Report rankings!

Proud to be part of a top-tier engineering college that's making a real impact - for the planet, for the future.

Read more here: https://www.colorado.edu/engineering/cu-engineering-ranked-15-among-public-peers

Interested in a PhD that makes a real-world impact? 🌍💡
Explore the Colorado Advantage Graduate PhD Preview Weekend at CU Boulder!
Connect with faculty & current grad students, tour top-ranked science & engineering departments, and learn how YOU can be part of cutting-edge research in environmental engineering — from air quality & climate to water reuse & global sustainability.

📅 Preview Weekend Details & Application Info: [link in bio]

Congratulations to our very own, Marina Vance, associate professor of mechanical and environmental engineering in the University of Colorado Boulder College of Engineering & Applied Science, who was recognized at the CU Boulder vs. Georgia Tech football game for her scholarly commitment, including working with air quality research for over 20 years. Please join Chancellor Justin Schwartz in a warm round of applause. 👏

The End Zone Innovator is a new award that recognizes a faculty member for their unique and outstanding achievements in research and creative work

Congrats to our EVEN students who presented at the Engineering Expo last week! In their senior capstone course, EVEN students develop engineered solutions to complex environmental challenges. These projects simulate real-world industry work to prepare students for the transition into their engineering careers!