UVM College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences

09/24/2026

Yesterday afternoon, senior civil engineering students Alena Annunziata, Eliza Rogers, and Ryan Thatcher joined their professor, John Lens, at UVM's Horticultural Research Center to scout the proposed location of a solar array that the student team, which also includes senior Dylan Pizura, will engineer as part of its senior capstone project.

The group met with College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Research Professor Margaret Skinner, PhD student Laura Eckman, and Leif Johnson, project lead from Vermont-based solar company Norwich Technologies.

Unlike conventional solar arrays, where panels are mounted on pedestals and angled toward the sky, this project will utilize an innovative bifacial vertical array in which both sides of each panel can generate power from sunlight. In addition to the potential for higher energy yields, vertical arrays are particularly attractive in agricultural settings because their footprint is much smaller than that of traditional arrays, leaving more land available for crops.

The project originated in the CALS Department of Agriculture, Landscape and Environment as part of research into agrivoltaics, the integration of solar power production and agriculture. Funded by the Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program through a Research for Novel Approaches in Sustainable Agriculture Grant, the completed project will serve as a demonstration site showing how agricultural land can generate additional income for farmers through solar arrays while having minimal impact on crop production.

Like all engineering programs at UVM, seniors in Civil and Environmental Engineering complete an intensive capstone project during their senior year that integrates coursework and hands-on research into a culminating real-world design experience. Each project is hosted by a community partner or client, often local, state, and federal agencies; municipalities; nonprofits; or UVM departments and faculty, as part of UVM's Community Engaged Learning programs.



Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education UVM CALS

09/21/2026

As artificial intelligence continues to transform how we learn, work, and live, thoughtful leadership on its ethical implications has never been more important.

UVM Physics Research Professor Larry Medsker was featured this past week in the Shelburne News for his work as editor and contributor to the new "AI and Ethics Handbook," as well as his long-standing contributions to advancing conversations about responsible AI. The handbook brings together experts from around the world to explore AI's impacts across disciplines and aims to help professionals navigate a rapidly changing technological landscape.

Dr. Medsker shares his view that ethical considerations should be part of AI's design from the very beginning and that human judgment must remain central as these technologies evolve. He also advocates for helping students learn how to use AI responsibly, recognizing that AI literacy will be an essential skill for future leaders and innovators.

Read the story: https://bit.ly/3V4GQyj

In the age of artificial intelligence, a Shelburne resident published an AI ethical handbook to help guide professionals and everyday people on the use of AI.

09/18/2026

How can engineering help reduce food waste, strengthen local food systems, and improve food access?

In a recent VCET Start Here podcast episode, Rachael Floreani, professor of Mechanical Engineering at UVM and founder of Burlington Bio, discusses how her company is upcycling agricultural byproducts into nutritious food ingredients. Drawing on her background in engineering, biomaterials, and research, she shares how innovation can help transform materials that might otherwise be discarded into products that support healthier, more affordable food options.

The conversation also explores her journey from researcher and educator to entrepreneur, highlighting the role engineers can play in addressing complex societal challenges through creativity, collaboration, and a commitment to impact.

We're proud to have faculty who are advancing knowledge in the classroom and laboratory while translating their expertise into solutions that benefit communities in Vermont and beyond.

🎙️ Listen to the episode: https://vcet.co/rachael-floreani-burlington-bio/

Rachael Floreani speaks with us about the world of upcycled nutrition, which utilizes commonly discarded food that we often take for granted.

09/16/2026

Through the Richard Barrett Scholars Program, undergraduate students in the University of Vermont College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences (CEMS) are putting their classroom knowledge into action, tackling complex engineering challenges through hands-on research experiences that connect innovation, sustainability, and community impact.

From scaling production of life-saving therapeutic food to testing self-healing concrete, these students are helping shape a more sustainable future, one project at a time.

For more than two decades, the Barrett Foundation's generosity and vision have empowered students to work alongside faculty mentors and industry professionals on meaningful, hands-on research with the potential to benefit communities in Vermont and beyond.

These experiences do more than advance knowledge. They prepare the next generation of engineers, researchers, and environmental leaders to make a difference where it matters most.

Congratulations to our 2026 Barrett Scholars: Eli Baer ’27, Emma Bergsten ’27, Piper Floyd ’28, Sophia Golub ’27, Jess McGovern ’27, Bryn Miller ’27, Bella Mowrer ’29, Caleb Quinn ’27, and Riley Shue ’27. We can't wait to see where their research leads!

Read the full story:
https://bit.ly/4htxRzb



Edesia Nutrition Gund Institute at UVM

09/14/2026

A research project developed by mechanical engineering faculty members Alireza Fath and Dryver Huston has been selected for inclusion in the NVIDIA Academic Grant Program, a highly competitive initiative that provides advanced hardware and computing resources to support groundbreaking scientific and AI research.

Their proposal, Heterogeneous Edge-AI Robots for Radar, Seismic & Visual Structural Inspection, focuses on developing next-generation AI and robotic technologies to inspect and monitor critical infrastructure, including bridges, underground utilities, and other built environments.

By combining autonomous robots, advanced sensing technologies, computer vision, and edge AI computing, the project aims to enable intelligent infrastructure inspections in locations with limited connectivity, and where human access is difficult or hazardous.

Through the grant, the researchers received advanced enterprise-grade GPUs capable of delivering up to 3,500 trillion operations per second (TOPS) of AI performance. The award also includes compact, high-performance edge-AI computing systems capable of processing up to 275 TOPS directly on robots and field-deployed devices, enabling real-time AI applications without relying on remote cloud servers.

The award comes at a time of rapidly expanding opportunities at UVM for students to gain hands-on experience with cutting-edge AI technologies and incorporate them into their learning and research.

09/12/2026

UVM engineering clubs celebrated the end of the week with a party on the Davis Green. Hosted by the IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers), the event, dubbed “Engineers Touch Grass,” gave students a chance to learn more about the clubs, enjoy free pizza, play lawn games, and dispel rumors that engineering students never leave the labs of Votey Hall.



University of Vermont ASCE - Student Chapter UVM ASME Society of Women Engineers - SWE UVM IEEE

09/08/2026

CEMS is proud to partner with and support FIRST in Vermont, the state's premier STEM and robotics program for K-12 students. The mission and values of FIRST Vermont align naturally with our ongoing commitment to expanding opportunities for students to explore STEM in a welcoming, supportive, team-based environment. Through hands-on experiences, students not only develop a passion for technology but also gain valuable team-building and leadership skills through FIRST's hallmark philosophy of "Gracious Professionalism®."

Yesterday, UVM's Across the Fence featured FIRST in Vermont Director Joseph Chase and UVM Extension 4-H Youth Development Coordinator Liz Kenton on a special Labor Day episode exploring the growing popularity of FIRST Robotics and the program's impact on young learners.

As we know, students who discover a passion for robotics and technology through FIRST often carry those interests into college and their careers. Members of our faculty, who participated in FIRST Robotics as students, exemplify that journey through their continued involvement as coaches and mentors today.

We are excited to continue our support and help expand the program's reach across Vermont, inspiring and preparing the next generation of scientists, engineers, and innovators. And who doesn't love a "varsity sport for the mind"?

Watch the full episode: https://bit.ly/4gUgfLn



Across the Fence UVM Extension

09/07/26 On this Labor Day we focus on FIRST Robotics in Vermont, a...

09/08/2026

How do "forever chemicals" move through our water, soils, wildlife, and food systems?

A team of UVM researchers is helping answer that question through the newly established PFAS Environmental Research Network (PERN). Supported by $950,000 in funding for UVM as part of a $7.9 million NSF-funded initiative, the project will leverage environmental engineering, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and advanced computational modeling to better understand PFAS contamination and exposure pathways across Vermont.

Led at UVM by Civil and Environmental Engineering Associate Professors Kristen Underwood and Matt Scarborough, the interdisciplinary team will apply advanced computational modeling, machine learning, environmental engineering, and data science to better understand how PFAS, commonly known as "forever chemicals," move through Vermont's ecosystems and affect human and environmental health.

This collaborative interdisciplinary effort, spearheaded by Bennington College faculty member Tim Schroeder, brings together researchers, state agencies, and community partners from across Vermont to generate knowledge that can inform future environmental management, public health decisions, and policy development.

Congratulations to Kristen and Matt, along with co-investigators Bindu Panikkar of the Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources and Jana Kraft of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, and all our partners advancing solutions to one of the nation's most pressing environmental challenges.

Learn more: https://bit.ly/4hc85zr

University of Vermont UVM Rubenstein School UVM CALS

| The University of Vermont

09/04/2026

A sure sign the fall semester has arrived at UVM? CEMS students spread across Fleming Green learning the surveying tools of the civil engineering trade. Here, Professor Luis Garcia shares his expertise with students in CEE 2000: Geomatics on a beautiful Friday morning (before a 3-day weekend!)

University of Vermont

08/28/2026

Following a quiet summer, the halls of Innovation and Discovery were bustling once more as our Week of Welcome concluded this afternoon with an entertaining orientation for CEMS first-year and transfer students. The event featured club and organization networking, peer mentor guidance, free Ben & Jerry’s ice cream (of course!), and the annual incoming class photo.

We’re excited to follow the journey of this impressive class over the next four years and beyond!



University of Vermont