Colorado State University Research

👋 The time has come for CSU Research to set our sites beyond the Facebook horizon. Our profile will remain active to ensure information remains available for a variety of users.

Stay in the loop with all things CSU research, artistry and scholarship elsewhere in the social-verse:
Instagram ➡️
Twitter (X) ➡️
LinkedIn ➡️ Research at Colorado State University

| |

The Colorado River Basin provides water to 40 million people across seven Western states, two Mexican states, and 29 federally recognized tribal reservations. But its supply is dwindling, and water users are struggling to curb overuse in the face of prolonged drought and climate change.

Meanwhile, 75% of the basin’s water supply supports the agriculture industry, cultivating corn, cotton, meat, vegetables, dairy and wheat to feed the nation.

Looking for ways to increase agricultural water efficiency, researchers from CSU Extension are exploring the use of artificial intelligence as part of a multiyear research project funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to see if “smart” irrigation systems can help alleviate water stress and improve agricultural yield using fewer water inputs.

Learn more: https://col.st/syV1V 🔗

l
Colorado State University

The term "aging" generally has a negative connotation, but did you know how you perceive the aging process can impact how gracefully you age?

New research from Columbine Health Systems Center for Healthy Aging at CSU and Colorado State University College of Health and Human Sciences suggests that challenging how we think about aging may help prevent poor health conditions in individuals with cancer, decrease the risk of diabetes, and lower mortality rates.

Here are three common misconceptions that can help you start to reframe the way you think about aging:

🧠 While it is easy to think that growing old is full of loss and decline, that’s not all there is. Intellectual and emotional regulation continually develop from age 20 to age 70, meaning that growth does not suddenly stop at a certain age.

💪 Another misconception is that adults have zero control over the aging process, though it turns out that 30 minutes of exercise, five days a week, can do wonders for health and longevity.

🤕 The last misconception is that age-related losses are irreversible. While portions of that are true, recent studies have shown that having a positive self-perception of aging allows individuals to recover more easily from injuries.

Learn more: https://col.st/Jd8w1 🔗

l
Colorado State University

Data can better inform us about the future of Northern Colorado wildfires. Here’s what the numbers are saying:

🌳 The likelihood of another fire season comparable to 2020 is up to 10x more likely than 50 years ago. Study finds climate change, forest management and the pine beetle kill all contribute: https://col.st/FtLHu

🌳 Before the embers had cooled, CSU researchers collected data on the 2020 Cameron Peak Fire to learn more about high-elevation burns. They found that high-elevation wildfires reduced snowpack, impacting the water supply Front Range communities rely on: https://col.st/LpJMf

🌳 By measuring river systems near the CSU Mountain Campus, experts can better predict which areas are at risk of flash floods and how landscapes change after wildfires: https://col.st/Iwal7

l

CSU College of Natural Sciences Colorado State University Walter Scott, Jr. College of Engineering Colorado State Forest Service Colorado State University Warner College of Natural Resources

Did someone say "lasers?" 😎 ⚡️

Colorado State University has announced its partnership with Marvel Fusion to build a state-of-the-art laser research facility at the Foothills Campus by 2026 that would make even the most diabolical comic book supervillain jealous.

But this isn't science fiction. The proposed facility will house one of the most powerful laser systems in the world and drive innovations in clean energy, microelectronics, optics and photonics, materials science, medical imaging and more.

This public-private partnership builds on CSU’s mission to advance cutting-edge technology through collaboration as an active member of LaserNetUS. The move positions Fort Collins to become an international epicenter for research in high-energy density physics.

Learn more: https://col.st/nEOwi 🔗

I

U.S. Department of Energy Colorado State University Walter Scott, Jr. College of Engineering Electrical & Computer Engineering Department - Colorado State University

We’ve learned a lot from the surge in wildfires across the Mountain West in recent years. To be better prepared for what comes next, Colorado State University is partnering with the community to find solutions.

🔥 Camille Stevens-Rumann, assistant director at the Colorado Forest Restoration Institute and associate professor for CSU Forest and Rangeland Stewardship, shares three easy ways to help prevent wildfires while enjoying outdoor recreation:
https://col.st/g2cpT

🔥 Businesses can play an important role in natural disaster relief, but price gouging and insensitive marketing are all too common. Jonathan Zhang, College of Business - Colorado State University associate professor of marketing, suggests ethical considerations businesses should implement when catering to natural disaster victims: https://col.st/ihtxn

l
Warner College of Natural Resources Colorado State Forest Service

🚨 News alert! 🚨

Colorado State University and collaborators across the Front Range have been named as one of 16 finalists for the National Science Foundation (NSF) inaugural NSF Regional Innovation Engines competition.

The CO-WY Engine is joining forces to scale the region’s technology-driven ecosystem to address climate change and community resilience.

The Engine has partnered with:
🔸Research organizations
🔸Universities
🔸Federal labs
🔸Venture capital firms
🔸Public entities
🔸Industry partners

Combined, this conglomerate drives the mission to advance sustainably solving climate crises.

The NSF Engines program is forward-looking. It challenges regional innovation hubs nationwide to leverage their resources and expertise to develop solutions for emerging economic, technological and environmental challenges.

The competition winners will be announced in early 2024, with each awardee initially receiving up to $15 million for the first two years and eligible for an additional $160 million over 10 years.

➡️ For a complete list of the CO-WY Engine partners, read the full article here: https://col.st/PlZte

l
Innosphere Ventures

Scorching temperatures blanketing much of the country make cool showers enticing. But beware of the water bill. 💧💸

The average American family spends more than $1,000 a year on their household water bill and uses 82 gallons of water each day, per person.

Meanwhile, the price of water has increased by nearly 50 percent over the last decade. Experts predict that the cost will continue to rise as inflation, climate change, supply chain shortages and aging infrastructure mount.

Cut your water bill by adopting water-minded practices around the home, replacing outdated appliances with water-efficient fixtures and switching to low-water landscaping that incorporates native plants paired with “smart” irrigation systems. See here for additional tips from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency WaterSense resource guide: https://col.st/OKCXJ 🔗

At CSU’s Colorado Water Center, researchers are diving in to better understand the science behind a sustainable water future for Coloradans - providing policy recommendations, community outreach, and economic impact analysis.

Want to learn more about Colorado’s water?

Visit the Colorado Water Center website for resources and the latest information: https://watercenter.colostate.edu 🔗

l
Colorado State University CSU Extension Colorado State University College of Agricultural Sciences U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Center for Environmental Justice at CSU School of Global Environmental Sustainability- Colorado State University CSU Spur

Artificial intelligence is transforming industries all over the globe, and weather forecasting is no exception. 🤖 🌩️

Colorado State University is at the forefront of the next evolution, leveraging AI to generate faster and cheaper weather models that hold the potential to help meteorologists increase accuracy and allow for earlier warnings at a time when weather extremes are more frequent and often catastrophic

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) estimates the cost of the most extreme weather and climate disasters impacting the United States during the past seven years at more than $1 trillion.

Globally, the World Bank estimates that, in addition to saving tens of thousands of lives, improved forecasts and early warning systems could yield an annual economic benefit of $162 billion.

“There is very limited information available to forecasters at lead times of four to eight days, basically just information about possible storm environments,” says CSU Department of Atmospheric Science professor Russ Schumacher. “So being able to use machine learning to provide actual probabilities of severe weather has been a big advance.”

Learn more: https://col.st/ZrhPF

l

We’re excited to announce that distinguished international health threats expert Tracey Goldstein will be the new director of the One Health Institute at Colorado State University!

Goldstein brings 25 years of experience leading One Health initiatives and a renewed vision for how Colorado State University can grow its global impact: https://col.st/QnE5U

What is One Health? One Health is a collaborative and interdisciplinary approach focused on optimal health outcomes at the intersection of people, animals, plants and their shared environment. 🌎 🌿 🐕

🔑 Key areas of research at CSU's One Health Institute:

▪️ Climate change impacts on wildlife, public health and the environment: https://col.st/1XOfW

▪️ Responsible development and city planning for Fort Collins using a One Health framework: https://col.st/UcVf1

▪️ Affordable access to veterinary and human healthcare services for the community: https://col.st/N2oyX

▪️ Impacts of human-animal interaction on mental well-being: https://col.st/YZDc4


National Institutes of Health (NIH) National Science Foundation (NSF) NREL EcoPress Human-Animal Bond in Colorado - HABIC School of Global Environmental Sustainability- Colorado State University CSU College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences City of Fort Collins - Government

Dogs and their owners are said to look alike, but that resemblance is more than skin deep.

They also have genetic similarities that extend to cancerous tumors, which make dogs prime models for clinical trials that are pushing forward the development of cancer drugs for both canines and humans.

Last year, Colorado State University animal health researchers Steven Dow and Dan Regan led a successful clinical trial in dogs with osteosarcoma, a form of bone cancer that’s rare in humans but most likely to afflict children and young adults.

Treatments for such cancers are difficult to find — a lack of funding and a small number of patients can make conducting human clinical trials tough.

But dogs develop osteosarcoma about 10 times more often than people, so clinical trials in dogs could help researchers home in on the treatment most likely to succeed in humans while at the same time finding a cure for our beloved companions.

Maisy, a goldendoodle, was enrolled in one of the trials after being diagnosed with osteosarcoma. Maisy had the tumor removed and was treated with an experimental drug regimen. Over a year later, she remains cancer free.

“I’m grateful that we have this time with Maisy,” said her owner, Trish Rockett. “And just knowing that this research being done with dogs is actually helping kids, too — it’s just amazing.”

Based on the findings from Dow and Regan, similar cancer treatments have entered phase 1 clinical trials in human patients with osteosarcoma.

Learn more: https://col.st/sSsbd


CSU College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences Translational Medicine Institute CSU Animal Cancer Center National Cancer Institute National Institutes of Health (NIH)

The next Summer Translational Talks Research Celebration is right around the corner!

Join us as students from across Colorado State University present their work and compete for the $500 Translational Talks Achievement Award.

Translational Talks are open to all, and audience members will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite presentations. Don’t miss out! Register now: https://col.st/ofr7k

🗓️ Thursday, June 29
🕐 4:00-6:30 PM
📍Translational Medicine Institute, Grand Event Hall, 3rd floor (TMI 330)

l