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For research that engaged four or more distinct research entities in Colorado (with at least two being federally-funded labs) whose results leveraged the resources and strengths among partnering organizations – and demonstrate the power of collaboration.
Pathfinding Partnerships Award
The Wildfire Research (WiRē) team: Supporting evidence-based practice to help communities live with wildfire
The Wildfire Research (WiRē) works side-by-side with local wildfire education practitioners to develop evidence-based community wildfire education programs. The WiRē process pairs social data from residents living in the wildland urban interface with parcel level wildfire risk data. Project are driven by a need and invitation that comes from the community partners and builds on over 30 years of world-class fire science at Co-Lab member Rocky Mountain Research Station. In addition to the longstanding experience with the physical risks of fire, the program is using cutting edge social science and community engagement to provide tailored information to suit the needs of different audiences.
Winners of the Pathfinding Partnerships Award for 2024 include:
1.) Patricia A. Champ, Research Economist, Human Dimensions Program, Rocky Mountain Research Station, USDA Forest Service, Fort Collins, CO
2.)James R. Meldrum, Research Economist, Social and Economic Analysis Branch, Fort Collins Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey, Fort Collins, CO
3.) Hannah Brenkert-Smith, Research Associate Professor, Environment & Society Program, Institute of Behavioral Science, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO
4.) Christopher M. Barth, Emergency Management Specialist, USDA Forest Service, Washington Office, Fire and Aviation Management, Missoula, MT
5.) Colleen Donovan, Project Manager, Wildfire Research (WiRē) Center, Niwot, CO
6.) Carolyn Wagner, Data Manager, Wildfire Research (WiRē) Center, Niwot, CO
7.) Adam Moore, Communications and Communities Supervisory Forester, Alamosa Field Office, Colorado State Forest Service, Alamosa, CO
8.) Josh Hankes, Executive Director, Routt County Wildfire Mitigation Council, Steamboat Springs, CO
9.) Dorie Dalton, Wildland Specialist, Genesee Fire Rescue, Golden, CO
10.) Jamie Gomez, Executive Director, West Region Wildfire Council, Ridgway, CO
For research that resulted in a technological solution with widespread and/or significantly measurable societal utilization, with related impact on a global challenge or issue.
Technology Transfer Award
Pioneering nonlinear nanophotonic systems to revolutionize laser science, quantum sensing, and optical signal processing
Since their invention in 1999, the field of femtosecond laser frequency combs has exploded. Frequency combs are ultrafast laser systems whose spectrum is made up of a comb of laser beams at regularly spaced frequency intervals that can be used as a frequency ruler to perform precision frequency measurements with exquisite accuracy and stability. Frequency combs enable applications like optical atomic clocks, low-noise microwave generation, high-sensitivity gas detection, searches for exo-planets, and more. While the capabilities of frequency combs are extraordinary, their integration into applications is limited by their size, expense, power consumption, and complexity. Microcombs are miniaturized versions of optical frequency combs that are poised to revolutionize laser applications owing to their compact size, low weight, and low power consumption.
Through pioneering microcomb research, the team of Drs. Jennifer Black, Travis Briles, David Carlson, Daniel Hickstein, Zachary Newman, and Scott Papp has invented methods to shrink laser frequency combs from large-scale laboratory systems to portable microfabricated devices and has led the use of these microcombs in numerous innovative applications. They have also pioneered the adoption of new materials with enhanced nonlinearity and improved fabrication capabilities. The team’s advances to the field are being adopted for applications in laser science, precision frequency measurement for optical atomic clocks, quantum sensing, and optical signal processing. Use cases continue to grow as the devices become smaller, less expensive, and more capable. The team’s work has also advanced the much broader and rapidly growing field of nonlinear nanophotonics, which is poised to revolutionize laser science and applications. Integrated photonic circuits can provide precise control of a laser’s optical spectrum in a nanofabricated package, allowing highly specialized laser systems to be constructed with unprecedented compactness and robustness for applications. The team is recognized for their work at the forefront of the competitive fields of microcombs and integrated photonics and the transfer of this highly applied work to industry.
This Award spotlights the discoveries and remarkable work of someone having more recently started on their path of scientific discovery. We look for significant demonstration of initiative, Inspiration, collaboration skills, and other skills and attributes, including the ability to inform and inspire others.
Outstanding Early Career Scientist Award: Dr. Manuel M. Mendoza
Dr. Manuel M. Mendoza
Dr. Manuel “Matt” Mendoza, is a geophysicist who completed his postdoc as a CIRES Fellow with Anne Sheehan’s geophysics group at CU Boulder and is currently posted at the US Bureau of Reclamation Denver. His specialty with CIRES was using Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS), a cutting-edge technique that probes both natural and human-triggered seismic activity. DAS, a new form of technology developed in the last decade, allows for continuous measurement of ground motion across large distances, utilizing fiber optic cables typically used for telecommunications.
Dr. Mendoza's research focuses on two primary areas: tectonic plate boundaries like the Cascadia Subduction Zone and geothermal facilities where fluid injection can induce small earthquakes. During his time in Utah, Dr. Mendoza deployed DAS at the FORGE geothermal site, sponsored by the Department of Energy, to monitor microseismicity induced by facility operations. His work involved burying a 2 km fiber optic cable, demonstrating that DAS can effectively detect small earthquakes generated at reservoir depths.
In another project near Seattle, Dr. Mendoza leased 7 km of "dark fiber" from a telecommunications company to study slow earthquakes in the Cascadia Subduction Zone. This was the first use of dark cables for DAS in this region, proving that existing infrastructure can be repurposed for seismic monitoring. Dr. Mendoza's persistence in securing the necessary permits highlights his dedication to advancing the field.
DAS technology offers several advantages over traditional seismometers, including lower costs, resilience to harsh conditions, and the ability to integrate with existing systems like ocean-floor telecommunications networks. This makes it a promising tool for enhancing seismic networks, with potential applications ranging from monitoring glacial movements to future planetary missions.
In addition to his research, Dr. Mendoza is contributing to the development of DASCore, a Python software library designed to process and visualize DAS data. He is co-authoring a paper on the software with 15 other researchers, and he has mentored students, including Halina Dingo, a RESESS intern who worked on DAS data analysis for the FORGE project. Dr. Mendoza's commitment to education and diversity in the geosciences is evident in his efforts to guide and support the next generation of scientists.
His work has been published in top journals, and he has collaborated with experts from institutions like the Colorado School of Mines and the University of Washington. Anne Sheehan, a CIRES Fellow, praised him for his ability to bring together experts in DAS and apply this technology to emerging problems in geophysics.
Dr. Mendoza's contributions to DAS research are pushing the boundaries of what's possible in seismic monitoring. His innovative approach, combined with his dedication to mentoring and diversity, makes him a standout in the field of geophysics. Whether in the field, the lab, or the classroom, he is committed to advancing our understanding of earthquakes and their impacts, ultimately helping to protect communities from these natural hazards.