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College of Engineering news

Associate Professor James Pikul, far right, with members of his research lab
September 10, 2024

Borrowing from biology, new liquid batteries store oxygen like blood to power robots

The human body’s circulatory system pumps oxygen and glucose to trillions of cells, providing them with essential energy and nutrients. Inspired by the body’s example, a team led by James…

Stock image of solar panels
September 6, 2024

UW-Madison supports half-billion-dollar U.S. clean energy project to benefit rural Wisconsin communities

The University of Wisconsin-Madison College of Engineering is a partner in a major new project led by Dairyland Power Cooperative that will create good-paying jobs, significantly reduce emissions and lower…

UW Crest with engineering background
September 5, 2024

Inspired by UW methods, FEMA’s new floodplain forecast looks clear

For an expansive effort to remap floodplains across the United States, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are drawing on a University of Wisconsin-Madison engineer’s…

A schematic from a study investigating the compaction and relaxation behavior of composite reverse osmosis polyamide selective layers
August 30, 2024

Study reveals membrane behavior impacting water-purification performance

Desalination can help provide much-needed freshwater to communities lacking access, but the process can be difficult at scale. Now, scientists have discovered one of the reasons behind that difficulty. Roughly…

Weiyu Li
August 14, 2024

Focus on new faculty: Weiyu Li harnesses computational modeling to enhance energy sustainability

To enable electric vehicles with greater range and electrified aviation, we need batteries with increased energy density that are safer and can last longer. Weiyu Li is leveraging her expertise…

postdoctoral researcher Wissam Kontar and PhD student Erin Bulson
August 6, 2024

A more digestible CO2 calculator swaps cheeseburgers for carbon

A new study authored by University of Wisconsin-Madison engineers introduces public audiences to the carbon dioxide (CO2) emission impact of different modes of transportation through a simple online calculator. To…

Researchers celebrate achieving a plasma from the control room at the Wisconsin HTS Axisymmetric Mirror Project (WHAM) experiment
July 18, 2024

First plasma marks major milestone in UW–Madison fusion energy research

A fusion device at the University of Wisconsin–Madison generated plasma for the first time Monday, opening a door to making the highly anticipated, carbon-free energy source a reality. Over the…

Corn field
July 16, 2024

Upcycling discarded plants: New UW-Madison center to harness energy, nutrients from biomass

The nonprofit Schmidt Sciences and the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR) have selected a multi-institution group of researchers to establish the new Center for Mineral and Metal Oxide…

Consortium for Holistic Steel Systems members John Klein, Hannah Blum, Andrea Hicks and Thomas Sputo
June 27, 2024

With a strong foundation, new steel consortium at UW-Madison blends sustainability with structural integrity

A new research consortium at the University of Wisconsin-Madison leverages structural engineering research excellence and the applied experience of industrial partners. Hannah Blum, an associate professor of civil and environmental…

Power lines
June 25, 2024

Just in time for summer storms and big heat waves, new tools may help electrical grid operators mitigate major blackouts

A new suite of software tools will allow the nation’s electrical grid managers to detect and track instabilities in real time. Developed by engineers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Washington…