Synthesis 2023

A Merged College of Science & College of Mines and Earth Sciences Publication | VO L . 1 | 2 0 2 3

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TABLE OF CONTENTS DE A N ’ S CO R N E R

G R E ATE R TH A N T H E S U M O F I TS PA RTS

COVE R STO RY

WI L KE S C E N TE R

FACULTY

TH E U G O E S TO GREENLAND

COL L EG E N EWS

RESEARCH

A LU M N I

TH E C R O C KE R S C I E N C E CO M PL EX R ECYC L I N G N U CLEA R FU E L WA STE DI STI N G U I S H E D AWA R DE E S

STU DE N TS

BONES OF THE EARTH

STU DE N TS

B R O M L EY SCHOLARSHIP

R ECO G N I TI O N

DA R RYL B UT T

Associate Director of Marketing & Communications: Bianca Lyon Writer and Editor: David Pace Designer and Photographer: Todd Anderson Follow us on social media @uofu_science

Prefer only a digital version of Synthesis? Send us an email. office@science.utah.edu

2023

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T

he merger of the College of Mines & Earth Sciences (CMES) with the College of Science ushers in a new era of science at the University of Utah. With the second phase of this momentous undertaking, it is the commitment of faculty, staff, students, alumni, and donors that I recognize with gratitude.

None of this could have been possible without Darryl Butt, former dean of CMES and, as of June 1, the new Dean of the Graduate School at the U. Darryl will now be at the helm of over 200 graduate programs serving more than 8,000 students. I thank Darryl for his leadership and for all of his many contributions to CMES. Already the collaboration is bearing fruit. Just over a year ago, based on the vision and generosity of Clay and Marie Wilkes, we established the Wilkes Center for Climate Science and Policy to address the challenges posed by a changing climate. The Center, led by faculty members William Anderegg and John Lin, has already made fundamental contributions to the Great Salt Lake Strike Team whose science-based policy recommendations were influential in this year’s legislative action to save the lake.

This winter we broke ground on a new project that together with the Crocker Science Center will form the Crocker Science Complex. The Complex completes the vision of Gary and Ann Crocker and will include the renovated Stewart Building, just north of Pioneer Memorial Theater, and a new 100,000 square foot building extending to the west. The new building will be home to two departments spanning the merged college, Physics & Astronomy and Atmospheric Sciences, and provide a nexus for collaborative and multidisciplinary teaching and research. Virtually every STEM student at the U will take classes in the Crocker Science Complex.

And this is just the beginning! I am truly grateful to be a part of the merged college community, and look forward to working with you in the year ahead. Thank you for your interest and dedication.

Sincerely,

Dean Peter Trapa

DEAN’S CORNER | 2023

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DOING CLIMATE N EW WI LKE S CE NTE R FO R CLI M AT E S C IE N C E & PO L ICY IS FO U N DE D BY DO N O RS WHO WAN T TO I NS PI R E M O R E T H A N JU ST TA L KIN G T H E TA L K.

“As I consider the difference I can

ecology, the state of Utah is a living

Science have invested heavily during

make for my grandchildren and

laboratory for the deleterious impacts

the past year in fields related to

so many other generations that

of climate change and the potential

climate science and policy. In addition

follow, there is no more important

for innovative solutions based in

to providing salary and research

cause,” said entrepreneur Clay

climate science. “Our ability to

support packages for the Wilkes

Wilkes of climate change at the

address these urgent and immediate

Center director and leadership team,

announcement of the Wilkes Center

problems, locally and internationally,”

the U hired two tenure-track faculty

for Climate Science & Policy in August

said Wilkes, “will serve as a model

members working in climate-related

2022. The Center is named for him

for governments and communities

areas of need. These researchers

and his wife Marie who, through their

throughout the world. With this

include experts on air quality and

foundation, gifted $20 million to the

new center, the University of Utah is

climate interactions and land surface

University of Utah.

leading by example, and we challenge

modeling.

every other university within the state Clay Wilkes, Founder of Galileo

and beyond to do likewise.”

Financial Technologies, a provider

This past spring, the U also extended tenure-track offers to four additional

of payments and financial services

Now approaching the end of its

climate-focused researchers.

technology, which was acquired by

inaugural year, the Wilkes Center

Negotiations for these roles will

SoFi in 2020, grew up in computer

has had an accelerated start, from

continue into the summer with the

labs at the start of the information

the establishment of prize money

hopes the candidates will accept

and technology age. He says the topic

for boots-on-the-ground solutions

and join the faculty either in January

of climate is “the computer science

based on scientific data to student

or July of next year. Since these

of our day” and that the U “can be to

scholarships and from new faculty to

appointments include ongoing salary

universities what Google and Apple

the Wilkes Center’s first annual summit

lines and research start-up packages,

are to the tech world.”

staged in May of this year.

the hires represent a substantial longterm commitment by the U to increase

The new Wilkes Center is auspiciously

As part of its support for the Wilkes

the institution’s capacity and impact

situated. By dint of its geography and

Center, the U and the College of

in climate research.

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SUPPORTING THE U’S

the President’s Climate Leadership

time has nearly run out.” The Strike

DUAL MISSION

Commitment designed to achieve

Team was a joint project with the

The University and College have

carbon neutrality and improve

Utah State University Janet Quinney

also made substantial commitments

climate change resilience. Randall

Lawson Institute for Land, Water, and

to the stated dual mission of the U:

also announced that the University

Air and the University of Utah’s Kem C.

education and research. In these

will accelerate its net-zero pledge

Gardner Policy Institute.

spaces, the College is supporting

completion date from 2050 to 2040.

scholarships

As part of

‘DOING CLIMATE’

and research

those efforts,

The topic of climate is already

stipends for

the U’s Climate

manifesting impacts in Utah and

undergraduate

Commitment Task

throughout the Intermountain West.

students,

Force continued

Not only is the nation’s largest terminal

postdoctoral fellows, and faculty

work on a Climate Action Plan with

(or endorheic) lake rapidly drying,

members participating in the Science

actionable goals around reducing the

allowing the “lofting” of potentially

Research Initiative (SRI). This first and

institution’s emissions from university

hazardous dust, but the mountains

second-year program is designed to

operations and preparing for

around the capital city are plagued

introduce undergraduates to faculty-

climate change’s current and future

by dying forests and temperature

driven research early in their academic

impacts. The U also allocated capital

inversions in populated basins which

careers and includes several climate-

improvement funds to install energy-

trap particulates from even far-away

focused research projects. To expand

saving equipment and infrastructure.

wildfires. The state’s farmers and its

climate research activities, the U also

residents are currently experiencing

funded graduate and postdoctoral

AMERICA’S INLAND SEA

water scarcity from the ongoing

fellowships to support current faculty

Within the suite of climate activities

mega-drought in the Southwest,

projects. These graduate students

and outlays, it was the Great Salt Lake

impacted by and itself contributing to

and postdocs play essential roles

Strike Team, which the Wilkes Center

global warming dynamics.

in research, often doing much of

helped to chair, that has received

the day-to-day data collection and

the most press. The group’s report

“Doing climate,” intones Wilkes,

analysis. Due to an overwhelming

was designed to support legislative

instead of just talking about climate,

response to a university-wide seed

decision makers as they considered

is where Utah can lead out, tying

grant call, the Office of the Vice

potential policy

President for Research and College

opportunities for

of Science together contributed over

the Lake. “There’s

$90,000 in additional support to fund

a belief along the

more projects. The U sees this as a

Wasatch Front that

good investment since some previous

says that any drop

initiatives have seen up to 17:1 returns

of water that runs

in federal research dollars for each

to the Great Salt

internal dollar invested.

Lake is a wasted drop of water,”

At the institutional level, the U has

Wilkes recounted

continued to expand activities

last August. “We’ve

related to its overall climate footprint.

been living that for

President Taylor Randall re-signed

fifty years. And now

COVER STORY | 2023

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WI L K E S C E N T ER CL I MAT E SU M M IT On May 16 and 17, the Wilkes

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Center for Climate Science & Policy convened over 400 scientists, inventors, business and government leaders, and student researchers in a collective effort to explore the best solutions for a warming planet.

The inaugural Science & Policy Summit provided a broad variety of perspectives from different sectors like healthcare, government, and entrepreneurship on the challenges and innovations for dealing with climate change. Along with the awarding of the student innovation prizes, the event also featured pitches from the top five finalists for the $1.5 million Wilkes Climate Prize.

U mathematician Ken Golden delivered opening remarks in which he reminded participants that basic research in math, science, and engineering is the lifeblood of major technological advances and innovations that can accelerate climate solutions and propel society toward a more sustainable future.

More at science.utah.edu

the new Center to other state and

models for clean energy throughout

university sectors, including the U’s

the state are an important pre-text for

Health Sciences campus. Also fertile

actually “doing climate.”

ground for collaboration is the U’s David Eccles School of Business with

A SUMMIT OF EXPERTISE

its established imperative for practical

Housed in the College of Science, the

solutions that can be incubated,

Wilkes Center, under the direction of

resourced and scaled-up, something

associate professor of biology and

the Beehive State is known for and

world-renowned ecologist William

encourages.

Anderegg, is clearly advancing climate deliverables by swiftly laying the

“The entrepreneurship piece,” says

groundwork for several programs that

Peter Trapa, Dean of the College

have already elevated its reputation

of Science, “is a

nationally and

distinguishing

internationally.

feature of the Wilkes

During the Wilkes

Center. We don’t

Climate Summit

typically think of

that took place in

entrepreneurship and

May, for example,

corporate innovation

international

in the same breath as basic research,

experts addressed a themed set of

but problems of this magnitude

issues around climate change.

require an ‘all of the above’ kind of approach to source impactful ideas.”

“It’s a really exciting opportunity to bring together a huge amount of the

President Randall, whom Wilkes often

expertise that we have across campus

cites as being the engine behind the

and generate practical and innovative

new Wilkes Center and its growing

solutions to one of the most pressing

list of partners, agrees. “Thousands

challenges in the 21st century,” says

of students from various disciplines

Anderegg. “A key part of the Center

will participate in [Wilkes] Center

is to provide tools and evidence for

programs each year and have the

making decisions. We want to get the

chance to work with the Center’s

best science in the hands of decision-

research faculty. We will educate a

makers and policymakers.

new generation of entrepreneurs and

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| College of Science

innovators, advance basic and applied

The summit also featured

research, and address some of the

presentations from the finalists of

most difficult and important questions

the Wilkes Center Climate Prize at the

posed by climate change. We are

University of Utah, an $1.5 million

grateful for Clay and Marie’s foresight

international award given to a project

and dedication to this effort.’’ The

with demonstrable potential to have

U’s reduction of its own carbon and

a scalable impact on communities,

energy footprints and established

economies, or ecosystems. The Wilkes

Prize winner will be announced on

research setting so that students can

innovation, now as it relates to the

September 22.

learn by doing from their freshman

climate challenge.

A DEFINING CHALLENGE OF OUR TIME

As with the integral and integrated components of climate and the environment, the Wilkes Center is already energizing, informing, and leveraging the work of the College of Science and its recent merging with the College of Mines & Earth Sciences.

A new Earth and Environmental Science major is attracting students who are looking for quantitative studies directly linked to what Anderegg has called “one of the defining challenges facing humanity in the 21st century.”

The Wilkes Center is also a serendipitous complement to the already established SRI which places first-semester undergraduates into a

year on. New SRI research tracks, or “streams”—from Pollinator Networks

In accord with the “One Utah”

to Big Data for Climate Science and

campaign to be the university for the

from Urban CO2 Emissions to Seed

state of Utah, the Wilkes Center is, of

Ecology—are being added and

course, ultimately about the people

facilitated by the new teaching labs

of the state and the world beyond. Its

and classrooms on the third floor of

parameters are porous ones, outward-

the Crocker Science Center, part of the

looking and poised for collaboration

new Crocker Science Complex that

within the U, the state and the global

will encompass the Applied Science

community wherein climate, dynamic

Project, currently under construction

and complex as it is, fully animates.

and slated for completion in 2024.

The Project involves retrofitting the

“Our state stands to benefit directly

historic Stewart Building and erecting

from the important work the Wilkes

a new structure, which will serve

Center will be conducting,” responded

as the new home for the Physics &

Utah Governor Spencer Cox, “— not

Astronomy and the Atmospheric

only from the standpoint of Utah’s

Sciences departments. The Wilkes

people and environment, but from

Center will then move to the new

the national and global leadership in

facilities as well, closing the loop, as

science-based policy and business

it were, of the College’s half century-

innovation the University of Utah

plus ethic for scientific inquiry and

can demonstrate. As people around

COVER STORY | 2023

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the globe seek solutions, the world’s

Wilkes continued, “Utah can become

difference for their children and

eyes will turn to the Wilkes Center for

a leader not just in terms of what the

grandchildren and have thus taken

Climate Science and Policy.”

amount of the Wilkes gift [is] or what

on the challenge of climate change.

is the amount that the University of

Through The Red Crow Foundation,

“When other eight-year-olds were

Utah is willing to spend on climate,

named for Marie’s third great-

out playing,” Wilkes reminisced, “I

or how much policy money the U

grandfather, a chief of the Blackfeet

was riding my bike to the University

of U can generate by virtue of its

Nation, they say, we are “putting our

of Oregon and hanging out in the

involvement in climate influence from

name on something that would have

computer labs in the early days.”

the state of Utah, but it can [also]

to mean something.’’ The Wilkes

If climate science is the computer

influence nearly every other state as

Center for Climate Science & Policy “is

science of our day, as Clay Wilkes

they follow suit.”

the most important thing that we will ever do.” <

believes, it stands to reason that the critical mass that is the Wilkes Center

MAKING A DIFFERENCE

could potentially be a climate science

Admittedly selective in their

vanguard to every university and

philanthropic giving, Clay and Marie

every state in the Union.

Wilkes are motivated to make a

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THE U GOES TO GREENLAND Faculty members Rajive Ganguli

Founded in 2008 in the city of Sisimiut,

The team will view plans for UMTF

and Michael G. Nelson and their

situated among picturesque wide

at the school, advise on funding

team in the U’s Mining Engineering

valleys and steep mountains in

and operating the facility in the

Department were selected for a

central-western Greenland, KTIR

circumpolar north, and provide

$1.2M cooperative agreement to

ensures a skilled workforce for the

experiential learning in two

assist Greenland with mine training.

Greenlandic mining and construction

different areas (underground mine

industries. The school offers

construction and mine search and

Partnering with the University of

students international courses and

rescue) among other activities,

Alaska Fairbanks, the team possesses

apprenticeship programs.

including curriculum development.

experience in the northern lands

The goals of the project are to advise

The activities will have three major

of the world’s eight northernmost

KTIR on the design and construction

impacts: expanding KTIR’s capacity

countries (a.k.a, the “Arctic Eight”).

of an underground mine training

in terms of facility, expertise and

Together they will assist the KTI

facility (UMTF) by developing six

curriculum; seeding world class

Råstofskolen, Aatsitassalerinermik

courses that enhance KTIR’s training

content and practices into KTIR

Ilinniarfik or KTIR (Greenland School

offerings for the mining sector,

training; and ensuring that training

of Minerals & Petroleum) in advancing

provide training in mine search and

facilities, curriculum and expertise are

its training capabilities to address the

rescue, and to familiarize KTIR and

highly relevant to Greenland. <

decades of mining and training

growing mining sector in the world’s largest island.

government stakeholders with major elements of the mining sector.

COVER STORY & COLLEGE NEWS | 2023

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Dignitaries at Applied Science Project groundbreaking on February 10. Photo by Harriet Richardson THE COLLEGE’S NEW APPLIED

world-class scientists addressing

on February 10. “This project will

SCIENCE PROJECT LEADS ‘TO

the country’s most urgent issues,

help us increase capacity to educate

COMMERCIAL INNOVATION,

including energy, air quality, climate

new generations of STEM leaders and

LEADING TO BETTER JOBS AND

change and water management,

provide the expertise to sustain Utah’s

BETTER COMMUNITIES.’

provide additional classrooms,

STEM economy to keep Utah vital.”

lab space and experiential The Applied Science Project is a

learning opportunities for crucial

OF SEMICONDUCTORS AND

$93.5 million undertaking that

undergraduate STEM courses.

QUANTUM MATERIALS

includes renovation of the historic

The Departments of Atmospheric

William Stewart Building and a

“Utah is growing, and we need to

Sciences, Physics & Astronomy and the

new 100,000-square-foot building

expand,” said U President Taylor

Wilkes Center for Climate Science &

with modern teaching labs and

Randall to a crowd of over a hundred

Policy will relocate to the new facility

state-of-the-art research facilities.

and fifty at the Applied Science

upon its completion in late 2024.

The completed spaces will house

Project groundbreaking ceremony

Researchers will use the facilities for a

D E PA RTM EN T & S C H OOL L E ADE RSHIP

BRENDA BOWEN Atmospheric Sciences (as of July 1)

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FRED ADLER Biological Sciences

MATTHEW SIGMAN Chemistry

WILLIAM JOHNSON Geology & Geophysics

range of activities, such as forecasting

programs, including all engineering,

Gary and Ann Crocker, the complex

hazardous weather, predicting the

pre-medical, and computer science

will form a dynamic interdisciplinary

Wasatch Front’s winter particulates

majors. Along with access to modern

STEM hub on the east side of campus.

and summer ozone, developing new

experiential teaching spaces, students

advances in semiconductors and

will avoid bottlenecks in high-demand

“In the end, when all is said and done,

quantum materials and managing the

courses, helping reduce graduation time.

the core objective of philanthropy

Willard Eccles Observatory telescope

has always been the impact that a CATALYST FOR LEARNING

gift might have on individual lives.

“The Applied Science Project will be

Ann and I know very personally that

The partnership between these

a home base, a catalyst for learning

the College of Science is the pivotal

departments is a component of

and innovation in the 21st century,

portal in this state through which

the merger between the College of

and will touch thousands of lives,”

students wishing to enter the sciences

Science and the College of Mines and

said dean of the College of Mines

and science-based professions must

Earth Sciences, announced last year.

and Earth Sciences Darryl Butt who

pass,” said Gary Crocker. “Ann and I

was named dean of the Graduate

have seen this virtuous cycle. Science

School. The Utah State Legislature

leading to commercial innovation,

at Frisco Peak.

“The collaborative and interdisciplinary

leading to better

nature of this project

jobs and better

will bring together

communities.”

faculty and students who will work

In addition to

together to address

the Crockers,

the grand challenges of our day and make great advances in fundamental research,” said Peter Trapa, dean of the College of Science.

The project will boost the capacity for crucial undergraduate courses, allowing departments to address record STEM enrollment. Classes taught in the buildings are necessary for thirty-seven different STEM degree programs and nine pre-professional

MICHAEL FREE Materials Science & Engineering

approved the project in 2020 and the state appropriated $64.8 million in funding for the project. Both the university and the legislature consider the project a high priority because it supports the state’s STEM economy.

When completed, the Crocker Science Center and the two buildings in the Applied Science Project will form the Crocker Science Complex. Made possible by an $8.5 million gift from

TOMMASO DE FERNEX Mathematics (as of July 1)

President Randall, and Deans Trapa and Butt, the groundbreaking held in the historic Thomas Building (now the Crocker Science Center) included guest speakers former Utah governor Gary Herbert and President Henry B. Eyring from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints and a physics alumnus.

WEATHER AS IT HAPPENS

Also on hand were department

CHARLES KOCSIS Mining Engineering

CARSTEN ROTT Physics & Astronomy (as of August 1)

COLLEGE NEWS | 2023

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chairs Christoph Boehme (Physics

For Physics & Astronomy, a new

in the Crocker Science Complex, it’s in

& Astronomy) and John Horel

domed observatory will be positioned

more than that. It’s in our instrument

(Atmospheric Sciences), the latter of

atop the new location where K-12

towers and observatory atop the

whom, detailed some of the buildings’

groups will continue to peer through

new and refurbished buildings where

features: a 300-seat auditorium,

a high-powered telescope into the

virtually all STEM students will learn

multiple screens and seating designed

night sky during weekly “star parties.”

not only by traditional lectures but

for desktop and laptop computers

Nearby, in the cold room chamber in

by doing. Discovery is indeed in our

in one of the classrooms to help

Professor Tim Garrett’s cloud physics

classrooms and labs on the expanding

students visualize complex topics in

lab, the general public will participate

footprint of STEM education and

upper division and graduate classes.

in hands-on demos. And, when the

research at the College of Science.

Instrumentation and a classroom on

weather cooperates, people will head

And soon, so too will be the applied

the roof are designed for hands-on

outdoors to chat and relax on the

innovations of those discoveries. <

instruction. “Students will be able to

extensive patio and in the nearby

watch and monitor the weather as it

botanical “Cottam’s Gulch,” together

happens,” said Horel.

the centerpiece of the Complex just

The Applied Science Project will play

north of Pioneer Memorial Theatre.

a pivotal role in the U’s vision to meet

Additionally, research groups will

“The move of the Department of

our region’s growing workforce needs.

occupy seven labs and include the

Physics & Astronomy,” says chairman

greenhouse gas calibration facility

Boehme, “is planned to take place in

Equally as important, the project

and cloud physics, air chemistry,

different phases, starting in December

will offer exceptional educational

and instrumentation labs. Faculty

2023 . . . following the successive

experiences in spaces designed to

and students involved in the Utah

completion of different building

cultivate creativity and exploration.

Weather Center will use the video

components.”

wall located in the Wilkes Center for

We invite you to get involved.

Climate Science & Policy to describe

At the U, a celebrated R1 university, we

For more information, contact:

past, current, and future weather and

say discovery is in our DNA. Specific

travis.mcmullin@utah.edu

climate events.

to the Applied Science Project housed

SYN TH ESI S

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RECYCLING NUCLEAR FUEL WASTE

15

DESPITE HAVING COMMERCIAL

plutonium that could be used to build

Simpson and Jarom Chamberlain, a

NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS SINCE

nuclear weapons.

PhD student who recently defended his dissertation, came up with an

THE 1970s, THE U.S. HAS LONG GRAPPLED WITH WHAT TO DO

“Pyroprocessing,” an alternative

idea on how to chlorinate uranium

WITH THE HIGHLY RADIOACTIVE

technology involving high

oxide in molten salt that could greatly

SPENT NUCLEAR FUEL WASTE

temperature chemical reactions in a

simplify the process for extracting

PRODUCED BY REACTORS.

molten salt, has

U and TRU from

been used in an

spent nuclear fuel.

“Recycling nuclear fuel is key to

Idaho reactor

The approach was

making it a sustainable source of

for over twenty

based on a paper

energy with a low impact on the

years to recover

from Japanese

environment,” U metallurgical

U/TRU actinides

researchers

engineering professor Michael

(radioactive and extremely unstable

published in 2005 that had

Simpson says. “We need to get

metallic elements in the periodic

not received further attention.

beyond the approach of throwing

table) from metallic fuel. While PUREX

Chamberlain’s success on improving

away this valuable resource.”

works on oxide fuel, actinide recovery

the process earlier this year became

from pyroprocessing has only been

the foundation for the proposal that

The technical goals of Simpson’s

accomplished to date using metallic

Simpson submitted to the DOE’s

project, recently funded to the tune

spent fuel (U-Zr alloy based).

Advanced Research Projects Agency-

of $1.5 million by the U.S. Department

Energy (ARPA-E) earlier this year,

of Energy (DOE), are to demonstrate

Experts generally agree that

nearly complete dissolution of spent

separation of pure plutonium is

oxide fuel in a molten salt followed

not feasible using pyroprocessing.

by near complete electrochemical

resulting in the grant. < Excerpted from the U College of Engineering website.

recovery of uranium/transuranic waste (U/TRU) that can be used to make new fuel for advanced nuclear reactors.

Achieving complete dissolution of the fuel is key to enabling the process to be safeguarded against proliferation of U/TRU. While France has carried out recycling of their spent fuel since 1958 using a process called PUREX, there is great opposition in the U.S. to using this technology because of the potential for it being misused to separate pure

Jarom Chamberlain (metallurgical engineering Ph.D. student) holds a depleted uranium oxide pellet of the same size as commercial nuclear fuel pellets while Prof. Michael Simpson looks on.

RESEARCH | 2023

16

FOUNDERS DAY 2023 DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI The University of Utah Office of

A saxophonist like his father, Sanders

Rich served as president of both the

Alumni Relations annually presents

has been called “a musician trapped

American Association of Neurological

its Founders Day Distinguished

in a scientist’s body.” “I look at playing

Surgeons and American Academy of

Alumnus/Alumna Awards to alumni

music almost as a research program,

Neurological Surgeons and was vice

for their outstanding professional

just like a scientist would,” Sanders

chairman of the American Board of

achievements, public service, and/

says. “There are little experiments you

Neurological Surgery.

or commitment to the U. This year, all

do and in the craft you figure out …

four recipients of the award, given out

how to make it work.” For the past

He was also a neurosurgical delegate

March 1, stemmed from the College

five years, Sanders has volunteered

to the American Medical Association

of Science. (A fifth individual is

as a mentor for the U’s African

House of Delegates and was chief

presented as an “honorary alum” who

American Doctoral Scholars Initiative,

medical officer of the 2002 Salt Lake

has contributed significantly to the

providing a scholarly community and

Winter Olympic Games before joining

advancement of the U.)

educational services to prepare Black

the Utah Sports Commission Board of

PhD students at the U for academic,

Directors. Rich was president of the

MUSICIAN TRAPPED IN

industry, and entrepreneurial careers

Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine’s

SCIENTIST’S BODY

through mentoring, advising, and

Alumni Association for eight years, a

professional development. Recently,

member of the U Alumni Board of

PhD’90, arrived

he’s back with his sax, appearing

Directors for three years, a neurosurgical

in Salt Lake

locally with the George Brown Quintet

consultant to the U’s Athletics

City from

known for its unpretentious, “killin’

Department, and a member of the

Baltimore via

straight ahead” jazz.

Crimson Club Board of Directors.

ARMY ‘BRAT’-TURNED

A self-identified “army brat” growing

During his appearance as the featured

RENOWNED NEUROSURGEON

up during WWII, Rich, a biology

speaker at the Hugo Rossi Lecture

“Utah is now complimented for its

graduate who went on to medical

Clifton Sanders

the University of Michigan in 1977.

Series on March 15, he detailed what it was like to be one of very few

‘connectedness,’” says J.

school at the U, also served with his

Charles Rich

family as a foster family for basketball

Black residents in Utah. Even so, his

BS’62 MD’65

student-athletes and has contributed

experience in the Department of

“—a culture

to athletic scholarships for many years.

Chemistry was generally a positive

where so

one. Today, he is the Provost for

many have

Academic Affairs and Chief Academic

known each

Officer of Salt Lake Community

other for so many

College, overseeing the education of

reasons over so many years. The

more than 61,000 students annually.

University of Utah plays a central role in providing that valuable resource.”

SYN TH ESI S

| College of Science

MOVING MOUNTAINS

Anke Friedrich BS’90 MS’93 is

monitor the tectonic activity around

business early on selling cars. He was

Yucca Mountain, the then-proposed

a member of the Chrysler Corporation

nuclear waste repository site.

West Region Dealer Council 1982

an endowed

through 1990 and the Chrysler Corp.

professor of

Friedrich volunteered for the Salt

National Truck Advisory Board from

geology at

Lake Olympic Games in 2002 before

1988 through 1992. He was president

the Ludwig-

moving to Potsdam and helping to

of the Utah Automobile Dealers

Maximilians-

establish the first research group

Association from 1988 through 1989

University of Munich where she

in Active Tectonics at a geological

and was inducted into the Utah

established a Master’s degree

institute in Germany. As a student, she

Automobile Hall of Fame in 2013.

program in geology, led international

was a member of the U’s Ski Team,

student field trips involving U

earning All-American honors by winning

An alumnus of what is now the

students, and set up student

three individual NCAA championships

College of Science’s School of

exchange programs with several

in giant slalom and slalom.

Biological Sciences, Jim is a sustaining

international institutions, including

member of the U’s National Advisory

the U. “I benefited enormously from

CATALYST FOR EDUCATION

Council and has been a member

the vibrant and collegial environment

AND GROWTH

of the Natural History Museum of

at the University of Utah,” she says,

James S. Hinckley BS’71 MS’77 is

Utah’s Board of Advisors since 2018.

“both as a student-athlete and a

chairman of the

“I love learning and sharing my

geology major. Therefore, I am very

Hinckley

enthusiasm for knowledge by creating

grateful to my former ski coaches,

Institute of

opportunities for education and

faculty mentors, and fellow students

Politics Board

growth,” he says. “My involvement in

for their tremendous support and

of Directors

both academic and community-facing

friendship over the years.”

and Investment Committee,

organizations at the U has allowed me to engage with and support

An adjunct professor at the U’s

positions he has held since 1990.

students of all ages throughout their

Department of Geology & Geophysics,

Both he and his wife Lyn Hinckley

educational journeys.” <

Friedrich received the department’s

BS’73, a former elementary school

Distinguished Alumni Award in

teacher and, currently, a community

2019. She played a crucial role in

advocate for the U’s McCluskey Center

Are you an alumni of the newly-merged College

establishing one of the world’s

for Violence Prevention, received the

of Science | College of Mines & Earth Sciences?

first continuously operating space-

award. Graduating with his bachelor’s

We want to hear from you. Contact us at

geodetic networks which served to

in biology, Jim joined the family

office@science.utah.edu to share your story.

ATMO S 75TH AN N IVER SARY Earlier this year, the Department of

as air quality and snowpack. Guest

who generously provided a matching

Atmospheric Sciences celebrated

speakers included faculty emeritus

donation for all gifts donated to the

its 75th anniversary at a special

Jan and Julia Nogues Paegle as well as

department during the U’s annual

event hosted on campus. Chair John

staff emerita Leslie Allaire and faculty

Giving Day campaign. Now they look

Horel emceed the event, which

member John Lin. Three other former

forward to the next 75 years.

recognized the department’s legacy

chairs were present, including Kevin

and leadership on critical issues such

Perry, Jim Steenburgh, and Ed Zipser

ALUMNI | 2023

17

18

BONES OF THE EARTH

by L AUREN WIGOD Writer Intern

“THERE’S ALWAYS BEEN THIS IDEA THAT MY FAMILY HAS A REL ATIONSHIP WITH THE BONES OF THE EARTH,” says Kevin

Mendoza. The graduate student in the Department of Geology & Geophysics descended from the developers of the Nacia mine in Chihuahua Province, Mexico. He recalls as a child his grandmother showing him jars of rocks from the mine given to her by her father, one of the only possessions she took with her when she immigrated to the States.

A PhD candidate in geophysics, Mendoza is the recipient of the 2023 University of Utah Teaching Assistantship Award.

Mendoza received the award for his contributions to geoscience undergraduates. He used the assistantship to develop Python programming-based core curriculum.

MAGNETOTELLURICS

Although his ancestors have been students of the earth for generations, Mendoza is the first in his family to study it academically. His background prepared him to do a different type of prospecting: for electrical fields underground. His research under the late Philip Wanamaker operates in the niche field of magnetotellurics (MT), which uses natural underground

SYN TH ESI S

| College of Science

electrical currents to study the

Operating in the field of MT, Mendoza’s

structure of Earth. MT is such a specific

data comes from monitoring the

subfield of geophysics that there are

voltage and magnetic field in the

only a handful of programs across

deep earth with sensors deployed on

the country, including at the U. “What

the surface. In the field, these sensors

I do is use solar wind and lightning

are set up by placing magnetic

to basically CT scan the deep earth,”

coils and wires stretching along

summarizes Mendoza. From the

cardinal directions and occasionally

results of this

a coil pointing

“CT scan” he

upwards. These

can measure

sites are left to

the water

collect data for a

contained in

few months at a

the geologic

time before they

water cycle, which has important

are relocated. Since the equipment is

consequences for plate tectonics.

portable and non-invasive, MT sites

One of the advantages of MT is

are placed virtually anywhere that’s

that it is more sensitive than other

interesting geologically.

techniques such as seismology. “In some situations, like looking for

PUTTING CARBON BACK

critical battery metals and hidden

UNDERGROUND

geothermal resources, MT is one

While his dissertation is focused on

of the best methods for exploring

more fundamental aspects of plate

mineral structures.”

tectonics across the western U.S., Mendoza believes these findings can

have application elsewhere. “Two of

students from underrepresented

Kevin Mendoza has come a long way

the biggest challenges we face with

backgrounds. He grew up in East LA

since his geology lessons with his

climate change are how to transition

where he learned how to navigate

grandmother’s Chihuahuan rocks, and

to a carbon-free economy and how

the daunting paradigm of higher

it has informed the legacy he is now

to put carbon back underground.

education that can be insular to non-

leaving with students familiar with the

The tools I’ve developed and am

traditional students. “Learning to ‘go-

challenges he has faced. The teaching

developing can directly help these

between’ is a skill that’s essential for

award is an acknowledgment that the

efforts by monitoring how stable our

just having a community, and I think

paradigm can shift, that the earth can

sequestered carbon is, or assessing

bringing that here made it really easy

move. <

the likelihood that critical metals like

for me to understand when students

copper, cobalt, and lithium are in rocks

are struggling,” Mendoza says. He

hidden by deep sediment cover.”

has earned multiple prior teaching awards, including the National

Mendoza knows from firsthand

Association of Geoscience Teachers

experience that mastering the science

Outstanding TA Award, 2022.

is only half the battle for many

AN ALREADY BIG UNIVERSE IS GETTING BIGGER To study dark energy, the mysterious

“Besides advancing our understanding

force behind the accelerating

of cosmology,” says Zheng Zheng

expansion of our universe,

also a member of the department,

scientists are using the Dark Energy

“the unprecedentedly large set of

Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI)

spectroscopic data from DESI encode

to map nearly 40 million galaxies,

a wealth of information for us to

quasars, and stars. Recently, the

investigate the activities around the

collaboration publicly released its first

supermassive black holes in galaxies,

batch of data, an 80-terabyte data

to study galaxy formation and

set, with nearly 2 million objects for

evolution, and to probe the circum-

researchers to explore.

galactic and intergalactic medium.”

“This new sample represents the first

Key aspects of survey validation

science-quality data taken with this

included software to automatically

powerful new instrument,” says U

classify tens of millions of stellar,

Professor of Physics & Astronomy Kyle

galaxy and quasar spectra over the

Dawson, one of the two primary leads

next five years. “By studying these

of the survey validation effort and

new quasar spectra, we were able to

DESI co-spokesperson.

upgrade the models from a previous

program and demonstrate that we can do significantly better in characterizing quasar spectra,” says U graduate student researcher Allyson Brodzeller.

The Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory manages the experiment, and the DESI collaboration is honored to be permitted to conduct scientific research on Iolkam Du’ag (Kitt Peak), a mountain with particular significance to the Tohono O’odham Nation.

The data release is now available for free through the National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center.

Excerpted from an article by Lauren Biron

STUDENTS | 2023

19

20

SANDRA J. BROMLEY SCHOLARSHIP

PR OVI D I N G A R OLE M ODE L FO R NEW GE NE RATIO NS The Sandra J. Bromley scholarship is a full-tuition scholarship for undergraduate students in the College of Science. It provides in-state tuition for eight semesters which allows each recipient to complete their degree.

by JULIA ST. ANDRE & CJ SIEBENECK Writer Interns

E L I ZA ROBE RTS

DANNO N AL L RE D

MIC HAE L A FLU CK

is a freshman at the U, pursuing a

just completed his sophomore year

researches neural circuits that affect

degree in applied math and physics,

at the U. A passionate learner, he is

stress, fear, and social behavior.

with an emphasis in astronomy and

studying physics with an astronomy

“I’ve always been interested in

astrophysics. The scholarship “has

emphasis. “There’s just a lot in

neurobiology, since I was a kid. I’ve

truly allowed me to focus more on my

astronomy that spikes my curiosity;

had family members who’ve had

classes, and even take classes that I

there’s a lot that’s unknown, and

strokes and other brain injuries.”

wouldn’t have taken otherwise,” she

[outer] space is simply beautiful.”

says. “I don’t have to worry about the

“Obviously, one of the most daunting

A biology major with a psychology

financial aspects of college like I was

things about college is paying for it,

minor, she has found the study of

fully intending to, which means that I

and that’s a lot of stress that most

abnormal psychology to be a passion.

can explore my passions and dedicate

students have to deal with.” The

my time to learning.”

scholarship helps immensely.

Fluck was inspired to become a doctor by her patients at Primary Children’s

Roberts works as a math tutor in

On top of his astrophysics studies,

Hospital where she works as a

the TRIO office. One of her proudest

Allred has been involved in several

phlebotomist. “Helping [kids] work

accomplishments was receiving her

research projects on campus. “In

through procedures is honestly one

Girl Scout Gold award, for which she

my freshman year, I was part of Dr.

of the most rewarding things I’ve ever

focused on creating a safe backyard

Boehme’s lab as part of the Science

done.”

space for adults with disabilities.

Research Initiative doing research on Organic Light-Emitting Diodes

She loved taking an acting class at the

She makes the most of her time at the

(OLEDs) using spintronics. This spring,

U which relieved the stress of being in

U participating in LEAP classes, a year-

I did an introductory research project

STEM and harked back to her time in

long learning community for entering

analyzing the spectral emission

high school, especially her appearance

students, and even discovering top-

features of the Sombrero Galaxy with

in the musical about daring to venture

secret nap spots on campus. “I love

Dr. Anil Seth.”

Into the Woods.

the entire vibe of the university.”

SYN TH ESI S

| College of Science

21

Ray and Jill Greer along with Allred, Fluck, Benfield and Roberts. Photo by Matt Crawley.

ROLE MODELS FOR THE FUTURE KEEGA N B EN F IE LD graduated this year with a BS in

THE BROMLEY SCHOL ARSHIP

“My mother was the single greatest

IS FUNDED THROUGH THE

influence in my life,” says Greer. “She

GENEROSIT Y OF RAY GREER,

taught me the value of hard work and

BS’86, IN MATHEMATICS.

perseverance. She also insisted that

both mechanical engineering and

college was not optional — you just

physics. While at the U he focused on

Each year, a freshman student is

did it!”

humanitarian efforts, volunteering

selected as a new Bromley scholar,

with Youthlinc in its Real Life program.

and rolls into the program, while a

Greer enrolled at the U in 1981 and

As president of the U’s marksmen

senior student graduates. Peter Trapa,

was initially interested in computer

club, he attended collegiate events at

dean of the College of Science says,

science and engineering but eventually

the national and junior level.

“The cumulative effect for the student

found a home in mathematics.

is truly profound.”

He researched condensed matter

Greer has more than forty years

physics in the Deemyad Lab which

“I have had the pleasure of meeting

of experience in logistics and

focuses on theoretical physics,

and getting acquainted with the

transportation industries. In 2018 he

especially the physics of matter at

undergraduates as they progress

was named CEO of Omnitracs, an

extreme conditions of temperature

through their academic goals, and it

international, billion-dollar company

and pressure. Introduction to Relativity

is always a pleasure,” says Greer. “In all

that provides logistics to support

and Quantum Mechanics “was an ‘ah-

I have done throughout my life, this

drivers and their organizations to be

ha!’ class,” he says. “I have learned and

has been one of the greatest and most

compliant, safe and efficient.

expanded my knowledge in ways that

rewarding experiences I have had the

amaze me. Who knew I could do that?”

opportunity to be a part of.”

“Math is universal,” says Greer. “Most importantly it teaches you discipline

Benfield recently completed a

Named after his late mother who

and persistence to work a problem

summer internship at Cosm where he

enjoyed a successful career as a

until it is solved. That process of

developed educational programs for

technical illustrator in the U’s College

critical thinking and problem-solving

planetariums using Digistar 7, which

of Mines and Earth Sciences, the

has served me well throughout my

features full-dome programs and

scholarship requires continuous

entire career.” <

production services. <

attendance from each of its recipients.

STUDENTS | 2023

22

FINDING ONE’S ‘PROFESSIONAL SELF’ A CELEB R AT E D, I N T ER - D I S C I PL I NARY E D U CATO R

WHERE DOES A SKILLED

and create a space for the scientifically

The Graduate School is arguably the

PAINTER, CELEBRATED INTER-

minded and others to get out of their

perfect fit for Butt. It offers more than

DISCIPLINARY EDUCATOR AND

empirical box and into an integrated

200 graduate degrees and supports

DEAN OF A COLLEGE GO TO

one, shot through with creativity,

more than 8,400 students enrolled

ADVANCE THEIR CAREER? In the

innovation and “flow.” It’s an approach

in programs that vary from master’s

case of Darryl Butt, he becomes the

inspired by the 15th century scientist

of architecture to a doctorate in

dean of the graduate school. University

and artist Leonardo da Vinci.

nuclear engineering. As dean, he will

of Utah Provost Mitzi M. Montoya

assess ongoing improvements to all

announced in March that Butt has

Butt joined the U in 2016 as professor

academic programs and centers at

accepted the offer. He ascended to his

of metallurgical engineering and

the U through the Graduate Council

new role on June 1.

college dean, establishing strategic

Review process and enable the

plans to address diversity; safety and

development of interdisciplinary

Also the current Director of the

security; student, staff, and faculty

graduate programs for multi-college

Center for Multi-Scale Fluid-Solid

success; cross-campus collaboration;

academic degrees and certificates.

Interactions in Architected and

fiscal stewardship; and transparency.

Natural Materials Energy Frontier

Under his leadership, the EpiCenter, a

“One of the joys I get from research

Research Center, Butt promotes a

hub of student activity and advising

is watching the development of

de-silo-ed approach to looking at

for the college, was created, and

students and postdocs and helping

research problems and projects.

the departments of Metallurgical

them find their ‘professional selves,’”

Using a “flipped classroom” model

Engineering and Materials Science and

says Butt. “I’m looking forward to

and a dynamic (as in changeable, by

Engineering were merged. Butt has

being their advocate as well as

all involved) syllabus, his vertically

also been instrumental in facilitating

supporting the incredible faculty and

integrated approach not only flattens

the merger of the CMES and College

staff at the University in support of our

hierarchies and disassembles firewalls

of Science.

ambitious research mission.” <

between disciplines but encourages greater diversity and inclusion from traditionally under-represented student groups.

Butt’s yearly painting workshops in the College of Mines & Earth Sciences’ (CMES) advising center are popular

SYN TH ESI S

| College of Science

WITH DISTINCTION “I first

In May the

Professor of

stepped foot

College of

Chemistry

in a tropical

Science

and Associate

rainforest

announced

Dean for

in 1975

the selection

Student

and have

of attorney

Affairs in the

been back every year doing research

and former Utah legislator Tim

College of Science, Vahe Bandarian

on how plants defend themselves

Hawkes as Senior Fellow. In addition

is one of the newly-elected Fellows

against getting eaten by insects,” says

to advising college leadership on

of the American Association for the

Phyllis “Lissy” Coley, distinguished

strategy and visioning, Hawkes will

Advancement of Science (AAAS). He

professor emerita of biology at the U.

also serve on the executive advisory

was selected for “discoveries in the

She is newly elected member of the

board for the Wilkes Center for

field of tRNA modifications and key

National Academy of Sciences (NAS).

Climate Science & Policy. Hawkes is

contributions to mechanistic basis

Biology director Fred Adler says, “I

the first fellow to be named to the

of radical-mediated transformations

am delighted that this inspirational

College of Science Fellows Program

leading to complex natural products.”

scientist, teacher and mentor will have

which will expand in the future to

Bandarian was also recently selected

the opportunity to share her wisdom

include other experts and leaders in

as one of the 2023 American Chemical

with our nation at large.”

strategic areas of opportunity.

Society fellows.

Professor of

Associate

“Mathematics,”

chemistry,

Professor of

says Anna

Jennifer S.

Biology and

Tang, “is a

Shumaker-

Director of

key in our

Parry,

the Wilkes

hands that

was also

Center for

is able to

elected as a Fellow of the American

Climate Science & Policy William

change shape to fit almost any lock in

Association for the Advancement

Anderegg is a 2023 recipient of

the world.” A senior in math at the U,

of Science (AAAS), for “significant

the National Science Foundation’s

Tang not only uses that key to model

contributions to the design and study

Waterman Award. The nation’s highest

how breast cancer tumors continue

of plasmonic nanomaterials, and

honor for early-career scientists and

to grow despite estrogen controls in

promotion of graduate education

engineers, the award was presented

current therapies, but to apply for a

integrating science, business, and

to him and all of the recipients in May

Fulbright fellowship. In April, she was

communication for broad and diverse

at a ceremony during the NSF meeting

confirmed as a finalist and will be

career pathways.”

in Washington, DC. Anderegg is also

heading to Germany this fall.

one of three national laureates to receive this year’s Blavatnik Award for Young Scientists.

For more info, please visit SCIENCE .UTAH.EDU

RECOGNITION | 2023

23

T

hank you to all of our alumni and friends who

Contact us if you’d like to invest in the future of scientific

contribute to the College of Science. Your support

research and education:

enables us to provide exceptional education, conduct groundbreaking research, and prepare the next generation of scientific leaders. We are grateful for your investment in our students, faculty, and staff. We’d love to hear from you or have you stop by campus for a visit. You are always welcome here at the University of Utah!

TJ McMullin

Jim DeGooyer

Director of Development

Major Gifts Officer

travis.mcmullin@utah.edu

james.degooyer@utah.edu

801-581-4414

801-581-3124

Visit science.utah.edu/giving