Faculty-Staff Edition May 7, 2026
CU Boulder is celebrating the anniversary of campus recycling—a program that has evolved with the times and remains a powerful example of the partnership and collaboration that make real change possible.
Campus Community
Operations initiatives enhancing faculty, staff experience
Collaborating with partners across campus, CU Boulder's operations team has advanced a number of exciting projects this spring that enhance the faculty and staff experience and help make CU Boulder an employer of choice.
CU Boulder appoints Jill Blondin as vice chancellor for global affairs
Chancellor Justin Schwartz has appointed Jill Blondin as CU Boulder's inaugural vice chancellor for global affairs, a leadership role charged with advancing the university's global engagement, partnerships and impact.
Where Boulder meets CU: A legacy of connection inspires new $5M civic impact initiative
CU Boulder has received a $5 million endowment gift from alum Heidi Wagner to launch the Wagner Family Civic Impact Initiative. The new program will connect students with Boulder-area partners to address community challenges through student-led engagement and problem-solving.
BOLDERBoulder to eliminate plastic water bottles at Folsom Field finish line
The BOLDERBoulder 10K has announced a major sustainability milestone for the 2026 race, eliminating plastic water bottles at the finish line. The initiative is a collaborative effort with CU Boulder aligned with broader sustainability efforts on campus.
Research Corner
Light without electricity? Glowing algae could make it possible
CU Boulder researchers have developed 3D-printable materials embedded with living bioluminescent algae that can produce sustained light.
39 days at sea, hunting for clues in seawater's biological detritus
INSTAAR scientists Julio Sepúlveda and Edgart Flores spent more than a month aboard a German research cruise off the coast of Chile last fall. Now they hope to unlock a new method for inferring ecological health from water samples.
Jail blazers: How reporters' tenacity is changing laws around pregnancy behind bars
Following a yearlong investigation into healthcare for pregnant women in prison, reporting by Mackenzie Mays and Jon Schuppe is drawing attention from lawmakers—and judges for the Al Nakkula Award for Police Reporting.
The Conversation
White House wants to vet powerful AI models for risks—expert explains safety challenges
Once powerful AI models are released, it's nearly impossible to keep them from being misused—making safety a top priority in developing the systems. Read from CU computer scientist Ahmed Hamza on The Conversation.