PAID PPCO U.S. Postage Non Profit Org. Alumni Magazine Spring 2021 Alumni Association 459 UCB Boulder, CO 80309-0459 MOSAiCArctic views of climate change and the ON ICE pandemic N O W NOVEMBER 2020 Graduate students and artists Alejandra Abad (MFA’21) and Román Anaya (MFA’21), known as Abad Anaya, created colorful art flags to inspire hope after the challenges of 2020. The duo hopes to change the perception of divisiveness often associated with flags as symbols. Their flags contain uplifting phrases in multiple languages that were painted, printed, sewn or ironed on by members of the Boulder and Denver communities. Earlier this year, the flags were on display in Denver's Art District on Santa Fe and the Boulder One Plaza. Alejandra Abad FEATURES EDITOR’S NOTE In 2020 the U.S. saw record wildfires and hur- ricanes. NASA reported it as one of the hottest years in recorded history. As a public research institution, CU is called to address global chal- lenges. The Coloradan aims to examine and celebrate how the university is influencing the world and shaping a better future. To align with this vision, each issue mov- ing forward will feature stories that examine a topic affecting our world and highlight how CU is creating impact through its collective work and research. This spring, the topic is climate change. To further engage readers, the new Coloradan Conversations series will expand on the magazine topics, gath- ering thought leaders to discuss the most pressing issues of our day. If the topic and the COVER Members of CU 17 33 stories pique your Boulder’s multi-disciplinary Frozen in Ice, Frozen in Time Sweet Gig MOSAiC research study ven- In the name of climate change research, hundreds of A fifth-generation candymaker, Jessica Dee interest, join the next Coloradan tured into the Arctic to learn CU researchers and students spent time frozen into Sawyer (ArtHist’03) is helping bring the family Conversa- more about climate change. the Arctic sea ice on the RV Polarstern. business into the 21st century. tion for a larger climate Photo by Lianna Nixon. change dialogue with other readers. For ABOVE World-class saxophon- 23 A Walk in Two Worlds 35 How to Cope in a Pandemic more information, visit: ist and CU Boulder alum Tia American Indians and archaeologists have had a The pandemic has worsened an already precarious colorado.edu/coloradan/ Fuller (MMus’00) shows off long and often fractious history. Carlton Shield mental health crisis. CU psychology professors conversations her talent in the Disney/Pixar Chief Gover (PhDAnth’22) is trying to change that. share tools to improve mental health in isolation. movie Soul. In her Coloradan interview, she delves into Maria Kuntz jazz, performance, teaching 25 39 and soul. Photo courtesy Breath of Fresh Air Full of Soul CONTACT THE EDITOR AT © 2020 Disney/Pixar. Jessica Gilman (PhDChem’06) gives a bird's-eye World-renowned saxophonist Tia Fuller [email protected] view of how wildfires and the pandemic are (MMus’00) shines as the instrumental talent changing the climate and affecting our health. behind Pixar’s new movie Soul. DEPARTMENTS 1 NOW 7 Campus News 15 ORIGINS 45 CU Around 55 Class Notes Flags of Hope University Portfolio 8 Boulder Beat 47 Chancellor’s Essay 61 Feedback 5 INQUIRY Pearl Street 31 Infographic Sun Research Shelly Miller 49 Sports 65 THEN Memory Lane 13 LOOK Alamo Bowl 43 Alumni News 3 COLORADAN SPRING 2021 44 INQUIRY Shelly Miller that kind of interaction we don't know about. In way to cleanse the air. is by wearing well-fit- fact, my friend, whose There are a lot of ionizers ting masks at all times. daughter plays oboe at a being sold, and there’s no The second (long-range college in Minnesota, said, scientific support for their transmission) requires ‘Oh, my daughter is using efficacy. In fact, some data cleaning the air and mak- your mitigation strategies.’ show that they can cause ing sure good ventilation I didn't even know, so that worse problems. So, it’s systems are in place. was pretty cool. important to try and help people understand which What should people be Since the pandemic types of air cleaner are ef- doing at home? Make started, you’ve been fective versus which ones sure you can open your busier than ever. Your are just a marketing hoax. windows — even small email signature alludes openings will help. If to the fact that you What changes do you your exhaust hood vents are juggling hundreds anticipate happening outside, turn it on with a of emails a day, work, in indoor environ- window open. Also, run family, sleep and well- ments post-COVID? I your furnace, because the ness. How have people hope people understand air will circulate through a responded to your that their environments pretty coarse filter. If you endeavor for balance? affect their health, and don't have an air cleaner, At first, so many of my your home is not guaran- stay socially distant and colleagues — especially my teed to be a healthy place wear masks if sharing the female colleagues — got — you need to work to air with others that might back to me and said, ‘I love make it healthy. Instead When it be infectious. your signature. I'm going of just making buildings comes Aerosol Superstar to live per- to do that,’ and they did. I thermally comfortable, we In 2020, you did formance, Shelly Miller solves problems she cares about. As a safety COVID-centered re- CU Boulder mechanical engineering professor, her comes first. search related to the YOUR HOME IS NOT expertise on aerosols, indoor air pollution and urban performing arts. What air quality catapulted her to a global spotlight in 2020, do you think the future GUARANTEED TO BE A giving her the chance to make huge world changes, looks like for musi- Shelly Miller HEALTHY PLACE — fast. She discusses her work, the pandemic and what cians? We have been it’s like being suddenly in high demand. really successful mitigat- YOU NEED TO WORK TO ing risk in music classes and marching bands. We MAKE IT HEALTHY. When you fi rst be- What are aerosols and ing, ‘This looks airborne. haven’t had a single report- came an engineer, how do they impact We have to tell people ed transmission to date in what were the prob- health? Aerosols are sim- how to keep themselves music programs following thought that was a really im- need to provide enough lems you cared about ply particles suspended in safe indoors.’ Outbreaks our guidance. Mitiga- portant statement to make. outside air ventilation and are now trying to a gas. The particles can be led us to quickly realize tion measures are quite and good filtration in solve? Growing up in made of anything and can that most transmission limiting, but I wouldn’t Some might call you energy-efficient ways to California, we were sent be solid or liquid. They are was happening indoors. recommend playing an aerosol superstar. I maintain health. home from school for a main cause of adverse music without them. I think don’t know if I feel like a bad air quality days. In health effects and a major What are the biggest professional musicians are complete superstar, but I What do you hope environmental engineer- contribution to air pollution. challenges facing going to need to be tested do feel that I have a way we learned from this ing classes, it really schools? Schools need daily or weekly to be able of communicating science pandemic about how clicked for me that my When did you realize to understand the two to do their work. that speaks to a lot of peo- indoor spaces impact interest in air pollution the link between your main routes of aerosol ple. There’s an audience health? I hope we learn was related to growing work and COVID-19 transmission and how How many schools that really learns from to trust science again up in California. research demands? I to mitigate those routes. have you been working what I have to say. That and know that there is I think of the envi- worked on engineering The first is short-range with locally or national- feels important to me. a scientific process we ronment as a shared controls for tuberculosis exposure. This happens ly? When we first shared go through that evolves resource. I want to transmission for my PhD within personal spaces — our research, people were What new directions and new answers come preserve and improve dissertation. After COVID a teacher standing over calling from places like are you taking with from it. I feel like we’ve the quality of the air, showed up in the U.S., my a student or kids working Germany, France and your research? I would moved away from that. water and environment colleagues and I started on a project together. Florida. There are proba- be interested in doing INTERVIEW BY MARIA KUNTZ. for everybody. emailing each other say- The only way to mitigate bly hundreds of schools research showing the best CONDENSED AND EDITED. 5 COLORADAN Glenn Asakawa SPRING 2021 6 CAMPUSnews BOULDER BEAT Pearl Street Paving the Way Former CU Postdoc Wins 2020 Nobel Prize Jennifer Doudna smashes the glass ceiling with her historic recognition in chemistry. fter biochemist Jennifer Doudna learned she had won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry at 2:53 a.m. on Oct. 7, the first thing she did was make A co£ee — then wake up her teenage son.