2023 Governors Awards for High Impact Research, Denver Museum of Nature & Science, 11 October 2023

The premier scientific research recognition event in Colorado!
About this Event
13th Annual Event Honors Colorado’s Top Scientists for Projects Having a Significant Impact on SocietyPresented by: The Alliance for Sustainable Energy

Please join the premier scientific research recognition event in Colorado with over 250 scientists, entrepreneurs, business leaders and government officials as we celebrate the exceptional and groundbreaking work of scientists and engineers from Colorado’s federally-funded research labs and institutes.

Brilliant discoveries from the realms of clean energy chemistry, profound advances in atmospheric physics, crucial insight to wildfire dynamics and astounding, impressive successes of early career scientists - our 13th Anniversary Awards event is not to be missed!

TICKETS: $75

Includes social hour, presentations, open bar and heavy appetizer buffet.

This is CO-LABS' annual recognition and fundraiser event, we appreciate your support for our mission to nurture the scientific research ecosystem in Colorado!

The full event website will be lauched soon with full details of each winner.

Winners include: Lifetime Achievement Award: Dr. Alan Rudolph
Dr. Rudolph recently retired as VP of Research at Colorado State University, was our leader as CO-LABS Board Chair and Director for several years and is a former leader of the U.S. Biodefense, Biosecurity and Biotechnology programs at the DARPA, DoD and DHS . Dr. Rudolph is also a serial entrepreneur and founder of Cellphire, a biotechnology company in phase II human clinical trials for freeze-dried platelets. He has published over 100 papers and 15 patents; come learn even more about his legacy and next plans at the event!Pathfinding Partnerships Category:
"We Are Water Exhibit and Research Program Inspires Awareness and Change in Desert Southwest"
Lead Organization: Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES)at the University of Colorado Boulder, a joint institute with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
The We Are Water project brought together diverse partners, including Indigenous education organizations, local libraries, and climate scientists to enhance community resilience in the face of climate change impacts like drought and wildfires. This multi-entity education-focused research team collaborated on water exhibits, storytelling sessions, lessons, and community activities conducted in English, Spanish, Navajo, and Ute languages, leading to increased community engagement, awareness, and respect for different perspectives on water. By centering the expertise and experiences of all collaborators, the project resulted in a more inclusive exhibit and a model for meaningful community-research partnerships.Technology Transfer Category:
"Radiofrequency Measurements to Address Electromagnetic Compatibility between Radar Altimeters and 5G Base Stations"
Lead organization: Institute for Telecommunication Sciences at the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), U.S. Department of Commerce
Researchers from the Institute for Telecommunication Sciences (ITS) swiftly addressed concerns regarding potential interference between new C-Band 5G base stations and airborne radar altimeters. Collaborating with a diverse group of stakeholders including wireless companies, airlines, technology companies and other federal agencies they designed and executed comprehensive airborne measurements of 5G radiation patterns, concluding that altimeter receivers with suitable filters and suppression mechanisms would not experience interference. Their data played a pivotal role in resolving concerns that had delayed 5G commercial services deployment near airports, ultimately enabling full-power 5G deployments on July 1, 2023, following an $80 billion spectrum license auction.Outstanding Early Career Scientist: Dr. K. Shankari
Dr. K. Shankari is a trailblazing expert in open-source computer systems for sustainable transportation. Her groundbreaking research in computational mobility, spanning over 30 publications and reports, focuses on understanding and influencing travel behavior to support decarbonization and improve global transportation infrastructure. Dr. Shankari's vision led to the creation of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) Open Platform for Agile Trip Heuristics (OpenPATH), a groundbreaking open-source tool that empowers communities to collect and analyze their own transportation data, removing financial barriers and democratizing access. Her dedication to equitable access to transportation data was honed through advocacy and committee service, inspiring her mission to provide a comprehensive view of travel behavior, including micromobility, in underrepresented communities. Dr. Shankari's work is bridging the data gap and shifting the focus from car-centric to people-centric transportation decarbonization, with over 15 communities worldwide benefiting from NREL OpenPATH.
"We are all better off because of your tenacious, inspiring efforts to learn more and to solve such vexing problems. Your discoveries transcend the boundaries of Colorado to make our country and the world safer, more resilient and prosperous. We are indeed fortunate to be home to this incredible concentration of dedicated scientists whose work is having such profound impacts on society. On behalf of all Coloradans I am proud to add my congratulations and appreciation for all that you do."- Colorado Governor Jared Polis re: the 2022 Award Winners
Event Photos