Boston University Photonics Center Part of $19.7M MLSC Grant Wins
“This investment will equip Boston University with advanced spatial and molecular imaging capabilities at resolutions essential to understand and interact with biology at the most fundamental scale,” said Kenneth Lutchen, Boston University Vice President and Associate Provost for Research. “The award further amplifies how the Photonics Center can advance interdisciplinary collaboration and hands-on training for the next generation […]
Keith Brown to Lead Materials Science & Engineering Division
Boston University College of Engineering has appointed Keith Brown, associate professor of mechanical engineering, materials science and engineering, and physics, as head of the Division of Materials Science & Engineering (MSE), effective July 1, 2026. Brown succeeds David Bishop, who is stepping down after 15 years as division head, guiding MSE’s growth, research excellence, and interdisciplinary collaborations.
We Can Predict Space Weather. What If We Could Also Stop It?
Solar flares and geomagnetic storms can kill satellites and mess with GPS. A BU researcher has designed a space-based system to better protect us from rogue interplanetary weather.
Photonics In Space Brings Together Out of this World Speakers
by Danny Giancioppo | Photos by Danny Giancioppo & Kelly Peña April 9th, 2026 marked the 27th annual Photonics Center symposium, with the subject “Photonics in Space.” Co-Hosted by Professors Joshua Semeter and Brian Walsh, this event brought together hundreds of guests from around the country interested one of the nation’s greatest scientific advancements: astronomy […]
Asking the BIG Questions in Kirit Karkare’s Cosmology Lab
Karkare’s group works with laboratories across the country on macro telescopes in the South Pole to create a 3D map of the universe. by Danny Giancioppo, Photos by Kelly Peña “How did the universe begin? Why are we here? To Assistant Professor Kirit Karkare (PHYS), this is the most fundamental scientific question one can ask. […]
Xin Zhang, Irving Bigio, and More Featured in “Best of The Brink 2025” Inventions List
From soft robots that could make cancer surgery safer to an algorithm that boosts hearing aid performance, how BU research made a difference this year
“Community, Friends, and Future Connections” | REU 2025 Recap
A Polymer That Defies Nature: The First Molecularly Impermeable Plastic
For decades, scientists believed all plastics shared one unavoidable weakness: no matter how dense or strong, gases could always slip through. Even the toughest polymers, from bulletproof Kevlar to everyday food packaging, may look solid, but at the molecular level, tiny gas molecules can still sneak through. That’s why potato chips go stale and packaged […]
David Bishop Wins Prestigious Prize for His Contributions to Understanding Superfluids
The Head of Boston University’s College of Engineering Division of Materials Science & Engineering is recognized for his landmark thesis research
Farming the Fundamentals with Savannah Schisler
PhD Student Savannah Schisler measures sustainable thermodynamics through a mechanical lens. by Jack Osmond Savannah Schisler’s path to pursuing her PhD in Mechanical Engineering was far from traditional. She grew up on a farm in Littlestown, Pennsylvania, an experience which nurtured an early interest in sustainability and a desire to understand the fundamentals of the […]