In the world of hydraulic fracturing, where subterranean fractures are forced open to extract oil or gas, much is done before the drill meets the earth. Research to pinpoint the ideal extraction spot would be impossible if it had to be conducted 1-2 miles down in the Earth’s core.

Excellence in engineering took center stage as Joseph W. Tedesco, Elizabeth D. Rockwell Dean of the Cullen College, recognized the outstanding performances of faculty, staff and students in teaching, research and service at the spring faculty and staff meeting.

When it comes to clean water, Yandi Hu and Debora Rodrigues have a thirst for it. Hu, UH assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering, works with Flint, Michigan on their water crisis and conducts research on reducing lead release in water lines. Rodrigues, UH associate professor of civil and environmental engineering, helps improve global access to clean water with a nano-sized technology that can weed out metals and microorganisms from drinking sources.

With more than 74,000 metric tons of used nuclear fuel stored at locations around the United States, ensuring the safety of moving it to more secure disposal sites is a top federal priority.

A University of Houston engineer will lead a $3 million, multi-institution effort to develop monitoring techniques to ensure the nuclear materials remain stable during transit under both normal conditions and in case of an accident.

Take a car trip from Houston and you’ll likely drive over one of the 50,000 bridges that span the great state of Texas. During your drive you probably never wondered if the weight limits on the bridges were accurate. But then, that’s why we have Mina Dawood, associate professor of civil and environmental engineering in the Cullen College.

Singapore’s Changi Airport, voted the world’s best airport for the fourth consecutive year, already offers travelers a wide array of top-notch amenities, including a rooftop pool, 24-hour cinema, butterfly garden and multiple spas. But in 2018, the airport will unveil its newest attraction – the world’s tallest indoor waterfall called the Rain Vortex.

Everyone with a water faucet knows the nuisance of limescale, the chalky deposits of minerals that tend to build up inside of water heaters, pipes and pots. If left untreated, limescale can obstruct the flow of water through pipes and cause serious damage to various components of water lines and water heating systems.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) recently awarded Yandi Hu, assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering at the UH Cullen College, a three-year, $188,531 grant to explore lead phosphate formations in water distribution lines.

Researchers at the Cullen College of Engineering have discovered an innovative method for destroying bacteria in a matter of seconds by using light to heat highly porous gold nanodisks. A research paper describing the method was featured on the cover of the April issue of Optical Materials Express.