Bachelor of fine arts in art teaching student Courtney Buss is helping create social change through art in a collaboration with Sydney Porter Williams, a community-based teaching artist and professor of art and art education at the University of Utah. Porter Williams collaborated with Buss and other undergraduate students to co-create a socially engaged, interactive […]
Topic: Student Innovation @ the U 2025
Fixing Accessibility Barriers
They say when one door closes, another opens, but that isn’t always the case when it comes to accessibility on campus. At the University of Utah, senior Ada Popham is taking an innovative approach to ensuring that doors — both literal and figurative — are open for everyone. Popham, a fine arts major with an […]
From Atoms to Art
What do chemistry and ballet have in common? For Kirsten Rye, the answer is creativity. A senior double majoring in ballet and chemistry with a minor in ecology and legacy through the Honors College, Rye sees movement not just in dance, but in atoms. “I want to combine both subjects, to teach the same kids’ […]
Exploring Local Greek History
Salt Lake City has a long and rich history of Greek migration. Alexia Maikidou Poutrino, an MFA candidate in modern dance at the University of Utah, explored this local Greek history through her research. She utilized Screendance — a hybrid art form that merges dance and film — to create a film that brings new […]
AI-Powered Rock Strength Analysis
Changdi He, a Ph.D. candidate in mining engineering at the University of Utah, is revolutionizing how rock strength is analyzed using image processing, numerical modeling, and machine learning. His research introduces a novel, AI-driven approach to determining rock strength, which could enhance efficiency in mining and geological studies while also finding applications in planetary exploration. […]
Building Resilient Communities
At the Utah Smart Energy Lab, Alex Farley, a fourth-year Ph.D. student, is merging engineering with community resilience principles to strengthen local infrastructure. His work on resilience hubs, a concept that retrofits community spaces like libraries and meeting centers with resources, services, and robust energy systems, offers a proactive approach to extreme weather challenges. Farley […]
Low-Cost Energy Storage
Yana Qin, a Ph.D. student in chemical engineering at the University of Utah, has made innovative contributions to the field of low-cost energy storage technologies, including advancements in flow batteries and sodium-ion batteries. Among her significant achievements, Qin has invented a magnesium-organic flow battery, a transformative technology designed to provide low-cost and sustainable energy storage […]
Gourmet, All-Natural Dog Treats
Idaho Barkery founder Sabrina Sherwood is a clinical pharmacist, dog lover, and entrepreneur who is dedicated to serving our furry friends gourmet all-natural treats. Based in Boise, Idaho, her company sells healthy, handcrafted treats from fresh ingredients online and at a growing number of pet stores. “My unique background as a pharmacist has helped me […]
A Tasty and Convenient Breakfast
Getting a balanced breakfast every morning can be hard, especially as a college student with limited time and space. Jack Urness, a mechanical engineering student at the University of Utah, is working on a solution. He is the founder of Up&Oat, a company making an overnight oat mix that only requires milk or water. Urness […]
Custom, Sustainable Bracelets
University of Utah business and ethics student Houston Brackett is an innovative artist with a love of creation and purpose. He is the founder of Juice Artistry, a startup focusing on making fashionable, eco-friendly accessories, such as handbags and bracelets. “Juice” is his family nickname, and “Artistry” refers to the artistry aspect of his business. […]