2015 -

2015 Application Topic 1: Cybersecurity

Our daily life, the work that we do, and the future of our nation depend on computers and computer security. Computers in our smart devices, laptops and desktops, and increasingly in equipment, rely on a vast array of networks to communicate. The growing use of social-networking sites like Facebook and YouTube, along with technical advances in data-retrieval techniques, is providing new opportunities to make use of people’s personal information. The world is more connected than ever before and we have more information at our finger tips than any previous generation, yet we are more vulnerable to theft, fraud, and abuse via data breaches, phishing, and software and hardware design flaws. News of cyber-attacks and intrusions have increased dramatically over the last decade. Increasingly we all learn of individuals and businesses having suffered the loss of sensitive information, such as personal financial and health data, and intellectual property, and of the U.S. government’s internet-based cyber-infrastructure having been undermined.

UC Berkeley has been a leader in integrating disciplines to develop cyber security science and technology that will radically transform the ability of organizations to design, build, and operate trustworthy information systems, and UC Berkeley has also been a leader in teaching techniques to manage data. In the summer of 2015, one professor and two instructors from Bay Area community colleges participated in in Data Security and Data Privacy research at UC Berkeley.

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2015 Application Topic 2: Energy

Energy is a very important driver of the economy in the US and around the world. As we migrate to energy source alternatives to fossil fuels, researchers have been addressing many technological challenges to make renewable technologies viable. Research in new energy technologies is extremely diverse, ranging from conceiving and validating new power generation concepts, identifying and engineering novel materials, improving efficiency, lowering costs, to integrating the new technologies into the power grid.

Researchers across UC Berkeley have been tackling energy challenges for decades and are continuing to do so. In the summer of 2015, one community college professor participated in the development of tools to learn about the impact of integrated new energy generation technologies into the power grid. A community collge instructor conducted nano-materials research that may be applicable in the field of energy.

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2015 RET Program Participants and Research Projects

Thermal Conduction in Semiconducting Oxide Alloys for Thermoelectrics

Photo of Scott Beaver Community College Faculty Researcher: Scott Beaver
Home Institutions: Merritt College, Oakland, CA & College of Marin, Kentfield, CA
Teaching: Chemistry
Hosting Organization: Materials Science and Engineering Department, UC Berkeley
Faculty Advisor: Professor Junqiao Wu
Mentor: Dr. Hwan Sung Choe
Abstract of Research: Exotic phase transition materials, such as vanadium oxide (VO₂) thin films, may enhance the heat flow for nanodevices. Thermal conduction measurements were made for VO₂ and WVO₂ (18% tungsten) thin films grown on silicon wafers. The differential 3ω method was used to measure cross plane thermal conductivity in the temperature range -20 to 100 °C. Thermal conductivity ranged 0.9-1.9 W/mK. Phase transitions occurring for all films around 300-320 °K had small (~20%) changes in thermal conductivity.