Real research. Real people. Real impact.
Federal funding turns our engineering research into real-world solutions that improve the lives of all people and the planet. Below, our engineering researchers describe the impact of their work and the consequences if federal support for this cutting-edge research were reduced or eliminated.
“Without federal funding, we hand over AI dominance to foreign nations.”
Raissa D’Souza, associate dean of research and professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering and computer science, emphasized the crucial role of federal funding for academic research, particularly in this time of developing artificial intelligence.
Engineering Experts Weigh In
Without Federal Support, Fewer Solutions Move from the Lab to Real-World Use
Investments from agencies like NSF, USDA and NASA enable Associate Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Zhaodan Kong to develop technologies that work with humans, such as wildfire-detection drones that support firefighters. Without funding, testing and getting technologies into the hands of people who need them becomes much harder.
See Kong discuss the benefits of human-centered technologies
Lack of Federal Funding Shortchanges Long-Term Breakthroughs in Health Monitoring
In one of her research projects, Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Cristina Davis and her team are developing wearable sensors to monitor increasing exposures that could harm our health, such as chemicals released by wildfires. Without federal support, the nation risks decades of stalling scientific progress on such projects.
Watch Professor Davis speak on why federal funding is needed
USDA-Funded Research Advances Sustainable Food Systems
Assistant Professor of Biological and Agricultural Engineering Md Shamim Ahamed develops solutions to help grow food more efficiently in greenhouses and indoor farms. His team has developed systems that can cut energy and water use by up to 50 percent, helping to lower food costs and help farmers produce food year-round in changing climates.
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Recent Federally Funded Research News
New Platform Allows Researchers to Define Protein Function in Extracellular Vesicles for First Time
Federal Funding Powers Water-Efficient Farming, Protects California’s Future
Improving Cancer Treatment with Digital Twins
A Smarter Response to Disease: How UC Davis Engineers are Building Tools to Slow the Next Outbreak
Extracting Rare Earth Elements from U.S. Wastewaters
Federal Contract for up to $40 Million Fuels Research to Revolutionize Clean Indoor Air and Defend Against Next Pandemic
