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Northwestern Launches the Thriving Planet Institute
Led by Professor Jennifer Dunn, researchers, students, and external partners will work to address the intertwined water, land, and air challenges that impact human health.Jun 10, 2026|from Northwestern Engineering News
Danielle Tullman-Ercek Named New Chair of Northwestern Chemical and Biological Engineering
Tullman-Ercek will succeed Justin Notestein, effective September 1, 2026.Jun 9, 2026|from Northwestern Engineering News
Northwestern Researchers Pitch Ideas with Environmental and Health Impact
At an event led by Professor Jennifer Dunn, interdisciplinary teams competed for $200,000 in seed funding; a group headed by Professor Giorgia Chinazzo will receive $71,000, and another with Pablo Durango-Cohen, Amanda Stathopoulos, Niall Mangan, Daniel Horton, and Bret Johnson will also receive $71,000.Jun 1, 2026|from Northwestern Engineering News
Water Scarcity Could Undercut US Lithium Mining
Professor Jennifer Dunn found that climate-driven water shortages in already arid western US regions could significantly constrain proposed domestic lithium mining projects needed to support clean energy technologies.May 28, 2026|from Northwestern Engineering News
Rethinking Disaster Recovery
A new report, coauthored by Northwestern University faculty including Professors Emeritus Stephen Carr and William Miller, Professor Jennifer Dunn, and Adjunct Professor Andreas Waechter, urges immediate reforms in post-disaster reconstruction.May 26, 2026|from Northwestern Engineering News
Megalibraries in Pole Position for Autonomous Discovery over Self-Driving Labs
Professor Chad Mirkin demonstrated that a high-speed materials platform could generate massive data to fuel AI-driven discovery.May 26, 2026|from Northwestern Engineering News
The Hidden Cost of AI: Organizations That Agree Too Fast
Julio M. Ottino, Walter P. Murphy Professor and former dean, writes in Fast Company that as AI removes friction from decision-making, organizations risk losing the productive disagreement that drives innovation.May 21, 2026|from Fast Company
Omar Farha Receives Inaugural Reticular Science Prize
The honor is for major advances in the design, discovery, and application of molecularly defined materials.May 20, 2026|from Northwestern Engineering News
Jeffrey Richards Wins Arthur B. Metzner Early Career Award
The recognition highlights Richards’ work to advance soft materials for next-generation energy technologies.May 19, 2026|from Northwestern Engineering News
Antonio Daniels, Aaron W. Saak to Speak at 2026 Graduation Ceremonies
On June 15, the two respected alumni will address graduates at the McCormick Undergraduate Convocation and PhD Hooding and Master’s Degree Recognition Ceremony, respectively.Apr 30, 2026|from Northwestern Engineering News
Bottled Lightning Makes a Cleaner Fuel
Professor Dayne Swearer found that bursts of plasma convert methane into methanol without high heat and pressures.Apr 15, 2026|from Northwestern Engineering News
Engineering Reliable Water
The projects by Ethan Halingstad and Joaquina Noriega combine fieldwork, data analysis, and community collaboration to address water access and quality.Mar 25, 2026|from Northwestern Engineering News
Studying Nanoparticle Shedding to Improve Targeted Therapies
Professor Lisa Volpatti studied how surface chemistry shapes delivery, stability, and targeting in experimental medicines, with implications for safer and more effective cancer and genetic therapies.Mar 23, 2026|from Northwestern Engineering News
Notestein Named McCormick’s Associate Dean for Research and Doctoral Education
Effective September 1, 2026, Professor Justin Notestein will succeed Erik Luijten, who will be the University’s Provost.Mar 12, 2026|from Northwestern Engineering News
AI-Designed Modular Robots Keep Moving When Damaged
The Engineer wrote about the work by Professor Sam Kriegman, who developed a modular robotic system designed to operate outdoors and maintain mobility, even when damaged.Mar 11, 2026|from The Engineer