Illuminating Research

UT engages the world’s top scholars and students in the quest for solutions to complex global issues. It is the hub of a vibrant research community that includes Oak Ridge National Laboratory, major private industry partners, federal agencies, local companies, and student-led start-ups.

A Climate for Connecting

A Climate for Connecting

A connection between three professors has launched more than five years of multidisciplinary projects funded by the nation’s top research agencies. They have collaborated on projects that help people understand their vulnerability to the elements and make decisions based on accurate weather data. Some projects aim to provide city officials with information on how green infrastructure projects could positively affect neighborhoods. Read More.

Absolute Blast

absolute blast

Rachel Kronyak is one of only a few researchers worldwide exploring Mars in augmented reality. A headset called the HoloLens shows Kronyak, a doctoral student in the Department of Geology, the surface of Mars in a three-dimensional hologram. The images used to build the hologram are taken by Curiosity, the NASA rover that has been exploring the planet for the past six years. Read More

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The Natural Classroom

The Natural Classroom

Just a short drive from UT’s campus and Knoxville’s paved streets and city lights, an outdoor expanse provides not only a radical change of scenery but unique educational opportunities for the university’s faculty and students. Though the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most-visited national park in the country, it’s much more than a recreational place. Home to more than 19,000 species of living organisms, the park is one of the most ecologically diverse places in the United States, making it a classroom like no other. Read More.