Bin Yan is a Ph.D. student in Architecture who is studying at the T.C. Chan Center. She received her undergraduate degree from Tsinghua University in the Department of Building Science. She received seven scholarships to attend school. When she isn’t doing research, Bin enjoys taking walks and capturing beautiful natural scenes with her camera, cooking for friends, and talking about her studies, research and books. Since visiting the Philadelphia Orchestra, Bin was inspired by the music and started to learn to play the piano. Your current research topic is Uncertainty Analysis of Energy Consumption Prediction of HVAC Systems. How did you decide to study this topic? The problem of uncertainty bothers me a lot. Uncertainty is everywhere, not just in research or study. For example, what I will do after graduation is a super big uncertainty. In a smaller aspect, whether I will catch a cold tomorrow is also uncertain. What I am learning is how I can live in a world where nothing is certain. Dr. Malkawi suggested that I explore this interest by looking into the uncertainty problem in my field. I think it is really a good idea since he suggested. I am excited to officially investigate something that I am always trying to manage. It even occurred to me that maybe I will become a more optimistic person after I finish my thesis since I will have a better understanding of uncertainty. Of course, there are also very solid academic reasons for choosing this topic. When I was an undergraduate, I was very confused about the inputs for building simulations. I felt frustrated that there is no way to make sure that my inputs are exactly the same as, or even very close to the reality. And then I was not confident about my results. As my experience accumulates, I started to realize how data can be manipulated. So the question of how a simulation with so much uncertainty can be applied in order to make better decision is important. What's more, this research issue hasn’t drawn enough attention and has not been solved. Prof. Yi Jiang from Tsinghua University also encouraged me to look into this topic. He hopes that when I solve this problem, I can think more about fundamental principles of the system. My background is in HVAC systems, which helps me in the practical applications of my studies. Building simulation is a field that deals with energy conservation and sustainability, so it is it is definitely worth my effort. What is one of the major challenges in your research? I am trying to apply Machine Learning to my research. Machine learning is a scientific discipline that is focused on the computer designs evolve behaviors based on data, such as from sensor data. Machine Learning can help with difficult simulations that are based on real time data. Machine Learning is complex and challenging and can be misunderstood. I hope I will have chances to discuss my studies with more people in order to get better ideas and improve my research. What are you hoping to learn from your research? Knowledge about HVAC systems and Machine Learning is important and fascinating. But the most important thing is the method of doing research. So far I really enjoy it, because I feel I am learning something new and interesting every day. How do you think that your research will have an impact on sustainability? If I can clarify the uncertainty issue well, it can be applied to simulation calibration and system fault detection in HVAC systems. Application of this research will help save energy and improve sustainability. A Why did you choose to study at the T.C. Chan Center? Its reputation. Prof. Yi Jiang from Tsinghua University recommended me to Dr. Ali Malkawi at the Center. I am grateful to have this chance to study here. After you graduate, what are your plans for the future? I hope I can continue to research in this field, learn something new and interesting everyday, and enjoy doing research!

When first-year biology students signed up for Professor Buck Sanford's newest class, they really signed up for something bigger: a real-life probe into global warming. Professor Buck Sanford and students measure tree buds as part of Project Budburst, a real-life probe into global warming. For their class lab work, students measured tree buds as leaves emerged this spring and uploaded their data into global databases. Scientists around the world will study the records of bud development to see if global warming is affecting how early tree leaves emerge. "These measurements really do matter," Sanford warned his students as they prepared for their first day of data collection. "The data you collect will be studied by a global community of scientists, a community that you are now part of." The research process in the field Every tree on campus is tagged with a number, so students in future generations can find the exact same tree today's students are studying. Each student in Sanford's class selected a bud on a tree and tagged the area so the same bud could be revisited. Then, for five weeks, students measured their selected bud three times a week and charted its growth as a leaf emerged and started to grow. First-year student Larisa Clark collects measurements to add to the Project Budburst database. The students then logged on a Web site and uploaded their weekly findings. Scientists worldwide can access the database and analyze the measurements for decades to come to look for trends in bud growth over time. Briefing the new students, teaching assistant Kris Veo stressed the importance of gathering good information. "This is kind of a big deal," he said. "This is why you need to be vigilant and get good data... it's not just for a grade this time. What you're doing is contributing to a global database. These people are relying on you." Project BudBurst Sanford's students are part of a campaign called Project BudBurst, led by Sandra Henderson, a science educator at the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) Office of Education and Outreach in Boulder, Colo. BudBurst gathers data in a scientific field called phenology, the study of the influence of climate on annual natural events, such as plant budding and bird migration. With an army of 180 students that took Sanford's labs in the spring quarter, and DU's collection of documented and protected trees in the campus-wide arboretum, the University can provide Project BudBurst with a wealth of data about bud activity in Denver every spring. Sanford is committed to continuing the data collection with his classes every year. First-year student Aaron Hogan, who's working toward a degree in ecology, says he enjoys getting out in the field and doing real research. Hogan says he hopes his study of life and biodiversity will help him in his career. "I think it's good that our work will help others and add to the information that's out there." Sanford says his class isn't pushing any one theory of global warming. Rather, it's testing the hypothesis that something is altering the life cycle of plants around the world.