Carlos A. Ríos Ocampo To Attend NAE’s Frontiers of Engineering Symposium

The National Academy of Engineering (NAE) has selected Carlos A. Ríos Ocampo, an assistant professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering (MSE), as one of the 76 distinguished early career scientists attending the 2024 Grainger Foundation Frontiers of Engineering Symposium.

Ríos Ocampo, who conducts research in photonic materials and devices, will participate in a signature activity that brings together engineers conducting exceptional academic and technical work in a variety of fields, and that facilitates collaborations and professional networks for the rising generation of scientists.

“I am excited to participate in this enriching event, where I will have the opportunity to join the discussion around some of the most pressing engineering challenges, and learn from many of the top engineers and researchers in the USA. It is also a great honor to join the renowned list of FOE alumni,” said the assistant professor.

The symposium will be held from September 11–14 at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine’s Beckman Center in Irvine, California. It will explore discussions about water-air-surface connections for indoor microbiology and health; the future of AI; understanding and engineering connections between the gut and the brain; and the impending revolution of the digital twin.

Rios Ocampo will use his research background on photonic storage and computing accelerators to enhance the typical software-centric discussions and bring conversations on emerging AI-tailored hardware to the table, which is also crucial in building the future of AI.

The assistant professor, who won the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics’ Prize for Young Scientist in Optics later last year, joins fellow peers from renowned academic and corporate institutions such as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, IBM Research, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory and Oak Ridge National Laboratory, among others.

He joins a group of A. James Clark School of Engineering symposium alums, including Dean Samuel Graham, Jr., past MSE Chair JC Zhao, MSE Chair and Professor Ichiro Takeuchi, Associate Professor John Cumings and Assistant Professor You Zhou.

“Engineering impacts every aspect of our lives. From transportation to global communications, medical advancements, water and food security, to the everyday items that make our lives easier, engineering plays a vital role,” said NAE President John L. Anderson. “As our world evolves, engineering must too. That means that engineers must be ready with the advanced knowledge and professional networks needed to create new solutions that meet the needs of our ever-changing world.”

Published July 10, 2024