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CE-CERT News & Highlights

UCR News

a drone image of campus.
December 05, 2025
Clearing the Air
Alumnus William Carter has pledged two gifts totaling an estimated $3.65 million to UCR.
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Gasoline pumps
November 25, 2025
Study finds lower emissions from higher-ethanol gasoline
Landmark UC Riverside vehicle emissions study allows California to move forward with less costly and less polluting gasoline blend.
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Sea water
November 03, 2025
UV light holds promise for energy-efficient desalination
UCR experiments offer a pathway for solar desalination solutions
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Cargo ships enters Port of Long Beach
June 02, 2025
UCR launches study of ship emissions off SoCal coast
A team of UC Riverside environmental engineers are embarking on a $3.5 million study of air pollution from massive oceangoing vessels that frequent the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach—one of the region’s largest sources of toxic air pollution.
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Inside UCR

Matthew Barth
December 11, 2025
Professor honored by National Academy of Inventors
Matthew Barth, a longtime UC Riverside engineering professor whose work has shaped global transportation systems and clean mobility innovations, has been named a Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI).
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Thomas Koch Professor Karlsruhe Institute of Technology and CEO of Allianz Wasserstoff Motor
May 14, 2025
Conference touts the promise of clean hydrogen technology
Created by UC Riverside, University of Michigan, and several industry partners, the Hydrogen Engine Alliance - North America hosted the Inaugural 2025 North American Hydrogen Engine Conference in Riverside on May 1 and 2.
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Top 2%
November 25, 2024
UCR environmental engineering faculty make the Top 2% list
Four UC Riverside research scientists have been named among the top 2% of scientists worldwide in a list compiled by Stanford University and Elsevier.
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Traffic at night
June 03, 2024
UCR joins federal transportation research effort
UCR partners with five universities in a new, federally funded research center based at UC Davis to advance technologies needed to reduce vehicle emissions and improve climate resiliency in transportation.
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More from insideucr.ucr.edu

The 13th Annual International OSAR Conference

The 13th Annual International OSAR Conference, held at the California Air Resources Board (CARB) on March 14th and 15th, 2024, convened experts from 10 countries and 47 organizations. With a focus on "Driving Change for Cleaner Air," discussions centered on the role of onboard sensing technology in mitigating emissions and addressing environmental disparities.
By Sara Salsgiver |
Haishan Liu at 2024 Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting, in Washington DC.

Empowering Women in Transportation: Haishan Liu Awarded the 2023 WTS-IE Scholarship

In honor of International Women's Day, Haishan Liu, a graduate student researcher at CE-CERT, shares her journey and celebrates receiving the WTS-IE Scholarship. Through her passion for addressing transportation challenges, Haishan exemplifies the transformative impact of scholarships like WTS-IE in promoting gender equality and excellence in transportation.
By Sara Salsgiver |
5 panelists on stage for the sustainable freight panel at FISTS 2024

IEEE-FISTS 2024 Conference: The 4th IEEE Forum for Innovative Sustainable Transportation Systems Promotes Green Mobility

IEEE-FISTS 2024 took place in Riverside, CA from February 26 to 28, 2024, attracting approximately 120 attendees from around the globe. The conference provided a platform for discussions on eco-friendly intelligent transportation systems (ITS), electric vehicles (EVs), shared mobility, and sustainable freight.
By Sara Salsgiver |

Daniel Gonzalez: A First-Generation Scholar Paving the Way in Environmental Leadership

Graduate student Daniel Gonzalez has earned the Switzer Fellowship, a year-long program for environmentally dedicated students. He's leveraging this opportunity to build a network, develop equity-centered leadership skills, and further his mission of making a positive impact on the environment and disadvantaged communities.
By Sara Salsgiver |

CE-CERT Attends 2024 TRB Meeting, Secures Win in U.S. DOT Intersection Safety Challenge

CE-CERT has kickstarted 2024 on a high note! 12 of our brilliant faculty and students took the spotlight at the 2024 TRB Annual Meeting in D.C., with 13 presentations AND victory in the U.S. DOT Intersection Safety Challenge!
By Sara Salsgiver |
A Field Campaign on Marine Emissions

Sailing Towards Sustainability: A Field Campaign on Marine Emissions

In October 2023, CE-CERT researchers conducted a field campaign on a container ship from Long Beach to Honolulu to study marine emissions and evaluate emerging engine technology.
By Sara Salsgiver |

Scientists characterize nanometer-thin coatings of salt on aerosolized nanoplastics

Even as microplastics gain attention as a pollutant widely found in all environments, methods to detect airborne nanoplastics and the implications for public health and policy are not well known.
APL group at AAAR Conference

CE-CERT attends 41st AAAR Annual Conference: Dr. Sarah Petters Wins Prize

CE-CERT faculty and students attended the 41st AAAR Annual Conference in Portland, where Dr. Sarah Petters received the Juan de la Mora Prize for her work on sub-10-nm particles.

Celebrating Excellence: Three CE-CERT Affiliated Faculty Members Named in the World’s Top 2% Scientists List for 2023

CE-CERT proudly acknowledges the remarkable achievements of Dr. Matthew Barth, Dr. William (Bill) Carter, and Dr. Georgios Karavalakis, whose pioneering research continues to shape environmental science and engineering.

UCR Graduate Student Ryan Drover Selected as Science Policy Scholar-in-Residence with the National Science Policy Network

UC Riverside's CE-CERT proudly announces Ryan Drover, a graduate student, as a National Science Policy Network (NSPN) Science Policy Scholar-in-Residence. Ryan joins the NSPN's SciPol Scholars program, focusing on health policy, vital science policy, and communication skills.

Dr. Tom Durbin named Fellow of the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE)

Dr. Tom Durbin receives the recognition of SAE Fellow for his outstanding contributions to automotive engineering, marking a remarkable 30-year journey of dedication, innovation, and impactful research.
students at ecocars booth for stepcon 2023

Inspiring the Future: CE-CERT Hosts STEPCon 2023

On October 5th, CE-CERT organized STEPCon 2023, the premier student STEM conference in the Inland Empire. The event engaged 4th to 12th graders with hands-on experiences, exhibits, and presentations, bringing STEM fields to life.

CE-CERT Welcomes New Faculty Member: Dr. Sarah Petters

Dr. Sarah Petters has joined CE-CERT, focusing on aerosol composition and condensed-phase reactions. Petters emphasizes perseverance in research, viewing setbacks as integral to progress. Her plans include establishing her lab, building collaborations, and advancing analytical techniques.
Markus Petters

CE-CERT Welcomes New Faculty Member: Dr. Markus Petters

Dr. Markus Petters, a prominent environmental researcher at CE-CERT, delves into atmospheric particulate matter's complexities. His work spans health, climate, and air quality, emphasizing mentorship to bridge the skills gap in graduate students.
Dr Hang Qui

CE-CERT Welcomes New Faculty Member: Dr. Hang Qiu

Dr. Hang Qiu, CE-CERT's new full-time professor, brings expertise in collaborative intelligence within cyber-physical systems. His research aims to merge robot, edge/cloud, and human intelligence to enable cooperation among autonomous entities.

Scientists Investigate Pollution-Cloud Interaction in SCILLA Experiment off Southern California Coast

In a research project based out of San Diego, CE-CERT researchers have been delving into the fascinating interaction between low-level clouds and a unique blend of clean marine air and highly polluted air originating from the emissions-rich Los Angeles/Long Beach region.

California Air Resources Board (CARB) Awards UCR CE-CERT and Partners A Major Research Program on Non-Exhaust Emissions

CARB awarded a research program to UCR's CE-CERT and partners, focusing on non-exhaust emissions from vehicles. Led by Dr. Georgios Karavalakis, the project aims to improve measurement methods and understand the environmental and health impact of brake and tire wear particles.

CE-CERT Joins DHS-led Initiative to Unveil “H2Rescue,” A Sustainable Emergency Response Vehicle

CE-CERT is proud to announce our involvement in an initiative led by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to develop and deploy sustainable technologies for emergency response.

CE-CERT Researchers Participate in DOE VTO Annual Merit Review

CE-CERT researchers, Tom Durbin, Kanok Boriboonsomsin, and Guoyuan Wu, participated in the DOE VTO's Annual Merit Review. Held virtually, this event evaluated ongoing transportation research projects for alignment with DOE goals.

CE-CERT's OSAR Research Program Advances in the Second Quarter of 2023

CE-CERT's OSAR research program, funded by California agencies, has achieved significant progress deploying advanced emission sensing systems on heavy-duty vehicle fleets in the second quarter of 2023. Collaborating with Emisense, this initiative aims to revolutionize real-world emission monitoring, with plans for further expansion and comprehensive data collection in the upcoming quarter.
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