Developing new and more powerful electron and optical devices, pioneering one of the nation's most successful interdisciplinary telecommunications programs, studying the effects of electromagnetic fields on humans - Distinguished Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering Frank Barnes has been busy since his arrival at CU in 1959. "I guess I've looked into a lot of different things," he said.

His major field is the development of new electron and optical devices. Typically these devices advance the speed of information transfer, which impacts everything from operating rooms to cell phones. Current projects include studies of Bragg optical fibers and space division multiplexing on multimode optical fibers. Others have included low noise avalanche photo diodes, microwave oscillators, flash lamps, and the use of high temperature superconductors in magnetic recording.

	Frank Barnes has had a long and varied career at the University of Colorado - in the classroom, in the laboratory, and in the administrative office. Rong Zhuo (top left and bottom right) is a visiting assistant professor from Chengdu.

"Learning new things is fun," Barnes said, "and even more so when what you discover turns out to be useful."

Barnes also founded a pioneering educational program, the Interdisciplinary Telecommunications Program (ITP), in 1971. In 2004, he received the National Academy of Engineering's top educational honor, recognizing innovation in engineering and technology education, for his work. The Bernard M. Gordon Prize honors Barnes "for pioneering an interdisciplinary telecommunications program that produces leaders who bridge engineering, social science, and public policy." His ITP was built on the concept that future engineers need more than a mastery of technical details; they also need an appreciation of the policy and business aspects of industry. At the time this was a truly visionary concept.

Barnes is also currently exploring the effects of electric and magnetic fields on the immune system. Barnes has served as interim dean of the College of Engineering, chair of the electrical and computer engineering department, and founder of electrical and engineering departments at other CU campuses. He has been elected to the National Academy of Engineering, among the highest professional distinctions accorded an engineer.

"In engineering we solve other people's problems," Barnes said, "and it often takes funds as well as time and the right information to resolve important problems. Sponsored research is often the solution."