ATLAS Research
ATLAS labs produce interdisciplinary research, design & creativity
One of 12 institutes at CU Boulder, ATLAS is home to researchers who transcend traditional disciplinary structures of engineering, design, science and art to inspire new realms of invention. We make tangible and digital tools and methods that shape how people interact with the world for a more inclusive, inspired and sustainable society.
Individually, ATLAS labs serve as hubs for specialized in-depth research in textiles, human-computer interaction, biomaterials, nanotech, data, fabrication, music, language, art, performance and more. Together they comprise a larger force for unconventional lines of inquiry, radical creative expression and spontaneous collaboration.
ATLAS Research Labs
ACME Lab
Ellen Yi-Luen Do, Director
The ACME Creativity Machine Environment Lab explores and develops computational tools for design, creativity, cognition, tangible and embedded interaction, and computing for health and wellness.
Brain Music Lab
Grace Leslie, Director
The Brain Music Lab pursues research to promote health and well-being by combining new music technologies with biometric data from EEG brainwave data and other physiological measurement techniques.
Emergent Nanomaterials Lab
Carson Bruns, Director
By synthesizing and combining nanoscale building blocks, the Emergent Nanomaterials Lab designs technologies that enhance the quality of human lives in health, sensory augmentation and self-expression.
Living Matter Lab
Mirela Alistar, Director
Working at the intersection of biology, engineering and art, the Living Matter Lab interfaces with biological matter, the micro-world and the environment in unique ways.
Programmable Reality Lab
Ryo Suzuki, Director
The goal of Programmable Reality Lab is to make our whole living environment dynamic, interactive, and programmable to transform our living space into a dynamic medium.
TYPO Lab
Joel Swanson, Director
TYPO Lab is an experimental studio for creative work and research related to the technologies of language. It empowers faculty and students to explore and appreciate the media and methods of words.
Unstable Design Lab
Laura Devendorf, Director
An advocate for the arts within engineering fields, the Unstable Design Lab focuses on advancing textile design and fabrication, including the integration of circuitry and other technologies.
Utility Research Lab
Michael Rivera, Director
The Utility Research Lab invents and investigates digital fabrication technology, tools and techniques that empower us to create things that positively impact people, society and the environment.
ATLAS Colloquium Series
Each week during the fall and spring semesters, we host dynamic speakers from academia and industry who work in fields of interest to the creative technology and design community. Whether artists, creatives, scientists, researchers, entrepreneurs or free spirits, these speakers share their interdisciplinary experience and knowledge in an intimate, small-group setting. We promote rigorous, curiosity-driven investigation in a thriving academic community that is supportive, energetic and playful.
Talks are free to the public in-person or online. See the Colloquium page for upcoming events and an archive of past event recordings.
Experimental Weaving Talk Series
The experimental weaving talk series began in 2022 to engage different perspectives on what “experimentation” means to weavers across art, design, and technology practices.
The 2024-25 talk series is curated around the theme of “expanding experimentation” with the goal of turning attention to the broader cultural, personal, and contextual discourses present in experimental weaving.
The talks are free to the public and are all accessible online. See the calender for upcoming events and view past talks on YouTube.
ATLAS Research News
ATLAS Research Catalog
Get inspired by radical creativity and invention. Download the ATLAS Research Catalog for a detailed look at how the ATLAS community is inventing the future. Explore the novel interdisciplinary work each of our research labs pursues.
The catalog is relevant to those curious about the breadth of our work. It includes:
- Introduction from Institute Director Mark D Gross
- Lab overviews
- Lab director bios
- Project descriptions
- High-resolution images
- Details on participating in our vibrant community
Affiliated Labs
We partner with likeminded labs across the CU-Boulder community to expand our research and creative capabilities.
ATLAS Sponsors
The ATLAS Institute appreciates the support of our sponsors in advancing our collective understanding of the world.
