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Stay updated with the latest developments in research and innovation. From groundbreaking scientific discoveries to research-focused headlines, our news section keeps you informed on stories that matter.
In early January, radio science researchers from across the United States and beyond came together for the National Radio Science Meeting (NRSM) at the University of Colorado Boulder. The meeting was attended by six SpectrumX members, who hosted workshops and participated in multiple panel discussions. The NRSM is sponsored by the U.S. National Committee for the International Union of Radio Science.
SpectrumX and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) Institute for Telecommunication Services (ITS) have formally agreed to work together on the mutually beneficial goals of advancing policy-relevant research and workforce development. The NTIA ITS conducts research in spectrum sciences to advance and satisfy federal policy requirements. Through the collaboration, SpectrumX’s interdisciplinary research, education, and workforce development activities will complement NTIA ITS efforts and pilot new ways that academic institutions can partner with federal agencies going forward. The collaboration is structured through a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) signed by NTIA ITS and the University of Notre Dame, lead
It seemed like a normal group meeting for students to share updates. Olin College of Engineering undergraduate students filtered into an open lab on a chilly Monday evening in Needham, Massachusetts. A large antenna laid on its side, mid-build in one corner of the room, a cube satellite (cubesat) in another, and stacks of amateur radio guides are along a wall for learners to borrow and prepare for the licensing test. Around 20 group members gathered around a table, briefing the room and their advisor, Professor Whitney Lohmeyer, on their latest updates.
Addressing U.S. radio spectrum challenges with innovative technology and policy options is one of the main objectives of SpectrumX, a National Science Foundation (NSF) Spectrum Innovation Center. Bringing together multi-disciplinary expertise, convening discussions, and prioritizing project directions is a key way the center is working with stakeholders to advance research, policy outreach, education, and more.
During the summer of 2022, SpectrumX along with its partners at its member institution the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) conducted a six-week virtual professional development program for ten middle and high school teachers. The educators were selected from across the United States through a competitive application process. The participants were chosen based on their experience creating original lessons and interest in incorporating more electromagnetic spectrum curricula into their classes.
Interference conflicts are ongoing challenges within the radio spectrum field. Within the U.S. spectrum ecosystem, commercial wireless networks for communication, internet access, scientific sensing for both environment and radio astronomy, broadcast, radar, position/navigation/timing, and more create a sometimes crowded atmosphere where signals compete.
In October, Admiral Christopher W. Grady, the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, joined faculty members at the University of Notre Dame for an update on the University’s research activities. Admiral Grady, a 1984 graduate of Notre Dame, is also a past recipient of the University’s Rev. William Corby, C.S.C., Award for distinguished military service.
SpectrumX is pleased to be able to offer educational opportunities for undergraduate students.
While they may have only had a few games on the field, researchers from both universities have long worked together in the lab — studying chronic disease and children’s health, exploring planet formation and building autonomous machines.
The SpectrumX leadership team invites expressions of interest from faculty members to design and develop courseware for one of three proposed online courses for publication on the Coursera platform. SpectrumX is launching a multi-course specialization (tentatively titled Spectrum Innovation) at the early graduate level in order to attract professionals to the field, upskill current practitioners, and support the broader educational goals of our grant and 29 institutional partners.
The SpectrumX Center Meeting on October 3 and 4, held at the University of Virginia (UVA), brought together over 65 learners and leaders for cross-cutting discussions on timely and interdisciplinary topics. “The meeting provided an opportunity for students, researchers, stakeholders, and professionals in policy making to come together at UVA to discuss some of the most important subjects in our field,” said Bobby Weikle, SpectrumX Steering Committee Chair and Radio and Network Technologies Research Lead, and Professor at the University of Virginia. “UVA has a long history of collaboration with the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO), and it was a
On Thursday, September 30, SpectrumX Center Director Nick Laneman gave a keynote address at GRCon 22 in Washington D.C. Laneman concurrently co-directs the Wireless Institute in the College of Engineering and is a professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering at the University of Notre Dame. GNU Radio is “a free and open-source software development toolkit that provides signal processing blocks to implement software radios,” according to its website. It is utilized by researchers, industry, government, hobbyist, and academic stakeholders alike.
SpectrumX, a U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) Spectrum Innovation Center, will host its next semi-annual center meeting on October 3 and 4, 2022. The event will bring together the center’s members and partners, including faculty and student researchers, industry collaborators, and government agency representatives, in a hybrid meeting format with in-person attendees enjoying the University of Virginia campus in Charlottesville. The center launched in September 2021 with a $25 million grant from the NSF Spectrum Innovation Initiative, and its members have been working hard to execute on plans and realize its vision as the world’s largest academic hub in the
On Saturday, September 17, 2022, Pedro Bustamante, former SpectrumX member and postdoctoral researcher at the Center for Governance and Markets at the University of Pittsburgh, and current Assistant Teaching Professor at the Information and Networking Institute at Carnegie Mellon University was awarded the first prize of the student paper competition at the Telecommunications Policy Research Conference (TPRC) 2022.
The recent research paper entitled “Spectrum Sovereignty on Tribal Lands: Assessing the Digital Reservations Act” was published on August 1, 2022. The Federal Communications Commission currently governs the electromagnetic spectrum on sovereign tribal lands. As a result, tribal governments are unable to self-manage and self-govern spectrum on their lands perpetuating the digital divide and a source of lost revenue.
ATIS’ Next G Alliance today announced the formation of the Next G Alliance (NGA) Research Council and publication of its 6G Research Priorities. These actions are the first steps in aligning the future vision for 6G in North America with the research that will drive wireless leadership over the next decade.
Madeline Pooler, an undergraduate student dual enrolled at Saint Mary’s College in computing and applied mathematics, and at the University of Notre Dame in computer science, took part in a 10-week summer program called Advanced Wireless Research Experiences (AWaRE) through the Wireless Institute at the University of Notre Dame. The Wireless Institute is co-directed by the director of SpectrumX, Nick Laneman, who served as Pooler’s faculty mentor.
SpectrumX Director and Notre Dame Wireless Institute Co-Director Nick Laneman was quoted in this story regarding how the Citywide Classroom South Bend (CCSB) partnered with the Wireless Institute and the Notre Dame Office of Information Technologies to lead the way piloting a private LTE network which can reach 1,000 families. The access will be broadcast from three towers. In 2012, enFocus grew out of Notre Dame's Engineering, Science and Technology Entrepreneurship Excellence Master's program (ESTEEM). Fellows work as nonprofit consultants on tech projects in the local community.
The recent research paper entitled “Spectrum Rights in Outer Space: Interference Management for Mega-constellations” was published on August 2, 2022. In this work, the authors examine the governance of non-Geostationary communication satellites (NGSOs) and propose alternative spectrum sharing approaches.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) published a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Tuesday, August 2, that the two agencies will be increasing their coordination on spectrum management efforts. Monisha Ghosh, SpectrumX Policy Outreach Director, Professor of Electrical Engineering at the University of Notre Dame and former Chief Technology Officer at the FCC, and Janice Obuchowski, SpectrumX External Advisory Board member, President and Chief Executive Officer of Freedom Technologies, and former Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information, within the Department of Commerce, NTIA, offered their comments.