Applied Physics & Applied Mathematics Department, Columbia University

10/09/2026

🌎 What exactly is a Super El Niño? And why could this one be historically significant?

Neil deGrasse Tyson and Chuck Nice sit down with Columbia Engineering climate scientist Adam Sobel to unpack the science behind this powerful climate phenomenon and what we might expect.

What is a super el niño? Neil deGrasse Tyson and Chuck Nice sit dow...

10/05/2026

10/05/2026

Congratulations to Columbia Engineering’s Carlos Paz-Soldan and Oak Nelson, who have been honored with the 2026 John Dawson Award for Excellence in Plasma Physics Research from the American Physical Society.

As part of an international team at the DIII-D National Fusion Facility, Paz-Soldan and Nelson are advancing an innovative fusion approach known as “negative triangularity” that could help reduce the complexity of future fusion power plants.

Read more about their groundbreaking work
https://www.engineering.columbia.edu/about/news/columbia-engineering-scientists-honored-advancing-unique-fusion-approach

09/23/2026

TOMORROW! Join us at the Fusion Research Symposium at Columbia Engineering, featuring remarks, flash talks, and posters on cutting-edge fusion research. Register: https://bit.ly/4z2BgM6

09/17/2026

Qihao Ye joined the Department of Applied Physics and Applied Mathematics as the Chu Assistant Professor in July 2026.

He is just one of the outstanding new researchers and innovators who have recently joined Columbia Engineering.

Meet the researchers and innovators who have recently joined Columbia Engineering.

09/09/2026

Michele Simoncelli’s group at Columbia Engineering introduces a new benchmark to evaluate how well machine learning models for atomic interactions translate quantum characteristics into macroscopic physical properties.

Link in bio

09/09/2026

Michele Simoncelli’s group at Columbia Engineering introduces a new benchmark to evaluate how well machine learning models for atomic interactions translate quantum characteristics into macroscopic physical properties.
https://www.engineering.columbia.edu/about/news/ai-materials-needs-be-more-physics-aware

09/08/2026

🌎 Mark your calendars! at kicks off on September 22, 2026.

Our faculty and students are engineering practical solutions to the planet’s most urgent challenges. Join us for a series of events spanning secure mining and minerals, sustainable energy resources, global clean air, regenerative materials, batteries and power, fusion energy, and agentic AI’s role in climate solutions – building a more sustainable world and a more secure future.

Learn more about Climate Week at Columbia Engineering: https://bit.ly/45KV612

Columbia Climate School Columbia Engineering Climate Group

08/19/2026

Quantum innovation takes more than breakthroughs in the lab; it takes collaboration to bring new technologies to the real world.

APAM Department faculty Prof. Alexander Gaeta, Prof. Xueyue (Sherry) Zhang, and Prof. Aravind Devarakonda joined Columbia University’s Quantum Industry & Investor Workshop, which brought together researchers and industry leaders to explore Columbia’s expertise in quantum science and the opportunities ahead for quantum technology.

Gaeta, a co-lead of the Columbia Quantum Initiative, helped open the event. Zhang and Devarakonda showcased their research through lightning talks on photonic connectivity and quantum materials.

We’re proud to see APAM faculty helping advance Columbia’s growing quantum ecosystem and strengthen connections between research and industry!

Learn more at: https://www.engineering.columbia.edu/about/news/columbia-holds-quantum-industry-workshop

Photo by Diana Bondareff

08/14/2026

🌎 Mark your calendars! at kicks off Sept. 22. Join us for events on secure mining & minerals, sustainable energy, clean air, regenerative materials, batteries & power, fusion energy, and agentic AI for climate. https://bit.ly/45KV612