UPDATE: On Sunday, October 6, 2024, Daewook Kim, associate professor of optical sciences, and Roger Angel, professor of astronomy and optical sciences, were featured on KOLD News 13 discussing the potential for the twisting heliostat.
Kim and Angel are working to pioneer a new approach to heliostat design for concentrating solar power (CSP) systems. Their innovation aims to deliver solar thermal energy at exceptionally high concentrations throughout the day. It is believed that their work into this technology could potentially be the forerunner for advanced applications like atmospheric carbon removal—literally providing the energy needed for carbon capture and removal from the air. 

Hong Hua, professor of optical sciences, was named Tech Launch Arizona Inventor of the Year on September 25, at the 2024 I-Squared Awards and Expo. Hua's initial research into virtual and augmented reality, funded by a National Science Foundation grant, led to her creation of a compact, wearable eye-tracking device for late-stage ALS patients. The U of A patented the innovation, and that work attracted the attention of eSight Corporation. Building on her foundational work, Hua partnered with eSight to develop a device that allows people with central vision loss greatly improved eyesight and independence. Since launching the product in 2017, eSight has helped thousands of people with central vision loss to see.