With a major research university right in our backyard, a strong military presence and innovative companies throughout the metro region, thereâs often a plethora of interesting science and technology news to be found in Southern Arizona. Hereâs a breakdown of the most interesting recent developments. Â Design Day. Senior students in the University of Arizona’s College of Engineering recently presented their longtime projects for the college’s annual Craig M. Berge Design Day. Unlike previous years, for 2021 the 99 student teams presented their projects over video. But similar to previous years, multiple student teams took home large awards for this work. This year, more than $46,000 was awarded to various student teams working with industry and university sponsors. The winners of the $7,500 Craig M. Berge Dean’s Award for Most Outstanding Project created a “solar-powered, autonomous rover” to monitor Oso Grande, which is Tucson Electric Power’s wind turbine facility in New Mexico. The rover prototype is based on an electric all-terrain vehicle and has devices to autonomously record wind turbine efficiency, wind speed and direction. Other winning projects included a sensor system enabling Reid Park Zoo animals to switch on fans and misters for themselves; a device to capture grasshoppers and remove the pests from agricultural fields; short-wave infrared beacons that can be deployed by a drone to mark targets in the field; and a system to maintain positive pressure in a closed habitat, potentially for crew quarters on the Moon and Mars. For more information, visit icap.engineering.arizona.edu.