UW in the News

State, national and international media frequently feature the University of Wyoming and members of its community in stories. Here is a summary of some of the recent coverage:

Newsweek and Forbes Magazine interviewed UW Assistant Professor Corey Tarwater and colleagues about their research showing that Hawaiian native birds have almost totally been replaced by invasive species. Without native species, a brand-new ecological community composed of introduced plants and birds now inhabits the island. To read UW’s release, click here.

UW economist Rob Godby commented on a Casper Star-Tribune (CS-T) article on the rapidly declining production of coal in Wyoming’s Powder River Basin, the largest coal-producing region in the country.

Nature World News published UW’s release noting that UW researchers have published a study showing that reintroduction of top predators into an ecosystem doesn’t necessarily return it to historical conditions.

David Jewell, UW associate vice president for budgeting and fiscal planning, told the UW Board of Trustees recently that, with more out-of-state students receiving tuition discounts, the university is not receiving as much tuition revenue as expected, reported The Laramie Boomerang.

EurekAlert!, a science distribution website, noted that researchers, including UW Assistant Professor Zoe Pearson, studied how efforts to curtail the flow of cocaine into the United States from South America have made drug trafficking operations more widespread, making it harder to eradicate. Medical News, Technology Networks and Phys.Org published similar articles.

UW’s release highlighting UW researchers’ contributions to a study showing that arctic warming contributes to drought was published on the National Science Foundation website.

County 10 published UW’s release noting Katie Li-Oakey, an associate professor in chemical engineering, and her team were among 20 semifinal entries for the 2018-19 Department of Energy Chain Reaction Innovations competition.

UW Board of Trustees member Wava Tully said the search for a suitable College of Health Sciences dean continues, noted The Boomerang. The college has not had a permanent dean for two years, and Tully says there is a shortage of candidates.

The Wyoming Tribune Eagle reported that Gov. Mark Gordon wants UW to be the economic driver for the future of Wyoming. He backs investing state dollars for research into technology at UW.

Composites World reported that UW researchers and Western Research Institute scientists are developing a research project that will turn coal, crude oil and biomass into low-cost carbon fiber.

This season’s harsh winter has been hard on deer and elk herds, according to data collected by UW scientists who are tracking the animals, according to goHUNT.

The CS-T noted a new UW study that shows elk are generally unconcerned with presence of wolves during feeding time.

Data produced by UW’s Survey and Analysis Center suggested that opioid abuse, both prescription and illicit, has started to decline as related poisoning death rates stabilize in the state, according to The Wyoming Tribune Eagle.

The CS-T, Wyoming Business Report and Upton Economic Development Board published UW’s release announcing the five student-led teams vying for seed prize money to get their business plans off the ground in the John P. Ellbogen $50K Entrepreneurship Competition later this month.

UW law Professor Ken Chestek was quoted in The CS-T about campaign finance reform discussed in the recent Wyoming Legislature.

UW’s Helios Trio participated in the Casper Chamber Music Society’s series last week, according to The CS-T. Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain’s performance this week also was featured by The CS-T and the Boomerang.

Wyo4News reported that UW Institute of Innovation and Entrepreneurship CEO Jack Mason is the guest speaker this week at the Rock Springs Chamber of Commerce luncheon.

Ali Nejadmalayeri, the John A. Guthrie Endowed Chair in Banking and Financial Services, discussed with WalletHub cash-back credit cards and what type are the best rewards cards for consumers.

Wyoming Business Report notes that UW’s Center of Excellence for Produced Water Management is part of a statewide project to help agriculture leaders launch an initiative to clean oil field wastewater for use in arid Western states. They hope to reduce the region’s carbon footprint and improve the lives of ranchers and farmers.

The UW Board of Trustees recently approved new bachelor’s degrees in general studies; elementary and special education; and art education, reported The Boomerang.

County 10 published UW’s release noting Fremont County schools’ third-grade students’ participation in the annual Engineers Week, a partnership between UW, and the Wyoming Board of Professional Engineers and Professional Land Surveyors.

UW’s release announcing Susan Jerke as the recipient of UW’s Marvin Millgate Engaged Staff Award was published on County 17’s website. Jerke was honored for her work as a regional director of the Wyoming Small Business Development Center Network.

The CS-T interviewed UW Lecturer David Wilms about U.S. Sen. John Barrasso’s efforts to come up with a bipartisan agreement to make changes to the Endangered Species Act. Wilms was a policy adviser under Gov. Matt Mead.

UW Extension educators contributed to a “Wildfire: Preparing the Ranch and Farm” tips publication, according to High Plains Journal.

Brown Note Production, of Thornton, Colo., has installed a new enhanced L-Acoustics Kara sound system in UW’s College of Arts and Sciences auditorium.

Members from the Wyoming NASA Space Grant Consortium at UW helped Gillette elementary school students launch weather balloons last week, reported The Gillette News Record.

Wyoming Public Radio interviewed UW saxophone student Mikayla Peterson, from Rock Springs, who won the annual Dorothy Jacoby Concerto Competition.