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:

The Washingtonian Magazine reported that the Matthew Shepard Foundation will hold a ceremony Dec. 2 for the unveiling of a plaque at the Washington National Cathedral that will honor the slain UW student who was murdered 20 years ago.

Jeff Lockwood, a UW entomologist and humanities professor, wrote an article for the History Channel on how insects have been weaponized throughout history. The article was part of the channel’s “History Stories” series.

CBS News featured migration of pronghorn antelope herds in the Grand Teton National Park area. UW’s research, along with other entities, was mentioned as helping to focus on a 93-mile stretch to help pronghorn navigate their way safely from the park in the winter to lower elevations in western Wyoming.

Kristen Landreville, an associate professor in the UW Department of Communication and Journalism, was interviewed on Global News for a video story, titled “Fighting fake news with a trademark.”

UW has completed a guide for UW officials to follow to increase Native American student enrollment and improve relationships and experiences of Native students, The Casper Star-Tribune (CS-T) reported.

The Wyoming Tribune Eagle interviewed Cathy Connolly, a UW gender and women’s studies professor and Wyoming legislator, about the widening gender pay gap in the state.

UW economist Rob Godby commented to Energy and Environmental News that Wyoming officials have to be cautious as unknown coal mine companies have moved into the state to take over some of the nation’s largest bankrupt coal mines in the Powder River Basin. Coal Zoom published the article on its website.

Godby also was quoted in a CS-T piece about coal production in Powder River Basin hitting a 20-year low last quarter, according to data released by the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration. Godby said the biggest challenge Wyoming faces is not power plant closures but mining production declines.

Science Magazine reported that a team of UW scientists is part of a $3.3 million grant project to develop more gas-efficient wind turbines. Penn State University researchers head the U.S. Department of Energy’s University Turbine Systems Research-funded project.

An interim chronic wasting disease working group report was prepared by UW’s Ruckelshaus Institute and Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources, according to Big Horn Radio Network. The report, prepared for the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, is now available to the public. The Powell Tribune published a similar article.

Conditio Humana interviewed Robin Hill, a faculty affiliate in the UW Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies, about technology and ethics.

Psychology Today, British Asia, India TV and Social News XYZ published UW’s release on UW Associate Professor Ben Wilkowski’s psychology research on how people who avoid temptations are more likely to achieve goals.

Dan Tekiela, a UW Extension specialist, said cheatgrass is the “poster child” of invasive species in Wyoming. He made his remarks last week during Gov. Mark Gordon’s initiative meeting to better control invasive weed species in the state, according to The Wyoming Tribune Eagle.

Laramie Live posted, on its website, UW’s release announcing the university’s Veterans Services Center’s annual participation in the national roll call program on Veterans Day.

“Deer 139,” a UW-produced documentary film, will be shown this week in Cody, reported The Cody Enterprise and Powell Tribune.

Daily Trust, in Abuja, Nigeria, reported that UW computer engineering student Aisha Balogun, from Nigeria, has been appointed as one of UW’s Global Student Ambassadors.

Austin Woody, a UW civil and architectural engineer, helped secure a grant that will provide training on how to use drones to improve processes throughout the state, according to the Wyoming Department of Transportation. The Federal Highway Administration’s State Transportation Innovation Council provided the $125,000 grant.

Oil and Gas Online and Smart Water Magazine published UW’s release noting that Associate Professor Jonathan Brant will lead research into improving oil and gas wastewater discharge in Wyoming’s Green River Basin with a nearly $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy.

Campbell County commissioners signed an agreement with UW and Gillette College to hire an engineering professor to teach at the college, reported The Gillette News Record.

The Laramie Boomerang featured the UW Department of Theatre and Dance’s production of “Wonderland: Alice’s Adventures in Three-Dimensional Space” this week.

Celebrating the “year of Wyoming women,” UW, Wyoming Public Media and the Wyoming Humanities Council hosted a symposium last week focusing on “Women’s Suffrage on the Northern Plains,” reported The Boomerang.

Lab Manager Magazine featured UW’s Meat Lab and students in the UW College of Agriculture and Natural Resources animal/food science classes for an article, titled “Developing Better Meat Products Through Research.”

The Charleston, S.C., Post and Courier featured hometown native and UW Black 14 football player Mel Hamilton. The article noted the 50th anniversary of the Black 14 football players’ dismissal from the Cowboys football team.