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:

Erica Belmont, a UW mechanical engineering assistant professor, commented on a CNBC piece on how Microsoft’s new carbon-negative plan will test the idea of a climate economy. Belmont is a co-author of an influential 2018 National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine study on how to go beyond conservation to actually removing carbon that is in the air now.

The Hill, Washington, D.C.’s political publication, interviewed UW Professor Jim King who discussed Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney’s decision not to run for the Senate, a seat held by Mike Enzi who is retiring.

UW researchers recently studied results from a reclamation technique -- geomorphic reclamation -- at two mine sites in southwest and central Wyoming. It could transform the way the state reclaims, or cleans up nearly 90,000 acres of land disturbed by surface mining, reported The Casper Star-Tribune (CS-T). Phys.org and The Rocket Miner published UW’s release on the project. Mining.com published a related article.

The Wyoming Tribune Eagle reported that Gov. Mark Gordon discussed the efforts of UW’s Energy Resources Council’s research in removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. In the article, Gordon discussed Wyoming’s cleaner-burning coal as the state seeks to ship the product overseas.

In a speech to Wyoming Press Association members last week, Gordon said that UW is researching carbon capture technologies and has received grants to study the feasibility of carbon sequestration and different ways of burning coal, noted The CS-T. He said that carbon capture technology could help the state’s coal industry.

The UW Board of Trustees hopes to select a new president by the end of February, according to The Laramie Boomerang.

The Boomerang also reported that the UW Board of Trustees would ask administrators to make a second attempt at asking the Joint Appropriations Committee to budget for a $15 million increase in the university’s block grant that will fund various projects across campus.

The CS-T noted that UW medical students would be among a coalition of medical organizations lobbying in favor of Medicaid expansion during next month’s legislative session.

Kevin Monteith, a UW associate professor, told Cowboy State Daily that research indicates that energy development played a role in declining mule deer populations, but it is only one part of a complex problem.

EcoWatch reported that new research, published in the journal Nature Sustainability, has found that, for 14,000 years, Native Americans were not making major changes to their natural landscape as previously thought. UW Professor Bryan Shuman was among the researchers. The Gillette News Record published UW’s release on the research.

Ian McBeth, who served in the Wyoming Air National Guard while a UW student, was among the three U.S. pilots killed when their tanker crashed while fighting wildfires in Australia, reported The New York Times.

Western Energy News mentioned two UW research projects on a coal-burning power plant and a reclamation study in a roundup of news from Western states.

UW economist Rob Godby commented in a CS-T article focusing on the new owners of the former Blackjewel mines who have missed the first tax deadline.

The Cody Enterprise noted that UW Alumni Association scholarship applications for the 2020-21 academic year are now available. The Enterprise also published UW’s release on the university’s interdisciplinary research funding efforts.

Weston County School District 1 Superintendent Brad LaCroix was named to the UW Board of Trustees by the governor, according to The Newcastle Letter Journal.

Wyo4News previewed UW’s “The World Needs More Cowboys and So Does Wyoming” marketing outreach program last weekend in Sweetwater County.

Robin Barry, a UW psychology assistant professor, was interviewed by Your Tango for an article, titled “Why Men Pull Away or Withdraw in Relationships (And What to Do About It).”

The Boomerang noted that the Associated Students of UW would like to assist the city in its efforts to ban or reduce the use of plastic grocery bags.

UW Director of Athletics Tom Burman was named to the College Football Playoff Selection Committee, reported College Football Playoff, K2 News and WyoSports. He is among 13 members of the committee that will determine the national semifinalists in college football as well as the New Year’s Day bowl games.

The Cleveland American detailed the highest grossing athletics programs across the nation, citing the Center Square analysis of the latest federal data. UW ranked 95th among the 100 schools listed on the data chart. UW took in $38.5 million, while the University of Texas led the way, grossing $210 million.

Former UW football player Austin Fort was featured in his hometown newspaper, The Gillette News Record. Fort, a rookie tight end for the Denver Broncos, tore his ACL in a preseason game last summer, but he is expected back this fall.