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:

A UW team of economists, led by Linda Thunstrom, explored the effects of social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic, including closing schools and universities and cancellation of cultural events and sports leagues, reported Bloomberg News.

The Laramie Boomerang noted that six UW health care workers are helping with others in testing for the COVID-19 virus. Samples have come in daily statewide and are being tested at the Wyoming State Public Health Laboratory. Department of Veterinary Sciences Associate Professor Brant Schumaker, who is leading the UW team, was interviewed by Wyoming News Now about his team’s testing efforts.

Wyoming Public Radio, KGAB Radio and KNEB Radio, in Scottsbluff, Neb., published UW’s release noting that Schumaker, a veterinary epidemiologist and UW associate professor, and some of his students are helping the Wyoming Public Health Laboratory in Cheyenne with novel coronavirus COVID-19 testing.

UW is assisting the Wyoming Technology Coronavirus Coalition that has begun working intensively to confront the coronavirus challenge that looms in Wyoming, reported SweetwaterNOW. UW Acting President Neil Theobald is on the COVID-19 task force, noted The Gillette News Record. The Wyoming Tribune Eagle discussed UW’s contributions as part of the task force.

The Wyoming Tribune Eagle interviewed UW economist Rob Godby, who said the worst is yet to come as unemployment figures in the Cowboy State increase significantly because of the coronavirus pandemic.

UW officials have begun the process of working with bond attorneys, investment firms and banks to prepare for a major bond issuance to fund new residence halls, dining facilities and other related projects on campus, The Wyoming Tribune Eagle reported.

Wyo4News published UW’s release noting that a team in the university’s Student Innovation Center is producing 100 surgical facemasks and 100 face shields on the facility’s 3D printers, and donating them to the Cheyenne Regional Medical Center.

Godby was interviewed for a Gillette News Record article on how the COVID-19 pandemic is another major hit on the already-reeling coal industry in Wyoming.

The Casper Star-Tribune (CS-T) also interviewed Godby, who commented on Gov. Mark Gordon’s approval of a mineral tax break for the oil and gas industry during the recent volatile market worldwide for the industry.

U.S. News & World Report ranked UW’s graduate programs in education No. 112 out of 392 institutions on the list of the “Best Graduate Schools for Education,” an improvement of 15 spots over the last year. Wyo4News published UW’s release announcing the rankings.

The CS-T interviewed Godby for an article on how the nation’s coal industry, including in Wyoming, will see little return from the federal stimulus package that was approved by Congress last week.

Despite employees being encouraged to work remotely and most UW buildings being closed to public access, research by the university’s faculty and students continues, reported The Wyoming Tribune Eagle. The Washington Times republished the article.

UW students can move away from the traditional A-F grading system and instead choose to be judged by a simple pass-fail decision as the university moves all of its coursework online due to the COVID-19 pandemic, reported The CS-T. KGAB Radio published UW’s release on the subject.

The CS-T cited the reclamation work of Pete Stahl, a UW professor and director of the Wyoming Reclamation and Restoration Center. Stahl’s research covers new methods for monitoring reclaimed land in oil, gas and coal fields.

IOHK co-founder Charles Hoskinson discussed his company’s relocation to Wyoming from Colorado because of the state’s progressive laws surrounding the worlds of blockchain and cryptocurrency. IOHK recently donated $500,000 in its own cryptocurrency to help fund the new Advanced Blockchain Research and Development Laboratory at UW, noted Wyoming Business Report.

The Wyoming Tribune Eagle interviewed UW Extension financial specialist Cole Ehmke, who suggested ways residents can cope with coronavirus income loss.

Local artist Bethann Garramon Merkle, a research scientist with UW’s Biodiversity Institute, continues to be in the news. Garramon Merkle contributed a personal stripe that was added to a national flag honoring the 19th Amendment, which gave women the right to vote, reported Wyoming Public Radio. The Quebec Chronicle-Telegraph, in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada, published UW’s original release.

The Cody Enterprise published UW’s release on recent UW pharmacy students Scot and Amy Schmidt, who opened North Star Pharmacy in Cheyenne. They joined the Community Pharmacy Enhanced Services Network in Wyoming.

UW Professor Bruce Parkinson commented, in a CS-T article, on a new material called perovskite that has taken the field of solar energy by storm in recent years and holds commercial promise.

The Daily Yonder interviewed UW senior Seth Jones, from Upton, in an article, titled “Higher Ed Must Do More to Help Rural College Graduates Return.” Jones said many Wyoming students would opt to stay in the Cowboy State, but cited the lack of high-paying jobs as a determent.

New UW School of Energy Resources Executive Director Holly Krutka was interviewed by The CS-T. Coal Zoom republished the article on its website.

The Gillette News Record published UW’s release noting the debut of a 12-minute film, “400 Miles to Cross: The I-80 Wildlife Barrier,” produced by Greg Nickerson, a writer and filmmaker with the Wyoming Migration Initiative at UW.

UW Native American student Christie Wildcat discussed with Wyoming Public Radio her efforts to compete in the “Miss Indian World” pageant. The pageant originally was scheduled this spring but has been canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The loss of spring sports, caused by the COVID-19 coronavirus, will cost UW a significant amount of money, reported The Wyoming Tribune Eagle.