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:

UW College of Law Professor Michael Duff was among legal experts assembled by Bloomberg Law to discuss what companies should know -- after the COVID-19 pandemic -- about union obligations related to mass layoffs, hiatus periods and ramping operations back up in the future.

Law 360 interviewed Duff for an article focusing on the number of fast food workers, subway operators and other essential workers who are walking off the job because of the lack of protection during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Inside Higher Ed featured how instructors are setting up teaching labs for science courses and how the fine arts are being taught online during COVID-19. Doug Russell, a UW professor of drawing, who was featured, sent an announcement to his drawing students last month about new modules he set up for the spring course.

According to a UW analysis, social distancing efforts to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus outweigh the economic costs of such measures by trillions of dollars, while also saving more than a million lives, reported Forbes, The Hill and The Casper Star-Tribune (CS-T).

The Latin American Post, in Colombia, Wyo4News and Oil City News published UW’s release on that same analysis, which was published by UW economists Linda Thunstrom, lead author on the study, Stephen Newbold, David Finnoff and Jason Shogren, and graduate student Madison Ashworth, of Star Valley. Montana Gov. Steve Bullock cited the UW team’s study in his letter to the state’s legislators, who he says are “politicizing” the pandemic, according to The Independent Record in Helena. Alaska Public Media published a similar article.

E&E News, a news organization focusing on energy and the environment, interviewed Shogren for an article, titled “If one life costs $10M, economists say keep the U.S. closed.”

UW’s release noting the increased time constraints and the need for convenience in raising children appear to offset parents’ concerns about the future when it comes to their carbon footprints, was published by Science Daily and Environmental News Network. Shogren and Thunstrom, along with a colleague in Sweden, conducted the research.

The results of UW’s latest updated survey, sent to nearly 500 Wyoming residents concerning COVID-19 issues, were published by Cowboy State Daily and The CS-T.

Oil City News was among media outlets publishing UW’s release featuring UW agricultural students and how they are keeping up on their studies and also their ranching/farming chores at the same time.

Various UW departments and personnel are lending assistance and their expertise in helping various state agencies in the fight against the novel coronavirus COVID-19, reported The Laramie Boomerang. KGAB Radio and 106.3 Cowboy Country published a similar UW release.

UW Associate Professor Christine Porter was interviewed by The Denver Post on how some of Colorado’s neighboring states do not have a stay-at-home order. Porter says she favors a mandatory stay-at-home order in Wyoming, though she says some disease models indicate that the state’s coronavirus caseload likely will not exceed the state’s 44 intensive care unit beds and 137 ventilators.

The Salt Lake City Tribune quoted Jeff Lockwood, a UW professor of natural sciences and humanities, regarding whether it is ethical to report violations of social distancing. Lockwood said when people see behavior that is endangering the public health, there is an ethical obligation to report it.

UW economist Rob Godby spoke with The CS-T about Wyoming operators who are still feeling the economic pinch despite a global deal last week to offset the crude oil glut. Godby says the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic has a lot to do with too much oil on the market. He also spoke with Wyoming Public Radio on the same subject.

The CS-T interviewed Godby for an article that focused on the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City that reported a sobering snapshot of the U.S. energy sector during the coronavirus pandemic.

Godby also was interviewed by Energy Central regarding how COVID-19 is affecting how wind energy is being hampered in Wyoming.

SweetwaterNOW published UW’s release noting that the university’s program is ranked No. 8 on Online U’s list of the 25 most affordable universities to earn an online doctorate in education.

A one-stop shop for resources to help the public during COVID-19 has been created by UW Extension, reported The Wyoming Tribune Eagle.

The Buffalo Bulletin interviewed two local high school seniors who received UW’s top scholarship for Wyoming students, the four-year Trustees Scholars Award.

Local Star Valley High School students will take part in the online Wyoming State Speech and Debate Tournament, organized by UW’s debate team, according to The Star Valley Independent.

Sheridan Media published UW’s release explaining the university’s Cowboy Commitment program, a financial pledge that includes both merit and need-based funding to offset education costs for in-state families.

UW’s release announcing Curtis Doubet as the university’s new livestock judging coach was published by Wind River Radio Network.

The CS-T featured UW athletics personnel who volunteered to help at Laramie’s food pantries.

Several UW students were interviewed by Wyoming Public Radio on how their college life has been upended by COVID-19. Some of the students talked about having to move out of the residence halls.

The Wyoming Tribune Eagle noted that the UW College of Business held a small business COVID-19 assistance session online last week.

Kipp Coddington, the director of energy policy and economics in UW’s School of Energy Resources, was among authors of a column, titled “Carbon capture, utilization, and storage under the Paris Agreement,” published in the international publication Portal Macauba and also The Hill.

UW’s American Heritage Center and the Wyoming State Museum are collaborating to collect information about the experiences and thoughts of Wyoming citizens during the COVID-19 pandemic. Wyo4News published UW’s release announcing the project.