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 Casper Star-Tribune (CS-T) reported that UW is considering reopening closed buildings and testing all students and staff every two weeks as part of a preliminary plan to resume in-person education this fall. The bulk of UW’s $46 million request to the state would likely come from the state’s $1.25 billion share of the federal stimulus money. K2 Radio published a similar article on its website.

The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed that the U.S. was as unprepared as experts feared, given the responses to the Ebola scare in 2014, according to several economists, including UW’s Jason Shogren, David Aadland, David Finnoff and Alexandre Skiba, reported Medical Xpress and Science Daily. The economists wrote the article that first appeared in EcoHealth, an international journal that addresses health and sustainability challenges.

KGAB Radio published UW’s release noting that members of the university’s community are encouraged to be tested for COVID-19 if they are exhibiting symptoms of the infection.

Forbes interviewed a number of oil and gas experts, including UW economist Charles Mason, who said they expect America’s oil and gas sector to rebound once demand by consumers begins to rise.

UW economist Rob Godby is quoted in a Financial Times story about how the coronavirus pandemic is accelerating the decline of the coal industry.

Tom Burman, UW’s athletics director, who is taking a 10 percent reduction in pay this year, told The Guardian that he should lead by example during the COVID-19 pandemic. He and other athletic leaders commented in a story, titled “Can millionaire college coaches defend their salaries during COVID-19?”

The CS-T noted that a shrinking majority of Wyoming residents continue to support various policies -- such as school and restaurant closures -- that are intended to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus, according to the latest survey by UW’s Wyoming Survey and Analysis Center. Cowboy State Daily published a similar article.

UW political science Professor Jim King wrote a column for USAPP, titled “Primary Primers: Why rescheduling the Democratic National Convention is likely to benefit Trump.” USAPP is a United Kingdom-based website that focuses on global expertise, analysis and commentary on America.

The Laramie Boomerang noted that UW trustees last week approved a 20-year master plan that would require new construction and renovations of existing buildings and plazas.

A UW economics team noted that, even if a vaccine for COVID-19 is developed and made widely available, about 20 percent of Americans will likely decline to receive it. The Wyoming Tribune Eagle and KGAB Radio published UW’s release.

UW’s release announcing that Ben Nathan, from Green River, won the American Heritage Center’s Undergraduate Research Award was published by KGAB Radio, SweetwaterNOW and The Rocket Miner.

Cowboy State Daily published UW’s release noting that UW’s 3D makerspace team in the Student Innovation Center has been producing, around the clock the last two months, personal protective equipment for the state’s medical facilities and first responders.

Newly discovered gravitational lens candidates could provide specific markers for precisely measuring distances to galaxies in the ancient universe if supernovae are observed, tracked and measured via the lenses, according to a study published by Phys.org. Several scientists, including those from UW, noted that gravitational lensing describes how light bends when it travels past massive objects such as galaxies and galaxy clusters.

UW trustees approved incoming UW President Ed Seidel’s membership in the U.S. Council on Competitiveness -- a national organization focused on economic development, reported The Boomerang.

Anne Alexander was named the acting UW provost and vice president for academic affairs. The Boomerang noted that Seidel selected Alexander for the position.

The Sheridan Press interviewed Cole Ehmke, a UW Extension entrepreneurship specialist, on how local ranchers can provide local sources of beef for consumers who are experiencing shortages of meat due to COVID-19.

The Riverton Ranger noted that local UW student Shannon Linch was part of a university team that is producing 3D printed personal protective equipment for some of the state’s medical facilities and first responders.

UW’s release announcing that Riverton’s Christie Wildcat was named one of the university’s top graduating seniors was published on Wind River News Network’s website. Wildcat was among three UW students to receive the Spitaleri-Tobin Award.

KGAB Radio reported that the men’s and women’s golf programs at UW and women’s basketball all received NCAA Public Recognition Awards with perfect scores of 1,000 for their Academic Progress Rate for 2015-16 through 2018-19.

Jo Chytka, UW’s director of Advising, Career and Exploratory Studies, spoke with Wyoming Public Radio about job prospects for this year’s graduating seniors.

The Boomerang reported that UW’s American Heritage Center is among state agencies collecting Wyoming residents’ stories about their experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic.

County 10 published UW’s release announcing a $1.5 million gift from Farm Credit Services of America that will support a Ranch Management and Agriculture Leadership Center in the UW College of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

UW’s College of Business economic experts held their third free small business assistance informational Zoom session last week, noted Wyo4News.