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:

Fortune published an op-ed piece from UW economics Professor David Finnoff and three colleagues that focused on how President Joe Biden’s administration should invest more in new infrastructure to help prevent another pandemic such as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Kevin Monteith, a UW Excellence Chair and associate professor, was interviewed by National Geographic for an article on Oregon researchers who are studying how midsized carnivores snatch food from apex predators more often than previously thought. Monteith was part of the discussion for the article, titled “Coyotes risk it all to steal from mountain lions.”

National Geographic also interviewed Hosanna Krienke, an assistant lecturer in UW’s Honors College and LeaRN, about her research on recovery during the 19th century that could provide perspective for the COVID-19 pandemic. Krienke’s research examines the literary and historical meanings of convalescence, a period of slow rehabilitation that may be a model for people suffering long-term effects from COVID.

The Casper Star-Tribune (CS-T) reported that UW’s Next Generation General Education Committee -- composed of 26 members from across the university -- recently held its first meeting to focus on the university’s general education program. The meeting is part of the longer process of reformulating the general education program, which happens every 10 years.

An analysis by UW’s Center for Business and Economic Analysis estimated that a proposed gold and copper mine would directly employ 324 long-term workers and generate $75 million in tax revenue during its expected 13-year lifetime. The CS-T reported that the mine site is near Cheyenne.

Wyoming Public Radio reported that UW’s Wyoming NASA Space Grant Consortium is among partners who are collaborating to send four Indigenous Central Wyoming College students and a non-Indigenous student to Mount Everest to conduct climate research.

In a protected Panamanian tropical forest, bird populations have been declining for 44 years, according to researchers, including Corey Tarwater, a UW assistant professor. ScienceDaily and EurekAlert! were among science websites publishing the team’s research.

Cowboy State Daily profiled Anastasiia Pereverten, a Ukrainian exchange student at UW. Pereverten discussed the current war in her home country with Russia and the events she has been leading to raise awareness among the UW and Laramie communities.

In concert with the Albany County Public Library, the UW Black Studies Center hosted Dr. Khalid el-Hakim and the Black History 101 Museum. The critically acclaimed traveling museum, which has more than 10,000 pieces of historical artifacts, was on display on the UW campus and at the Albany County Public Library, according to The Laramie Boomerang. Fredrick Douglass Dixon, director of the UW Black Studies Center, also was interviewed for the article.

Verve Times, Phys.org and Gamers Grade published UW’s release on the second volume in a series of detailed maps that will help wildlife managers conserve the big-game migrations that support herd abundance and provide cultural significance and economic benefits to regional communities.

UW soil science researchers are conducting preliminary tests of a coal-derived soil amendment that so far is producing results similar to another popular soil amendment, biochar. Wyoming News Now and The Gillette News Record published UW’s release on their websites.

WyoFile reported that three UW students in the outdoor recreation and tourism management degree program are assisting three towns -- Lander, South Pass City and Dubois -- to achieve status as Continental Divide Trail gateway communities. Many agencies, businesses and individuals in those communities endorse the plan as an economic boost.

Jerod Merkle, a quantitative wildlife ecologist at UW, was interviewed for a WyoFile article on the Wyoming Game and Fish Department’s $2.4 million program to collect statewide movement and mortality data on mule deer. He discussed UW’s collaborative efforts in data collection that will help with the Game and Fish’s new Mule Deer Monitoring Project.

The Los Angeles Times published an op-ed piece from UW College of Law Professor Michael Duff titled “Amazon workers scored a huge union victory but face a tough road ahead.” Amazon workers on Staten Island recently voted to unionize, marking the first successful U.S. organizing effort in the company’s history.

In a roundup of nearly a dozen U.S. states as potential options for education and professional opportunities, India Times gave Wyoming an “honorable mention.” The article noted that UW is a “suitable choice for students as this western state with mountainous regions is the most cost-efficient and frugally economical state to shift to. The living and education expenses are almost half of what they are in the other mentioned states.”

Matt Henry, an assistant instructional professor in the UW Honors College, discussed with Wyoming Public Radio the International Panel on Climate Change’s recent report detailing the drastic action humanity must take to ward off the worst effects of climate change.

Cowboy State Daily published an article on the teacher shortage in Wyoming. Various education experts provided explanations for the continuing shortfall of prospective teachers in the state. The article noted that the UW College of Education also is seeing a decrease in the number of teacher candidates.

Several long-awaited construction projects on the UW campus are currently underway or will soon begin. The Laramie Boomerang detailed some of those projects, including a parking garage, new residence halls and a new dining facility.

WyoFile quoted Cynthia Hartung, director of UW’s Psychology Center for Training in Assessment, Treatment and Clinical Research, for a piece focusing on how Wyoming communities are searching for various funding sources in response to children’s growing mental health needs.

UW kinesiology and health Assistant Professor Danielle Bruns told The Laramie Boomerang that because there aren’t specialized transplant centers in Wyoming, local patients are referred to facilities in Colorado and Nebraska. Bruns commented for a story on a Laramie man who is awaiting a kidney transplant.

The Boomerang published UW’s feature media release on graduate Nate Storey, who is now the chief science officer for Silicon Valley startup Plenty Inc., which acquired his company, Bright Agrotech, in 2017. The company soon will open the world’s highest-output, vertical, indoor farm that will supply high-quality produce year-round using relatively small amounts of water and land without the use of pesticides.

The UW Sheep Program is the first operation to reach Level III (certified) status in the American Sheep Industry Association’s American Wool Assurance Program. UW Extension sheep specialist Whit Stewart was quoted in the Sheridan Media article.

KGAB Radio reported that the Wyo-Gold Leadership Council, the UW Alumni Association’s student organization, recently launched its first podcast. “Cowboy’s Corner” allows listeners to understand the UW campus from student, faculty and staff perspectives.

UW’s College of Business, in collaboration with the Daniels Fund Ethics Initiative Collegiate Program, hosted the second annual Wyoming Collegiate Business Ethics Case Competition last week. WyoToday Media published UW’s release noting that four Wyoming community colleges were invited to the event.

Wyoming News Now reported that UW is collaborating with state and federal entities to manage public land habitats in support of all wildlife populations in Wyoming. The article focused on the call for cave explorers to take precautions to protect bat populations at risk of contracting Pseudogymnoascus destructans, the fungus that causes white-nose syndrome in bats.

Registration for the first Sweetwater County Innovation Launchpad for potential entrepreneurs is open through Friday, May 20. SweetwaterNOW published UW’s release noting that IMPACT 307, a university program, sponsors the competition.

The Sundance Times published UW’s release on invasive grasses and weeds workshops that are scheduled next month in northeast Wyoming. UW Extension will host the public programs.

UW’s Center on Aging will host the Rocky Mountain Alzheimer’s Summit for health care professionals, direct care workers, older adults and caregivers of individuals with dementia next month. Sheridan Media published UW’s release.

The Sheridan Press published UW’s release noting that UW Extension will host a series of Rocky Mountain Youth Entrepreneur development workshops for budding youth entrepreneurs this summer.