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 is one of 21 universities and organizations that will receive STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) grants from NASA to support scientific and technical research that aligns with the agency’s strategic research and technology development priorities. The grants, which provide a total of nearly $4 million, are funded through NASA’s EPSCoR’s R3 (Rapid Response Research) project.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has awarded UW $300,000 to support the establishment of a nuclear chemistry core facility on campus. UW’s release noted that the award is part of $6.3 million from DOE to bolster infrastructure and upgrade research reactors at universities as part of DOE’s Nuclear Energy University Program. Gulf Oil and Gas published DOE’s release.

Dan McCoy, interim director for UW’s Wyoming Outdoor Recreation, Tourism and Hospitality Initiative, spoke with The News Letter Journal for an article that focused on why Weston County is near the bottom in tourism spending as compared to other counties in the state.

The Center for Climate and Energy Solutions published an article on a recent forum at UW that focused on the potential economic opportunity of developing direct air capture technology in Wyoming. The article mentioned tours of the UW School of Energy Resources as well as the Drilling and Completions Simulation Facility, a state-of-the-art training operation.

3PRINTR, VoxelMatters and Tech Xplore published a Pennsylvania State University release noting that Penn State researchers led a project that shows 3D printed ceramics may increase gas turbine fuel efficiency. Penn State researchers worked with UW and Colorado School of Mines researchers who had embedded ceramic fibers into additively printed ceramics. By using 3D printing in conjunction with the polymer-derived ceramics, the researchers were able to create the exact shapes needed to withstand more heat and perform well in gas turbines.

An Associated Press article reported on the groundbreaking ceremony for TransWest Express, a transmission line that will move electricity from the $5 billion, 3,000-megawatt, 600-turbine Chokecherry and Sierra Madre wind farm near Sinclair to California. A 2022 UW report was cited in the article noting that five more wind farm projects are in the works.

Big Horn Basin Media reported that Albany County commissioners voted to change the name of Swastika Lake, located in the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest near Libby Creek, to Knight Lake after Samuel Knight, a famed UW associate professor of geology and curator of the UW Geological Museum.

Building up the health care workforce, addressing health care costs and access, and taking on mental health are all priorities of Gov. Mark Gordon’s Health Task Force. The Wyoming Tribune Eagle reported that UW and other state entities are part of a working group that is collecting statewide data for the task force.

Star Valley Independent News reported on UW President Ed Seidel and other UW officials’ recent visit to Kemmerer and other Lincoln County sites. Seidel touted how UW can help the state diversify its economy.

UW Field School personnel will provide guided tours at the Hell Gap archaeological site, located northeast of Guernsey, during designated dates this summer. Hell Gap’s excavation season is underway, according to The Scottsbluff Star-Herald.

A K2 Radio article featured the Wyoming toad, a rare and endangered species. The only wild population is at Mortenson Lake National Wildlife Refuge, located southwest of Laramie. The article noted that the Wyoming Toad Recovery Team includes representatives from UW as well as state and federal agencies.

Steve Miller, a UW botany professor, was interviewed by KGAB Radio for an article on why so many local residents have mushrooms on their lawns this summer. Miller cited rainy weather as the main cause.

Laramie Live reported that the Laramie Municipal Band will perform at Washington Park’s bandshell starting next month. The partnership between UW and the city of Laramie focuses on bringing the arts and music to local residents at no charge.

UW Extension will offer educational programming in Campbell and Fremont counties next month for those interested in learning about artificial insemination in sheep and goats. Breeding days will follow in August. Sheridan Media published UW’s media announcement. Sheridan Media also published UW’s release announcing this year’s Homecoming theme and events.

The Wyoming Tribune Eagle published UW’s release noting that Kenny Overby was hired as the Wyoming Small Business Development Center Network’s regional director for Laramie and Goshen counties.