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:

WyoFile reported that academics and economic development officials fear that Biden administration “environmental justice” requirements are hurting Wyoming’s ability to compete for billions of dollars in federal clean energy and infrastructure grants. Kara Fornstrom, director of the UW School of Energy Resources’ (SER) Center for Energy Regulation and Policy Analysis, was interviewed for the article.

Original Tectonic Theater Project company members will present a staged reading of their groundbreaking play “The Laramie Project” to commemorate the 25th anniversary of UW student Matthew Shepard’s murder outside of Laramie. Broadway World, TheaterMania and Playbill noted that the production will be Oct. 11 in the UW Buchanan Center for the Performing Arts.

Denver’s 9News, The Denver Gazette, Wyoming Public Radio, Colorado Politics, AgNet West Radio Network and KUNC published a joint release from UW’s Ruckelshaus Institute and Western Landowners Alliance on an in-depth survey of more than 1,000 farmers and ranchers in the Colorado River Basin. The study included some startling implications for how water conservation in the drought-stricken region could come about. The Hill published a related article.

The Jackson Hole Travel and Tourism Joint Powers Board (JHTTB) will collaborate with UW’s Wyoming Outdoor Recreation, Tourism and Hospitality Initiative to develop a tourism dashboard to measure the impacts on the local community over the next two years, according to Buckrail. The JHTTB recently was awarded a $600,000 Destination Development Program grant from the Wyoming Office of Tourism.

Outside magazine mentioned UW in an article touting Laramie as the most affordable mountain town in the West, saying, “This little burg hits the sweet spot where high adventure meets a low cost of living.” The article noted that UW offers several degree programs that target outdoor recreation and the environment. Additionally, the article noted the university’s influence on the community’s art and culture scene.

Joe Holbrook, an assistant professor in UW’s Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources, and his team assisted Wyoming Game and Fish Department personnel and Laramie Regional Airport staff with the capture of seven swift foxes at the airport. The foxes were relocated to the Pilot Hill area. The Wyoming Game and Fish Department reported that animals on or near airport runways must be euthanized or relocated because of the danger they pose to planes taking off and landing.

The Jackson Hole News & Guide published a WyoFile article that reported that a new study from UW researchers and Grand Teton National Park shows a complex relationship between foxes and people. Holbrook and UW graduate student Emily Burkholder helped with the study, according to the article.

UW Professor Michael Dillon is leading a research team that is studying the life cycle of bees to better understand the aging process that affects humans, animals and insects. Laramie Live published UW’s release on Dillon’s project that is funded through a National Science Foundation grant.

The Casper Star-Tribune (CS-T) reported that Japanese manufacturer Kawasaki Heavy Industries and its partner, Japan Carbon Frontier Organization, will soon officially complete construction on their carbon capture testing system at the Wyoming Integrated Test Center (ITC) in Gillette. UW’s SER manages the ITC. Wyoming Public Radio published a related article on the ITC.

Ashley Hlebinsky, executive director of the Firearms Research Center (FRC) at the UW College of Law, spoke with Wyoming Public Radio about the FRC’s mission and why the center is important to her personally.

CNN added quotes from UW College of Law Professor George Mocsary for an article titled “How Clarence Thomas’ landmark Second Amendment ruling could help Hunter Biden fight his gun charges.” Mocsary is a nationally recognized Second Amendment expert.

Noah Novogrodsky, the Carl M. Williams Professor of Law and Ethics at UW’s College of Law, has been elected to the American Law Institute (ALI). Novogrodsky teaches “International Human Rights Law,” “Public International Law,” “Immigration Law” and “Civil Procedure.” ALI is the leading independent organization in the United States producing scholarly work to clarify, modernize and improve the law.

Michael Griffith, UW’s director of orchestral activities and a professor of music, completed a stay in Goiânia, Brazil, where he conducted the Orquestra Sinfônica Jovem de Goiás in a program including Mozart’s “Paris Symphony” and Rachmaninoff’s Second Piano Concerto. He also lectured at the Federal University of Goiás, worked individually with musicians from the university, and had a lengthy meeting with the Secretary of Innovation and Technology for the state of Goiás, which funds the orchestra.

UW botany Professor Ellen Currano is part of an interdisciplinary team that is using clues from the fossil record to better understand how life rebounded after a mass extinction event happened 66 million years ago. Currano is focused on plant fossils. Wyoming Public Radio interviewed her about the study.

In a podcast, Steve Hill, CEO of NewHydrogen Inc., spoke with Eugene Holubnyak, director of UW’s Hydrogen Energy Research Center, about opportunities and challenges of the hydrogen economy. NewHydrogen Inc. is the developer of a breakthrough technology that uses clean energy and water to produce the world’s cheapest green hydrogen. InsiderTracking published the company’s release.

The CS-T published an article mentioning that the Natrona County Sequential Intercept Model Team recently received a grant from the Wyoming Survey and Analysis Center, located at UW, to gather behavioral health data. The article was titled “Wyoming communities are overburdening Casper’s social service agencies, city manager says.”

Autumn Chavez wrote a CS-T op-ed piece about opportunities UW provides for students to study abroad. Chavez works in UW’s Education Abroad office; is a Gilman Scholarship recipient; and is part of UW’s Cheney First Generation Abroad cohort.

Wyo4News was among media outlets that published UW’s release on this fall’s student enrollment.

The FRC at UW’s College of Law has a new webpage dedicated to suicide awareness and prevention. Laramie Live published UW’s release noting that the FRC collaborated with the Cheyenne Veterans Health Administration and Walk the Talk America to create a page for gun safety information and a mental health directory.

KGOS/KERM Radio, in Torrington, published UW’s release announcing that a “UW in Your Community” event will be held in that community Oct. 9.

UW Extension will sponsor a “Wyoming Walks” educational stroll in Casper’s Washington Park today (Monday), according to Oil City News. Wyoming Walks is a new UW Extension program designed for learning, health and wellness.