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:

Ken Sims, a UW geology and geophysics professor, was interviewed by The Washington Post for an article about the recent hydrothermal explosion that sent rock and steam spewing into the air in Yellowstone National Park. Sims, a member of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory, explained the science on how hydrothermal explosions occur. He also was quoted in an Associated Press article that was picked up by numerous U.S. media outlets and worldwide sources such as MSN Malaysia.

Time included advice from Emily Schmitt, who runs the Circadian Rhythm and Exercise Research Lab at UW, for an article titled “The 6 Best Strategies for Coping With Jet Lag.” Schmitt says it is best for travelers the first morning in a new time zone to do 20 minutes of activity before starting the day to help avoid fatigue.

WyoFile published a detailed article on research from UW doctoral student Rachel Smiley, who studied why Wind River Range bighorn sheep have a high mortality rate. Her research was recently published in the prestigious journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B. The research indicates that chronic illness is affecting survival numbers of the herd.

UW is a recipient of an Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) grant through the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF). The project will develop and assess modern controlled environment agricultural practices that will help tribal communities secure food production, develop a climate-smart workforce and stimulate economic growth. The 14 EPSCoR projects selected nationwide total nearly $78 million. UW will share a $6 million grant over four years with four other collaborating schools in the Mountain West region.

The Jackson Hole News and Guide featured the success of the new UW Teton STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) program for Wyoming high school students. The camp, which attracted 24 students recently on the UW campus, was made possible through a generous gift from the estate of the late Harry and Mary Ann Lawroski, of Wilson.

UW has established a new Bitcoin Research Institute, the first academic institution dedicated to Bitcoin studies. According to Crypto Briefing, Crypto News Australia and Bitcoin Magazine, Bradley Rettler, a UW associate professor of philosophy, has been appointed as the inaugural director. AICoin published a related article.

Cowboy State Daily interviewed Rob Colter, a senior lecturer of philosophy and religious studies at the university and head of the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies, about UW’s Pathways from Prison program that harnesses federal Pell grant money and private donations to give Wyoming inmates access to college educations.

Chad Baldwin, UW associate vice president for Institutional Communications and Marketing, spoke with Sheridan Media about the 10 creative Wyoming startup efforts that were selected to receive $25,000 each in the inaugural Wyoming Innovation Partnership-funded Creative Economy Start Up Challenge. Baldwin added another interviewed with SVInews.com about new energy resources for Wyoming, discussing a new UW research paper that focused on blue hydrogen production and ways to possibly bring down costs while still using fossil fuels.

Sheridan Media also interviewed Baldwin about the UW Department of Psychology’s Wyoming Center on Aging receiving a $5 million grant that will be used to enhance partnerships to expand and strengthen geriatrics education statewide. Baldwin discussed UW’s new WyldTech Center for Wildlife, Technology and Computing in another Sheridan Media program.

UW Extension Specialist Rob Ziegler provided the latest comprehensive cattle market data charts that were published by Morning Ag Clips.

The Casper Star-Tribune published UW’s release noting the promotions of Arundeep Pradhan as the new deputy vice president for research and innovation and Jay Gatlin as the director of the new Science Institute.

UW’s American Heritage Center is part of a new statewide initiative called the Roving Archivist Program aimed at enhancing the management, preservation and accessibility of Wyoming’s significant historical materials. The Wyoming Tribune Eagle published UW’s media announcement.

People Magazine profiled U.S. Summer Olympics women’s star soccer player Sophia Smith, from Windsor, Colo. Her parents are Kenny and Mollie Smith, both former UW players on the Cowboys basketball team and women’s volleyball team, respectively.