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:

Holly Ernest, a UW professor emeritus of wildlife genomics and disease ecology, was featured in Knowable Magazine for her hummingbird research and how the smallest birds cope with the extreme demands of their lifestyles. Researchers, including Ernest, continue to learn about the unique adaptations of hummingbirds, such as how they conserve energy to help migrate long distances.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) reported that the newly updated NSF UW King Air Research Aircraft is set to fly its first research mission in summer 2025. UW hosted an open house and a public ribbon cutting last week that detailed the aircraft’s updated research capabilities.

John Kaszuba, the John and Jane Wold Centennial Chair in Energy and a UW School of Energy Resources (SER) professor of geology and geophysics, was interviewed by The Crude Life to discuss Wyoming’s energy reality and future. SER and the Wold Foundation recently hosted “Wyoming’s Energy Future” symposium.

Yahoo! Finance published an article that cited a UW Extension example that explains the “step down” method for new budgeters. The method requires that budgeters identify the areas where they tend to overspend, then gradually scale back that spending. By weaning themselves from expensive habits to more frugal ones, consumers can avoid system shock that can trigger relapses, according to the article.

The Casper Star-Tribune published UW’s release noting that UW’s Rongsong Liu and Yun Li have been awarded more than $380,000 from the National Institutes of Health to conduct research that could advance Alzheimer’s disease knowledge and lead to additional treatments.

UW educators and students, veterans and other community members offered public testimony last week during the UW Board of Trustees meeting about concealed carry on the UW campus. Among media outlets reporting on the comment period during the meeting were WyoFile and The Wyoming Tribune Eagle.

Ken Sims, a UW professor of geology and geophysics, and UW graduate student Michael Loya wrote a column titled “Safety First When Building Roads and Bridges in Yellowstone National Park” that was published by National Parks Traveler. The piece is part of Yellowstone Caldera Chronicles, a weekly column written by scientists and collaborators of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory.

The Wyoming Tribune Eagle reported that former Wyoming Supreme Court Chief Justice Marilyn Kite will receive the Bill Daniels Ethical Leadership Award during the Governor’s Business Forum in Laramie Thursday, Nov. 14. The award is a joint venture among the Wyoming Business Alliance, UW’s College of Business and the Daniels Fund. 

As part of its “Challenges to Democracy” lecture series, UW’s School of Politics, Public Affairs and International Studies will host “Crisis of Democracy Around the World?: From Polarization to Populism and Possible Solutions” in Sheridan Tuesday, Oct. 1. The Sheridan Press published UW’s announcement.

Wyoming Public Radio noted that UW will host an event titled “There is Happiness: Celebrating the Life of Brad Watson” Wednesday, Oct. 23, in Coe Library. The event, which honors late UW creative writing Professor Brad Watson, will feature three of Watson’s former students and a friend, who will read from Watson’s book “There Is Happiness,” a posthumous collection of new and selected stories, published in July.

UW’s new humanities-based Ph.D. program that focuses on storytelling is the topic of the latest installment of Wyoming PBS’ “Wyoming Chronicle.” Nancy Small, an associate professor in the UW Department of English, received an $850,000 grant through the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to support the program.

The Pine Bluffs Post published a pair of UW Extension media releases: UW’s Laramie Research and Extension Center’s annual research report and the annual Ag Day Barbecue, which will take place Saturday, Oct. 12.