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 articles:

The Washington Post interviewed Sarah Benson-Amram, an assistant professor in the UW Department of Zoology and Physiology, for a story about a raccoon that scaled a 25-story building in St. Paul, Minn., last week. Benson-Amram runs a lab that studies raccoon cognition. MSN.com also carried the story.

In an article about suicide in the Mountain West states, The Christian Science Monitor referenced a study that UW psychology Professor Carolyn Pepper published last year.

Kazinform, an international news agency, published UW’s release about nine journalism students from Kazakhstan who visited UW last week.

A U.S. Department of Energy memo that outlines a plan to require power companies to buy coal-fired electricity won’t have a large impact on Powder River Basin operations, UW economist Rob Godby told the Gillette News Record.

The Casper Star-Tribune (CS-T) interviewed Richard Horner, deputy director of emerging projects and technology in UW’s School of Energy Resources (SER), for a story about Clean Coal Technologies’ plans to place a test facility at an old mine site near Gillette. SER has teamed up with the clean-energy company to further develop the company’s patented technology to convert coal into a cleaner-burning and more efficient fuel.

The CS-T reported that the UW Board of Trustees approved a $497.8 million budget for the 2018-19 fiscal year that includes $5.5 million for employee raises. The Seattle Times, the Lexington Herald-Leader, Wyoming Public Media, KGWN TV and Laramie Live published similar articles.

A new UW salary policy devotes 60 percent of the funds available to bring salaries closer to market value, while 40 percent of the funds will go toward merit-based raises, according to The Laramie Boomerang.

Mariah Ehmke, an associate professor in the UW Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics, was part of a pilot BeefChain branding, The Cattle Business Weekly reported. During branding at state Sen. Ogden Driskill’s ranch near Devils Tower, computerized blockchain tags were placed on about 300 calves as part of a pilot project to track Wyoming cattle and beef product.

Sheridan Media published UW’s release announcing that Tony Ogden has been selected as UW’s first associate vice provost for global engagement. He will begin his new position July 31. The CS-T and K2 Radio also reported on the new position.

More than 40 Native American high school students from three states participated in UW’s Native American Summer Institute last week, The Laramie Boomerang reported. The Boomerang noted that a cultural performance called the “Circle of Dance” was open to the public.

The Boomerang reported that UW transit bus operator Jody Sullivan placed 33rd out of 86 competitors at the Community Transportation Association of America National Bus Roadeo in Pittsburgh, Pa., last week.

The Boomerang interviewed Brian Barber, education/outreach coordinator of UW’s Biodiversity Institute, about a historic bird collection found at the old Laramie High School that is now housed at the UW Museum of Vertebrates. The Montreal Gazette, the Miami Herald and the San Antonio Express-News were among media outlets that published the article.

John Hewlett, a UW Extension ranch/farm management specialist, was quoted in a Wyoming Public Media piece about the 2018 farm bill.

The Scottsbluff (Neb.) Star-Herald reported that more than 100 people attended UW Extension’s Forage Field Day at the James C. Hageman Sustainable Agriculture Research and Extension Center near Lingle last week.

Spencer Pelton, a doctoral student in the UW Department of Anthropology, discussed his archaeological research on the Powars II site, located near Sunrise, as part of the Jackson Hole Historical Society and Museum’s summer speaker series last week, reported Buckrail.

KGWN TV published UW’s release announcing the start of the university’s 2018 Snowy Range Summer Theatre season and also published its release about discounted Colorado Rockies tickets.

Sheridan Media published the following UW releases: the former UW AstroCamp finds new funding and has a new name; Kazakhstan journalism students visit UW; the university will host a blockchain hackathon event this fall; and UW chooses a dean for the College of Business.

The Associated Press printed, on its website, a CS-T article that reported former UW basketball standout Hayden Dalton had been working out with several NBA teams in advance of this week’s NBA draft.

Wyo4News noted that UW’s Indoor Practice Facility recently received a new FieldTurf surface. Jonah Field at War Memorial Stadium also has a FieldTurf surface.