UW in the News

June 7, 2021

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 Assistant Professor Thomas Boothby’s research into tardigrades (water bears) continues to be in the news. Smithsonian Magazine reported last week that NASA launched 5,000 tardigrades and 128 baby bobtail squid into space to study them aboard the International Space Station. CNN, Yahoo! News, SciTechDaily and Spaceflight Now also reported on the space research projects.

Vice quoted UW Professor Ken Sims in an article that focused on the World Bank cutting funding to a volcano observatory near Mount Nyiragongo in the Democratic Republic of Congo before a recent deadly eruption.

UW economist Rob Godby told The Wyoming Tribune Eagle that technology for a novel nuclear energy plant proposed for Wyoming differs from that of traditional nuclear energy facilities and is a new advancement. Gov. Mark Gordon and other officials made the announcement last week about the TerraPower plant -- a cutting-edge nuclear innovation company that is the brainchild of Microsoft Corp. co-founder Bill Gates. Government Technology published the article.

The Advocate included UW Professor Cathy Connolly in its Rocky Mountains 2021 Champions of Pride selections. The champions are the unsung heroes who are making inroads for LGBTQ+ people in their fields of work and in their communities every day despite the risks or challenges.

The Wyoming Tribune Eagle featured the documentary “92 Miles: A Migration Story.” The documentary follows Wyoming Migration Initiative Associate Research Scientist Patrick Rodgers as he ultra-runs the migration path of one of his study animals and faces the grief of losing his father, Neil, to cancer. Oil City News and SweetwaterNOW also published UW’s release.

Scott Quillinan, the director of UW’s Center for Economic Geology Research, was interviewed for an article, republished by Slate, titled “Toxic Coal Waste Could Be the Key to Our Clean Energy Future. Seriously.”

Laramie Live and KGAB Radio published UW’s release noting that Kevin Carman, the new provost and senior vice president for academic affairs, begins his full-time duties this week.

UW Professor Emeritus Sherrill Shaffer offered valuable credit card balance transfer tips in a WalletHub interview.

Sheridan Media, The Wyoming Tribune Eagle and Oil City News published UW’s release noting that Assistant Professor Di Yang headed a research group that investigated the environmental drivers of massive bird die-offs. The study found that severe wildfires and summer snowstorms last year led to patterns of mass mortality events for bird species in 12 Western states.

The UW Art Museum will host its annual summer solstice celebration June 19. KGAB Radio published UW’s announcement that noted the free event celebrates the longest day of the year and the official beginning of summer. 

The Laramie Boomerang noted that the UW Art Museum has two new summer exhibitions now on display for public viewing.

Wyoming Public Radio featured UW Extension sheep specialist Whit Stewart and others from the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, who discussed how wool from UW’s sheep will be sent to Mountain Meadows Wool, a full-service mill in Buffalo, which will transform it into custom blankets. UW Extension specialists noted that Wyoming will receive recognition this way for producing quality wool products.

Four Rock Springs Junior High students will attend UW’s Windy Ridge Foundation Astro Camp this summer. SweetwaterNOW published UW’s announcement on the camp that helps students with their science, technology, engineering, mathematics and communication skills.

Laramie Live published UW’s release noting that the governor is among speakers who will discuss the state of the oil and gas industry in Wyoming during the Wyoming Oil and Gas Fair. UW’s Enhanced Oil Recovery Institute organized the webinar series.

A new website showcases many donations that help tell the history of the pandemic in Wyoming the past year. The Rawlins Times published UW’s release on the collaboration among the university’s American Heritage Center, the Wyoming State Archives and Wyoming State Museum.