UW in the News

July 12, 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 anthropology Associate Professor Melissa Murphy was interviewed for a Science article about Samuel Morton, the first physical anthropologist in the U.S., who built a collection of crania to study racial differences. Morton, a controversial figure, was featured in the article, titled “A racist scientist built a collection of human skulls. Should we still study them?” Murphy studied Morton’s collection, located at the University of Pennsylvania, when she was a student there.

The Casper Star-Tribune and The Gillette News Record reported that UW students who report being fully vaccinated for COVID-19 have an opportunity to win a semester’s tuition and fees, along with other prizes, including cash and a campus parking pass. Wyo4News published UW’s announcement.

Tardigrades will begin to undergo experiments this week on the International Space Station. The Wyoming Tribune Eagle published UW’s release noting that the project -- the subject of study for UW molecular biologist Thomas Boothby -- is not just to understand how tardigrades survive in space, but also to take that knowledge and apply it to human health.

UW Professor Bryan Shuman was among authors of a study on how potential megafires in Colorado could affect the state because of severe conditions. Colorado Newsline published a Big Pivots article that noted the authors concluded that the frequency of fire in high-elevation forest has shrunk from once every 230 years, on average, in the last two millennia to about 120 years during the current century. The Vail Daily and The Aspen Times also published the article.

KUNC, a northern Colorado public radio station, interviewed Shuman about the hotter-than-usual summer weather experienced by Western states.

Techtelegraph published an Independent article that featured UW alumna Caitlin Long. The article, titled “How Wyoming become the unlikely Bitcoin capital of America,” noted how Long has become the leader in introducing bitcoin to the state.

Inside Higher Ed noted that UW is starting an M.S. degree program in environment, natural resources and society. The publication added the university’s newest offering in its latest roundup of nationwide degree programs.

UW’s partnership in the Wyoming Innovation Center, which recently broke ground on its carbon research incubator in Campbell County, was mentioned in an article republished by The Sheridan Press, titled “Effort on at all levels to transform Powder River Basin into nation’s Carbon Valley.”

Sheridan Media published UW’s release announcing that the Wyoming Institute for Disabilities (WIND) at the university has partnered with the Epilepsy Foundation of Colorado and Wyoming. WIND will provide infrastructure and support that will assist the Epilepsy Foundation’s advocacy and outreach across the state. Wyoming News Now and The Rocket Miner also published UW’s announcement.

The UW School of Energy Resources’ Center for Economic Geology Research will host a public outreach meeting at the Integrated Test Center at Dry Fork Station in Gillette next month. Laramie Live published UW’s release about the Wyoming CarbonSAFE Project.

The Wyoming Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network at UW recently received a federal grant aimed at helping small businesses and workers. Oil City News published UW’s release about the Portable Assistance Grant that will allow the SBDC Network to increase training and advising opportunities for businesses and workers affected by the downturn in the energy industry.