UW in the News

August 2, 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:

Messages emphasizing the personal health benefits of COVID-19 vaccines have the best chance of increasing vaccination levels across the nation, according to the latest research conducted by UW economists. ScienceDaily, India News Republic , Sydney Online News and WyoToday.com published UW’s latest findings. Contagion Live reported that results from the study were published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

The Washington Times interviewed UW political science Professor Jim King about the House Select Committee’s hearing on the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol and Rep. Liz Cheney’s involvement on the panel. King said he anticipated that Cheney would take an open-minded, sober approach to the investigation.

UW alumna Caitlin Long, who has championed cryptocurrency in Wyoming, was profiled in a Fortune article. Long has helped pass 24 crypto-friendly laws, giving Wyoming a reputation as a national leader in cryptocurrency.

ScienceDaily published UW’s release noting research led by former UW graduate student Saeideh Esmaeili that shows animals’ body size and digestive systems shape ungulate foraging. The Florida News Times published a similar article.

UW chemistry Professor Bruce Parkinson discussed with The Casper Star-Tribune (CS-T) Wyoming’s burgeoning wind energy sector and how solar energy can complement wind in producing power.

First Coast News noted that researchers from UW, the University of Arizona and Mexico are part of a research project in which a young male jaguar was captured on camera near the U.S.-Mexico border. John Koprowski, dean of UW’s Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources, was the adviser to the graduate student from Arizona who made the discovery.

UW economist Rob Godby was interviewed for a CS-T article about the companies that own the two biggest U.S. coal mines seeking royalty reductions at some Wyoming mines, despite outperforming economic projections in the second quarter of this year.

Yahoo! Finance posted that Kraken has committed $300,000 to UW to launch a multiyear education effort designed to prepare the next generation for a digital asset-powered economy. Based in San Francisco, Kraken is the world’s largest global digital asset exchange based on euro volume and liquidity.

UW Associate Professor Lilia Soto was among contemporary U.S. Latina literature scholars listed to follow in an Axios article, titled “The new wave of U.S. Latina writers tackles race and violence.” Also mentioned was former UW Assistant Professor Vanessa Fonseca-Chavez, now at Arizona State University. Yahoo! News published the Axios article.

Laramie Live and The Rocket Miner published UW President Ed Seidel’s statement on the death of former U.S. Sen. Mike Enzi, of Gillette, last week.

UW engineering student Aaron Vigil, of Worland, was among 50 NASA interns invited to watch the live launch of the Boeing Starliner last Friday as part of an unmanned flight to the International Space Station. The Northern Wyoming News published UW’s release noting that the launch was from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

K2 Radio, The Rocket Miner and Sheridan Media published UW’s release announcing that UW Libraries will provide free access to Pronunciator, a language-learning service, in partnership with the Wyoming State Library and county libraries.

UW’s “The World Needs More Cowboys” community events continue next week. WyoToday.com published UW’s releases noting events will take place in Riverton and Thermopolis. County 10 also published UW’s release on the Riverton event.

The Wyoming Tribune Eagle published UW’s release noting that medical students will travel Wyoming this month to interview those who are at risk and underrepresented in public health to create situation-unique solutions to increase health care access across the state. The project is one of five projects selected as part of the Grand Challenges Initiative created by UW to benefit the state. Wyoming Public Radio had a similar story.

UW College of Agriculture and Natural Resources educators and the state’s producers are stepping into blockchain technology to explore creating value-added agricultural products consumers can digitally verify, according to a Wyoming Tribune Eagle article.

NCAR & UCAR News noted that William Mahoney, who received his master’s degree in atmospheric science from UW in 1983, recently testified at a hearing of the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology about how 5G wireless networks may interfere with weather observation systems. He currently serves as the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) associate director.

UW law Professor Emerita Dee Pridgen provided useful tips in finding and using the right credit cards for college students. MoneyGeek published the interview with Pridgen.

WyoToday.com published UW’s release noting that several Fremont County and Washakie County rising juniors and seniors participated in the annual Summer High School Institute. The program offers students an opportunity to achieve intellectual and personal growth, cultivate their leadership capabilities and measure their capacities and interests. The Sheridan Press also mentioned students from Sheridan County who participated.

Representatives from a Fremont County program and some county residents learned about and helped UW Extension personnel construct a geodesic dome greenhouse on the Crook County fairgrounds. County 10 published UW’s feature release.

KTVQ Television, in Billings, Mont., posted a Daily Montanan article that noted UW and University of Montana researchers have reported that Rocky Mountain high-elevation forests burned more in 2020 than they have in 2,000 years. Future wildfires are expected to get worse.

Wool shorn from sheep at UW’s Laramie Research and Extension Center was processed and knitted into limited edition, UW-themed throws at Mountain Meadow Wool in Buffalo. The Wyoming Tribune Eagle published the university’s release noting that sale proceeds will benefit the state’s sheep industry.

The Gillette News Record announced that the public will have a chance Tuesday to learn more about the Wyoming CarbonSAFE project at Dry Fork Station in Campbell County. UW’s School of Energy Resources, along with Basin Electric Power Cooperative, will host the public outreach program.