UW in the News

April 4, 2022

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:

Steve Lupien, director of UW’s Center for Blockchain and Digital Innovation, was one of the primary sources for an NBC News report called “The ‘Crypto Cowboy State’: How Wyoming Became the Center of Cryptocurrency.” UW alumna Caitlyn Long also is featured. The detailed report notes that UW is one of the few schools in the country offering a minor in blockchain and cryptocurrency.

UW student Anastasiia Pereverten was among several Ukrainian students who discussed with USA Today how they are trying to keep up with their studies in the U.S. while their home country is at war with Russia. Pereverten plans to apply for temporary protected status after she finishes the spring semester at UW, where she is studying cultural studies.

The Casper Star-Tribune (CS-T) interviewed UW economist Chuck Mason for an article that focused on President Joe Biden’s announcement of the largest-ever drawdown of the U.S. strategic petroleum reserve. The Biden administration plans to release about a million barrels of oil per day for up to six months in an effort to bring down still-climbing gasoline prices, which soared after Russia invaded Ukraine.

Rising oil prices could be a boon for Wyoming’s economy in the short term but, if sustained, they could push consumers away from fossil fuel usage more quickly than previously predicted, according to economists, including UW’s Rob Godby, quoted in a Cowboy State Daily article.

The CS-T featured the recent ribbon cutting of UW’s new $100 million Science Initiative Building. The 153,000-square-foot, five-floor building houses classrooms, research space, a greenhouse, plant growth areas, the Model Organic Research Facility and the Center for Advanced Scientific Instrumentation.

UW scientists were among researchers noting that climate change is causing plants in the sagebrush ecosystem to flower earlier, according to a CS-T article. Their peer-reviewed study recently was published by the Ecological Society of America’s Ecological Applications journal.

Wyoming Public Radio talked with several educators -- including Kate Welsh, an associate professor in UW’s School of Teacher Education -- about the Rural Schools Collaborative, which provided a grant to explore the possibility of establishing a rural teacher corps in Wyoming.

UW economics Professor Todd Cherry and his colleagues are among eight research teams awarded a $10,000 honorarium from the Resources for the Future Solar Geoengineering Research Project to fund research on the benefits/risks of solar geoengineering. The team’s project is “International Environmental Agreements under the Threat of Solar Geoengineering,” according to Science Magazine.

The Leader-Telegram, in Eau Claire, Wis., quoted UW economist Anne Alexander about skyrocketing commodity prices worldwide caused by the effects of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Alexander said higher prices or global shortages of wheat could spark economic and social unrest in global hot spots.

A Laramie Boomerang article -- published by The CS-T -- noted that virtual reality is being used to teach algebra to some Laramie High School students. Andrea Burrows, an associate dean in the UW College of Education, said that using technology such as virtual reality has potential as an education tool that goes beyond teaching algebra.

KGAB Radio noted that 20 Laramie restaurants participated last week in the first International Flavor Festival. The menus were infused with flavors that were inspired by more than 80 international members in the local Laramie community along with UW students from more than 40 different nations.

UW alumni Aaron Kruger, a social studies teacher at Cheyenne Central High School, and Rebecca Junge, a teacher at Casper’s Journey Elementary School, each received a $25,000 Milken Educator Award. The award recognizes educators nationwide for making a profound difference for students, colleagues and communities. Wyoming News Now, The Wyoming Tribune Eagle, K2 Radio and The CS-T published the announcement.

Wyoming News Now published a UW release noting that the College of Business recently hosted more than 500 high school students, their teachers and professional business volunteers for the State Leadership Conference of the Wyoming Future Business Leaders of America.

UW Extension will host workshops about invasive grasses and weeds in Gillette, Sheridan and Sundance early next month. Sheridan Media published UW’s release on the schedule.

Wyoming News Now published UW’s release announcing that the Low Income Taxpayer Clinic opened in the UW College of Business. The clinic will provide representation, education and advocacy for individual taxpayers who are low-income or speak English as a second language.

Four UW Nordic ski team members were among the 361 student-athletes nationwide recently selected to the National Collegiate All-Academic Ski Team. Oil City News published UW’s release on the announcement.

The Laramie Boomerang reported that UW’s Biodiversity Institute is seeking citizen volunteers to help salamanders safely cross Laramie streets to get to LaBonte Park’s lake, where the amphibians lay their eggs. The Boomerang article also noted that Salamander Saturday, an event to celebrate the annual migration, is this weekend at the Berry Biodiversity Conservation Center.