UW in the News

December 5, 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:

Inside Climate News published an article on the recent United Nations COP27 (Conference of the Parties) meeting in Egypt. Matt Henry, a UW assistant instructional professor of environmental humanities who studies climate justice, was among experts quoted in the article.

Environmentalists and oil and gas industry representatives are not happy with the Biden administration’s new onshore oil and gas leasing strategy that is expected to concentrate new drilling in existing oil fields even as it gives companies reasons to flee federal land, according to Bloomberg Law. The article included comments from UW law Professor Sam Kalen.

The Hill and The Washington Blade noted that the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., last week unveiled a portrait dedicated to Matthew Shepard, the 21-year-old UW student whose murder in 1998 became a symbol of the gay rights movement. In 2018, Shepard’s ashes were interred at the cathedral.

UW is among 104 colleges and universities nationwide that are receiving grants through the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) Inclusive Excellence 3 initiative to continue critical work to build capacity for inclusion of all students in science. According to the HHMI media release, the grants total more than $60 million over six years.

The Casper Star-Tribune (CS-T) published parts of UW’s release on former President Donald Trump’s continued popularity in the Cowboy State. The Wyoming Survey and Analysis Center’s Survey Research Center at UW conducted the poll, and the CS-T article featured Jim King, the survey’s director and a UW professor of political science. Wyoming Public Radio, WyoToday Media and The Sheridan Press published UW’s release on the survey.

Public opinion in Wyoming on abortion hasn’t changed much over the past two decades, according to another survey from the Wyoming Survey and Analysis Center’s Survey Research Center at UW. The CS-T published UW’s release. And, The CS-T, WyoToday Media and Wyoming Business Report published results of another UW survey dealing with early voting.

Medical Xpress published UW’s release on a new study that found hurricane forecasts can impair birth outcomes. To assess the relationship between hurricane forecast accuracy and human health impacts, researchers led by Jacob Hochard, Knobloch Assistant Professor of Conservation Economics in UW’s Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources, examined extensive data, including records for more than 700,000 births that occurred in North Carolina in the five years leading up to and nine months following when Hurricane Irene made landfall.

During a “UW in Your Community” event in Gillette last week, UW President Ed Seidel stressed the importance of partnerships and urged Campbell County community members to reach out with collaborative ideas among the university, Gillette College and other businesses and organizations. The Gillette News Record covered the community event.

The National Science Foundation published an article titled “How do microscopic creatures called tardigrades survive being completely dried out?” that featured the research of UW molecular biologist Thomas Boothby.

UW’s Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources, the Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit and the Wyoming State Veterinary Laboratory are among entities that are researching the decline of mule deer in the state. The Sheridan Press noted one of the deer herds being monitored is in the nearby Bighorn Mountains.

The CS-T published an article on how the community of Kemmerer is attempting to stay alive despite the downturn of coal and oil and gas production in the area. Holly Krutka, UW’s School of Energy Resources executive director, was among several experts discussing alternative research into the use of coal and its byproducts.

The Sheridan Press noted that high school students are preparing for the state competition of We the People, an active-learning curriculum designed to foster a deeper understanding of the U.S. Constitution, Bill of Rights and the institutions of government. Wyoming’s program works through UW’s American Heritage Center, with support from the Department of State Parks and Cultural Resources.

Scholarship applications are now being accepted for the Northern Arapaho Endowment for the 2023-24 academic year at UW. WyoToday Media published UW’s release on the announcement. WyoToday Media and County 10 published UW’s release on scholarship applications being accepted for the Chief Washakie Memorial Endowment.

The CS-T published UW’s release noting that the university’s 375-space parking garage will not be completed this month because of a materials-related delay. The parking garage’s opening will take place in the spring semester.

UW Extension’s guide on asparagus was cited in a Tasting Table article that featured 10 varieties of the versatile, nutritious vegetable.

Sheridan Media published UW’s release noting that the Sheridan Research and Extension Center recently donated nearly 1,600 pounds of dry beans to Food Bank of Wyoming, located in Casper.

In an effort to increase revenue and foot traffic in the Wyoming Union, the UW Board of Trustees recently approved a five-year agreement to allow UW Dining Services to operate a Chick-fil-A, according to a Laramie Boomerang article. UW will open the dining option in the 2023-24 academic year.