UW in the News

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 economist Rob Godby was among several energy experts who were quoted in a lengthy Casper Star-Tribune (CS-T) feature detailing the decline of coal markets nationwide and how it will affect Wyoming’s economy, which has relied on taxes that the coal industry has provided. The article noted that the market for Wyoming’s coal has been shrinking for more than a decade.

The Jackson Hole News & Guide featured the National Science Foundation’s $20 million grant to UW to work with local communities to understand how climate change will affect streamflows, aquatic ecosystems and vegetation, as well as those who depend on them. Bryan Shuman, a professor of geology and geophysics at UW, was quoted in the article.

Findings from a Wyoming natural gas field have affirmed that restoring disturbed sites in the sagebrush ecosystem with native flowering plants that bloom throughout the season gives a needed boost to pollinators. The CS-T published the article, noting the findings were led by UW scientists. Wyoming Public Radio carried a similar article.

MSN published an article focusing on how climate change is affecting the gap between precipitation and streamflow as the West faces drought conditions. UW researchers are part of the Western Water Assessment, a team of scientists that is studying these factors.

A UW-led study highlights the serious conservation challenges posed by boom-and-bust disease cycles in remaining Great Plains grasslands. Los Angeles News.net published UW’s findings noting that impacts of a plague that wiped out much of the prairie dog population in the Thunder Basin National Grassland in 2017 had a domino effect on plant and animal species. Lab Manager also published UW’s release.

WyoFile published an opinion piece that focused on technologic deficiencies in alternative energy sources, such as wind and solar. Tara Righetti, co-director of UW’s Nuclear Energy Research Center, said “nuclear provides an appealing option.”

The Monteith Shop, UW’s ungulate research lab headed by Kevin Monteith, a Wyoming Excellence Chair and professor, is leading a study into the health of a bighorn sheep herd in the Gros Ventre area in Jackson. The Jackson Hole News & Guide published the article.

The Powell Tribune noted that “My Wild Land,” a three-part film series exploring issues of the rapid residential growth of Western states and subsequent loss of wildlife habitat, will be shown in Cody this week. The Wyoming Migration Initiative at UW produced the film series.

County 17 published UW’s release announcing that the GrowinG Internship Program for beginning farmers and ranchers is seeking prospective hosts and interns for summer 2023. Benjamin Rashford, head of the UW Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics and co-director of the program, said the project is training the next generation.

Breezy Taggart is UW’s new Honors College assistant dean following the retirement of former Associate Dean Leigh Selting at the end of the fall semester. Laramie Live and KGAB Radio published UW’s media release noting that Taggart began her new duties last week.

Sheridan Media published UW’s release noting that Wyoming Dementia Together -- a statewide educational collaboration operating through UW’s Center on Aging -- marks two years this month of assisting caregivers and families of loved ones living with dementia.

UW’s Biodiversity Institute is coordinating Winter Moose Day next month, according to a university release published by KGAB Radio.